We should revise the rules for boxing too ... the gloves should be taken off and only slaps to the face are allowed. This has the added benefit of letting women participate in the sport as well. </sarc
actually, punching a guy with padding allows you to hit someone harder.
There seems to be a body of medical research suggesting that beyond some fairly small minimum, all the protective gear is counterproductive. It minimizes spilt blood, mashed ears, and broken noses ... but maximizes brain trauma, internal organ bruising, and joint damage.
So, yes: Get rid of the heavy body armour, lose the boxing gloves. Let's hear it for smashmouth football and bare-knuckle boxing!