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PINK Concussions and Supporting Medical Professionals

Position Statement on Female Boxing Round Duration

October 17, 2025

Executive Summary

PINK Concussions, together with medical professionals and advisory board members, who have signed below, supports maintaining the current female boxing standard of 10 two-minute rounds rather than extending competition to 12 three-minute rounds, based on clinical evidence indicating higher concussion risk with increased exposure time and fatigue.

Scientific research consistently demonstrates that female athletes experience greater susceptibility to concussion, higher symptom severity, and longer recovery durations compared to males. These differences are believed to be multifactorial, involving variations in cervical strength, hormonal influences, neuroanatomy, and symptom reporting behaviors.

In boxing, cumulative exposure time and fatigue are critical risk factors for head injury. A 12-round, three-minute format results in 36 minutes of total exposure, compared to 20 minutes under current rules. Longer rounds contribute to greater fatigue, which impairs neuromuscular control and defensive reflexes, thereby increasing the likelihood of concussion.

For these reasons, PINK Concussions and the undersigned medical professionals recommend retaining the existing 10 two-minute round structure as a clinically supported, evidence-based standard to optimize female athlete safety and reduce the risk of concussion and cumulative brain injury.

Full Clinical Position Statement

Signatories of Supporting Medical Professionals and PINK Professional Advisory Board Members

Anthony G Alessi, MD, MMM, Clinical Professor of Neurology and Orthopedic Surgery, Director, UConn NeuroSport Program, University of Connecticut

Stephanie Alessi-LaRosa, MD, MPH, Medical Director of Hartford HealthCare Sports Neurology Program, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Connecticut

Robert C Cantu MD. Medical Director and Director of Clinical Research Dr. Robert C. Cantu Concussion Center, Chief of Neurosurgery Service and Director of Sports Medicine at Emerson Health, Clinical Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery Clinical Therapeutics Leader AD-CTE Center Boston University Medical Center, Founding Member & Medical Director Concussion Legacy Foundation

Shana DeCaro, Esq. De Caro & Kaplen, LLP, Brain injury attorney, past chair of the Brain injury Association of America

Michael V. Kaplen, Esq. De Caro & Kaplen, LLP, Professorial Lecturer in Law The George Washington University Law School, Chair, New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council

Ricardo Monreal, MD. WBC Medical Committee, Orthopedics/ Spine Surgery/ Sports Medicine

Ramesh Raghupathi PhD, Professor of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University, Professor Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy Drexel University College of Medicine

Ronald C Savage, EdD, Past Chair, North American Brain Injury Society, Founding Chair, International Pediatric Brain Injury Society, Chair, Board of Directors, PINK Concussions

Katherine Price Snedaker, LCSW, CEO and Founder, PINK Concussions

David Wang MD, MS, Director of Sports Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Sports Medicine Physician, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

Paul Wallace, MD, MPH Chair, WBC Medical Advisory Committee, Chair, California State Athletic Commission Medical Advisor Committee, Chief Ringside Physician, CA State Athletic Commission, Founding Board and Emeritus Member, Association of Ringside Physicians, California Boxing Hall of Fame, 2-term Chair Medical Advisory Committee, Association of Boxing Commissions

2024 Annual Report

PINK Concussions Annual Report 2024 (Jan 1 - Dec 1) by Katherine Price Sloan Snedaker

THIS WEEK’S VIDEO

Katherine Snedaker, CEO of PINK Concussions, interviews Jacqueline Theis OD, FAAO, FNAP to discuss "Visual Snow Syndrome", activity pacing for the visual system, and eye care for concussions-TBI. The third interview in a our YouTube series on visual disorders after brain injury.

• Visual snow is a debilitating visual phenomenon that can occur for many reasons, including concussion. It involves seeing static-like dots across the entire field of vision

• Visual snow syndrome involves visual snow plus other symptoms like photophobia (light sensitivity), nyctalopia (poor night vision), persistent afterimages, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Show notes and contact info in video description