Time to box clever

Jerry Daly (Letters, Nov 7) criticised the recent World Boxing Championships in Kazakhstan, for the non-use of safety headgear.

The reason was to reduce head injuries. Recent research has shown the lack of headgear reduces the risk of concussion. Headgear also obstructs peripheral vision, leaving a boxer more open to a hook punch. Yes, without headgear you are more likely to get cut, but those are usually superficial injuries. More research is needed but anything that prevents long term injuries is worth examining.

John Bellew