The rules of boxing regarding tattoos can be confusing. However, you’ll understand that having tattoos is legal by watching a single boxing match, as most boxers and fighters have various tattoos. However, there’s something you should know before you get yourself tattooed.
Boxers can have tattoos as long as they don’t make the audience uncomfortable. Suppose a boxer’s tattoo makes some portion of the audience uncomfortable. In that case, the boxer will be required to hide it by either wearing clothes over it or using any possible to ensure the audience doesn’t see it.
The party that decides which tattoos make the audience uncomfortable is the organization responsible for the tournament or match.
If, for example, you compete in a local tournament, they can decide not to let you box if they find your tattoo to have the potential to make the audience uncomfortable.
That said, there’s always a group of people who will find a tattoo to break the rules. So, it’s up to the organization to decide.
Boxing rules regarding tattoos
The boxing rules regarding tattoos are straightforward. You can have them as long as they don’t break the single guideline regarding tattoos., which we’ll discuss in this section. First, let’s see what it is.
Boxers can have tattoos as long as they don’t make the audience uncomfortable. Of course, the boxer will be required to hide it if it makes the audience uncomfortable. However, most boxers have plenty of tattoos, so it’s definitely legal to have them.
Both professional and amateur boxers fight shirtless. As a result, most of their bodies will be exposed when boxing.
As a result, they’ll have to hide any tattoos they get in the exposed area, which will break the rules. They can hide them in various ways, such as using makeup, wearing a bandage, or even getting a tattoo through the current one.
Such solutions are what most boxers with inappropriate tattoos use to ensure they don’t get disqualified. If you think you might break the rules, consider using one of these solutions to hide it.
How long should you wait after a tattoo before you box?
Recovery time after tattooing yourself—is critical in ensuring the skin heals itself properly. For instance, if you were to start boxing immediately after having a tattoo, you would jeopardize the recovery process of the skin around the tattoo. This can have severe consequences.
It’ll be best to wait 4-6 weeks after getting a tattoo before you return to the boxing ring. That’s because you’re required to ensure that the tattoo heals to the point where boxing won’t interrupt the skin’s healing process. Likewise, it’ll be best not to expose it to bacteria, like in your boxing gym.
The consequences of exposing your newly tattooed skin to bacteria can be severe. According to a medical article, here are some potential effects: “Infections can range from mild to severe. Though rare, sepsis and death are a possibility.”
A new tattoo may need 4 to 6 weeks to heal to the point that a workout will not interrupt the proper healing of your skin. Also take care to not: expose your tattoo to bacteria (which may be on surface areas in the gym)
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Eventually, it’s best to be safe than sorry. You don’t want to regret your current actions later on in the future. And, unfortunately, you can also ruin the tattoo itself by working out before it finishes healing.
I highly recommend asking the tattoo artist what to avoid and what you can and cannot do in recovery. Also, be sure to consult with people and fighters who have already tattooed themselves.
A solid guideline to follow is to wait longer to ensure the skin has fully healed itself.
Why do so many fighters have tattoos?
Many fighters these days tattoo themselves for numerous reasons. So naturally, such a phenomenon can be strange for a third-party viewer. However, 3 primary reasons arise when examining why many boxers and fighters get tattoos.
Many fighters and boxers have tattoos because they want to look intimidating, express their anger, or share their beliefs and values. Likewise, many fighters come from a low economic places, where tattoos are more common. However, the most common reason is to look intimidating or share their beliefs.
In short, here are the reasons why many boxers and fighters have tattoos:
- to look intimidating
- to express their anger
- Some fighters come from a low economic place where tattoos are more common
- to share their beliefs and values
Men and women ages 20-39 were most likely to have been tattooed, as were men with lower levels of education
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So, people with lower levels of education were more likely to tattoo themselves. It doesn’t mean you’re uneducated if you have tattoos. Heck, I have one, and I don’t think I’m uneducated. (Maybe I am and my ego is just too big)
However, it does mean that if you have lower levels of education, you’re more likely to have tattoos. Likewise, men aged 20-39 were most likely to have at least a single tattoo. And this age range is suitable for the criteria of professional fighters and boxers.
So, it all adds up.
Boxers with tattoos
As we saw, many boxers today have tattoos. The following list is popular ones that wear a tattoo or two on their bodies:
- Brandon Rios
- Dominic Wade
- Miguel Cotto
- Antonio Margarito
- Vasyl Lomachenko
- Tavoris Cloud
- Chad Dawson
- Luis Collazo
- Johnny Tapia
- Kazuto Ioka
- Michael Katsidis
- Kelly Pavlik
- Mike Tyson
- Manny Pacquiao
Final words
Tattoos in boxing are legal. Watching a single boxing match will assess this. However, having an inappropriate tattoo that will make the audience uncomfortable—is illegal.
The organization responsible for the tournament can disqualify you because of the potential of making the audience uncomfortable.
It’s important not to return to the boxing ring if you tattoo yourself. It’ll be best to wait around 4 weeks before wearing your boxing gloves again.
You’ll also enjoy reading about the best boxers in the world if you’re interested in this topic. Knowing who they are will help you learn from the very be,t; so do give it a read.