Ireland's three-time world champion Katie Taylor, who won her fifth consecutive European lightweight title in Rotterdam, said: "It's a disgrace that they're forcing some of the women to wear those mini-skirts. We should be able to wear shorts, just like the men.
"I won't be wearing a mini-skirt. I don't even wear mini-skirts on a night out, so I definitely won't be wearing mini-skirts in the ring."
And British lightweight champion Natasha Jonas added: "Personally, I think it's more for the aesthetics; nothing practical is going to come from wearing a skirt. The only people who would want to see women in skirts are men.
"It should be the boxer's choice whether they want to or not. You shouldn't be forced to wear one."
Since the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) lifted their 116-year ban on women's boxing in 1996, women have always worn shorts similar to their male counterparts.
"It should be optional," said Britain's European flyweight champion Nicola Adams. "I don't think it's fair to say female boxers should be in a skirt; you don't see female footballers going around in a skirt.
"Boxing has always been in shorts. I don't see why it should change to skirts just because you're a female."
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