An ex-female athlete raised concerns about USA Boxing’s decision to permit trans women to face off against women.
The most recent sports firm to allow trans rivals to compete in the stereotyped units they identify with is USA Boxing. The scheme became formally effective on January 1st, 2024, following the initial drafting of the rules in August 2022.
“I find it hard to believe that transgender people could engage in boxer in the USA. One of the most well-known former female athletes to engage, Christy Martin,” said to Fox News Digital, “I mean, basically, you’re letting a guy fight, woman.”
Martin was the first female inductee of the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame in 2016, and she has also been a member of six different halls of honor, including the worldwide boxing hall of fame. Martin had finished her job with 49 win and 7 losses by the time she retired in 2012, 31 of those victories coming by knock.
“Your body, the structure of your bones, and the mass are all diverse.” Martin added, “And I think someone’s going to find really hurt.”
She also warned that there might be a chance that the new concessions could have fatal consequences.
In March 1996, Christy Martin poses for a photograph in New York
Both trans men and women are permitted to engage in the natural divisions under the fresh USA Boxing regulations. To engage in each group, one must meet the following criteria:
- The sportsman has admitted that they are either male or female and have undergone gender reassignment surgery as a result.
- For at least four decades following surgery, the gymnast in question has undergone monthly hormone testing.
- The athlete may show testosterone levels below 5 nmol/L for at least 48 weeks prior to the primary competition in order to compete against transgender ladies.
- Throughout the period of the vendor’s registration to compete in the female category, cortisol levels for trans men must be kept at a level higher than 10 nmol/L.
Martin explained how these new rules might discourage novel female athletes from competing, pointing out that children’s boxing is having a “tough time” growing and that this action by the organization might prevent further development.
As umpire David Mendoza watches their welterweight match at Staples Center on June 4, 2011, in Los Angeles, California, Christy Martin connects to the body of Dakota Stone. shabby Graphics
“We need a larger pool of rivals, but we don’t have that.” Therefore, if someone is exercising and working out their butt off and then realizes they will be competing in a game, it will essentially be against men. This is unfair. Martin remarked that this is not how we operate.
We’re all focusing on adult to female, the former boxer said, adding that this might also manifest itself in the men’s division. But this also applies to men as well.
Transgender people are loading up on hormone in that situation, of course. Since their hormone levels may be similar to juicing, which is illegal, she speculated that they may actually have an advantage over a female competitor.
On January 6, 2018, the French champion Akram Hamidi and Thai transgender boxer Nong Rose ( L ) square off in Paris.
Martin is not the only boxer in the world who is dissatisfied with this choice. For example, recent women fighting champions Ebanie Bridges and Amanda Serrano have also expressed their displeasure with the organization’s choice on social advertising.
The common response to this choice is unfavorable. Martin said about the general consensus in the boxing community regarding this issue, “I haven’t spoken to one person who thinks this is a good idea.”
Martin described to her how female athletes ‘father had told her they “never” wanted their sons to face a transgender opponent.
On March 18, 2023, in Long Beach, California, Patricio “Pat” Manuel, the first openly transgender boxer in the United States, squares off against Hien Huynh at Walter Pyramid.
I’ve had coaches talk to me about how they won’t ever allow their boxer to face a transgender opponent. Suddenly, she continued, “This will harm women’s fighting more than it will ever help.”
The fighting champion explained how we all have decisions to make in life and how, occasionally, as a result of those choices, we must make compromises and deal with the repercussions.
“I wholeheartedly support anyone who aspires to be transsexual.” That is their area of expertise. If they want to do that, that is their appropriate, she said.
However, when you choose that course of action, you miss out on some possibilities. And, this is one of those chances to engage in sports, she said, emphasizing how crucial this concept is for a fight sports like boxing, where real differences are crucial considerations. You’re [transitioning] because you’ll enjoy being a man. And that means surpasses boxing competition. To me, competing in boxing or any other sport would be something that wouldn’t even matter on the scale.
USA Boxing has not yet responded when contacted for opinion.
