It seems like one of the more trivial worries of such a sport but the female boxing world is indeed contemplating whether participants in the 2012 London Olympic Games ought to sport more feminine apparel, specifically skirts.
The International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) said officials will meet in January to discuss the issue and draw up recommendations, according to a Reuters report. As expected, it garnered quite a bit of a heated reaction on the Web, with some calling out the association for what they believe are sexist and aesthetic nips and tucks.
“Are sports skirts just another (possibly more comfortable) athletic wear option or an unpleasant reminder of outdated ideas about women and sports?” wrote The Huffington Post. "It’s all about making sure we look cute and feminine, even when punching someone in the face," chimed in writer Deborah Dunham of Blisstree.
It's an especially touchy topic since women's boxing will be making its Olympic debut in London, after years of fighting for proper recognition.
“It’s quite frustrating to see the way in which this news has been going around,” AIBA spokesman Sebastien Gillot told Reuters. “We are aware that it’s a very sensitive issue.”
Not that the boxers themselves are in any hurry to switch out their wardrobe. At the European Championships held in the Netherlands last month, only fighters from Poland and Romania wore skirts.
"I won't be wearing a miniskirt," Ireland's three-time world champion Katie Taylor told the BBC last week. "I don't even wear miniskirts on a night out, so I definitely won't be wearing miniskirts in the ring."
What do you think?
With reporting from Reuters