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Canberra Boxing Bulletin, Number 2, January 1999 Since this issue was published, two corrections have become evident - these are marked with a red numbered asteriskContents Submission to GovtReport of December meeting Coaching & judging Competition safety SA reunifies ACT Boxing meeting Boxing on the Web Masters Boxing Subscriptions & contributions Differences between Professional and Amateur Boxing Canberra Boxing Bulletin Phone 0416 036627 A submission has been prepared for the ACT Department of Sport and Recreation, outlining the health and safety procedures involved in amateur boxing competitions. The paper also provides details on the injury rate for boxing and other sports, showing amateur boxing’s excellent safety record. Early in the new year, a delegation will meet the ACT Minister to discuss issues of concern to amateur boxers. A meeting on Tues 8 December at Turner PCYC discussed the political events threatening the future of boxing, and considered forming a boxing association that would directly represent the interests of amateur boxing in Canberra.There was general support for the view that Canberra should take more responsibility for the conduct of boxing in the area, develop local officials (especially judges and referees), get more boxers into competition, and hold more exhibitions and tournaments in Canberra this year. It was agreed that a meeting be held in late January to formally convene an ACT Amateur Boxing Association. Elections will be held for office-bearers and committee members. (Details of the meeting appear elsewhere in this edition.) The new organisation will seek membership of the NSWABA and will act to develop essential local resources such as coaches, judges and referees. Courses for these will be held in late January in Sydney by the NSWABA. In 1999, boxers will continue competing in the NSW association but exhibition nights and some additional tournaments should be able to be arranged. ACT Boxing could aim in 1999 to develop the number and quality of boxers, and the supporting resources, to the point where we are able to hold an ACT regional title.
On the weekend 30-31 January, the New South Wales Amateur Boxing Association will conduct a Level One (introductory) coaching course and exam and also a course and exam for people wishing to become a judge or referee. The cost of each course is $27, and the venue is the Blacktown PCYC in Sydney’s western suburbs. You can only do one or the other course as each occupies a full weekend (9am-4.30pm). The major obstacle to having more tournaments in Canberra is having to bring in officials such as judges and referees from Sydney. There are simply not enough qualified judges and referees. There is an urgent need to develop a local group of such officials, so that Canberra and surrounding towns can host tournaments more often. New judges would be expected to develop their skill and experience at tournaments in some other towns in the region next year. If you are an adult, want to get accreditation as a coach or judge, and are prepared to put those skills to use for the benefit of amateur boxing in the region, leave a message on 0416 036627 and we’ll get in touch to discuss details. Please note, these are beginner-level courses and require no prior experience of coaching or judging, though some knowledge of boxing is certainly desirable. Women are welcome. By Mark Tawton People unfamiliar with amateur boxing are often ignorant of the safety standards involved in competitions, and tend not to know the significant differences between the amateur and professional sports.Boxing, like rugby and other sports, has two distinct styles – Professional, and Olympic Style Amateur. The two codes have marked differences. During the past 20 twenty years amateur boxing, like other contact sports, has undergone a number of significant changes to improve safety for competitors in both the senior and the junior age divisions. We have seen major changes to the rules, better equipment, and requirements for training and registration of coaches and officials to provide higher levels of safety. All competitors must have a thorough medical examination each year, prior to annual registration with the Amateur Boxing Association. On the day of any competition the boxer must also undergo a medical examination. The doctor who performs this examination remains ringside during any competition bout. In the event of a competitor suffering a knock down(*1) as a result of a blow during the bout, the doctor is required to suspend the boxer’s medical card for a period of 28 days. During this period the boxer is prohibited from all competition and sparring. Any subsequent prohibition periods can be for either 3 or 12 months depending on the circumstances. The rules of amateur boxing match competitors by their age, weight and experience. These include strict weight divisions of 2.5 kg - 3 kg, a maximum of 2 years age difference for juniors, and matching on experience. The duration of the rounds that competitors compete for has been reduced. Juniors compete over 3 x 1.5 minute rounds. Novices compete for 3 x 2 minute rounds, and seniors compete over 5 x 2 minute rounds. All have a one minute rest between rounds. In relation to equipment, head-guards, groin protectors and mouth guards are compulsory. The padding in gloves has been increased by 25% (the 10 oz amateur gloves provide more protection than the 8 oz professional version). All coaches must be accredited with the Australian Coaching Council, this accreditation involves written examinations and a re-test every four years. The safety differences between amateur and pro boxing are summarised in a table on page 4. The comparison is provided to allow young people and parents to understand that learning to box and compete as an amateur is safe. (*2) A decade and a half after the split in amateur boxing in this country, the South Australian Amateur Boxing League has wound up and joined the SA Amateur Boxing Association. A new executive committee has been elected and will comprise 3 former League and 3 Association members. The new-look body will trade as "Boxing SA".Boxing SA will have its first meeting on January 11 and will operate under the constitution of the Association, which will be reviewed over the next twelve months. This merger will again provide all amateur boxers in SA with the chance to represent their country. SA officials hope other States may follow their lead and once again get amateur boxing back as a single, unified group. A meeting will be held in the week 18-22 January to start the ACT Amateur Boxing Association. Amateur boxers, coaches, parents, and others interested in boxing are invited to attend. Office-bearers and committee members will be elected at this meeting. The new committee will then be charged with preparing a program of activities for the year. Notices with the date and venue will be posted at PCYCs a week or so beforehand; or you can call 0416 036627 for the details. If you have Internet access, check out the dates of
state and international amateur boxing events, contact addresses, rules, gyms,
links to sites etc at the Amateur Boxing website at By Tony Whelan 1997 saw the Australian Masters Games held in Canberra and in 2002 the International Masters Games will be held in Melbourne. Sadly, boxing has not been, and still is not, on the agenda for the Masters Games. It is ironic that other contact sports like football impose no age limit, yet amateur boxers are out the door when they turn 34. There is no documented justification for this age capping by the inter-national boxing body, and it probably is a case of boxing organisations wilting under pressure from the anti-boxing lobby who are determined to keep pressuring the upper and lower age limits till the two finally meet and boxing is destroyed. USA Boxing have a provision for Masters Boxing at up to regional level, but the current medical and other restrictions are onerous and , there is mounting pressure by older USA amateur boxers to free these up. In Australia we have so far made no provision for boxers aged 34 or over to compete. However, there is no legal barrier to setting up a Masters Division within the existing organisations, or alternatively an affiliated Masters Association. Given that boxing is a minority sport, the number of masters boxers would be small and that would be the main problem facing those who wished to be matched for competition. But the possibility remains. Those interested in keeping abreast of the issues of Masters Boxing in the USA and who have Internet access can subscribe to an email list run by Steve Imparl in Chicago. For more information: www.egroups.com/subscribe?list=masters-boxing How to subscribe to the Canberra Boxing Bulletin You can get the bulletin mailed to you each month. Phone your name, address and contact number to 0416 036627, and you’re on the mailing list. If you have an email address, we can email the bulletin to you in Word 6 format instead of posting it. You can also read the Bulletin via the Internet. Just browse to: www2.dynamite.com.au/phoenix The present editor is Tony Whelan, who relies on other people (like you) to provide news, views, and opinions. Our target readership The bulletin is focused on people in the Canberra area involved with or interested in amateur boxing. Policy on content The bulletin aims to share information about amateur boxing. Material about professional boxing, kickboxing and martial arts is also welcome, preferably with a local slant. Material considered by the editor to be defamatory or offensive, or lacking relevance, will not be printed. Publication deadline Material for publication needs to get to the Editor by about the 21st of the month. Publication date is the 1st working day of the month. How to submit materialSend views or news to PO Box 1302 Woden ACT 2606, or fax 02 6292 9674, or email to phoenix@dynamite.com.au Or leave material marked for attention Canberra Boxing Bulletin, at the PCYC offices in Turner or Tuggeranong. Copyright Original material contained in this publication is copyright. You may re-publish extracts from the Canberra Boxing Bulletin provided you acknowledge the source. Where to get copiesYou can get a copy of the Bulletin from:
We’ll be adding more distribution points with each issue. Want to suggest one? Call 0416 036627 Advertising space available Your business can advertise in this bulletin, which is circulated at the PCYCs and other venues, and is posted on the Internet each month. Call Tony on 0416 036627 to discuss rates. ContributorsMaterial in this edition was contributed by Mark Tawton, Russell Martin (SA) and Tony Whelan 1999 amateur boxing dates The February edition of the Bulletin will include the 1999 NSW ABA calendar of events, including the dates for events approved by NSWABA to be held in Canberra. Differences between Professional and Amateur Boxing
Adapted from material provided by the Canadian Amateur Boxing Association
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