My point about afros in boxing wasn't to do with water retension or getting knocked out by being hit in the afro. Just like I wouldn't claim that having bushy eyebrows would shield getting cuts round the eyes. My point was if you hit in the general direction of the afro, and your opponent moves left or right or ducks you may just be more likely to connect with face or head than if the guy had a skin head. I know I'd rather fight a boxer with an afro than with a skin head. Its to do with the bigger surface areas in front of you more than anything.