Need a simple guide to the rules of boxing? Look no further!
In this post there is a comprehensive guide to the sport of boxing including the rules of boxing, history of boxing, boxing weight classes and how boxing’s scoring works. Read this and you’ll be well on your way to an understanding of boxing. If you have any questions remember to chuck them in the comments section!
Brief History
Boxing has a long and storied history, dating back to ancient civilizations. The earliest evidence of boxing can be found in ancient Egypt, where depictions of boxing have been found on tomb walls. The ancient Greeks and Romans also had forms of boxing, both of which are considered more brutal than today’s sport.
Modern boxing took shape in the 18th-19th century, mainly in England, before spreading to the US where the first heavyweight boxing champ, John L. Sullivan was crowned (1882). Today there are 17 weight classes and strict rules of boxing put in place to protect the boxers. The sport has continued to grow and big fights now bring in astronomical viewers and even higher earnings.
There are several major organizations that regulate the sport, including the World Boxing Association (WBA), the World Boxing Council (WBC), the International Boxing Federation (IBF), and the World Boxing Organization (WBO).
The Equipment
In a professional boxing match, the fighters are required to wear gloves that are at least 8 ounces in weight however, this can change depending on agreed upon parameters by the fighters. The gloves are designed to protect the hands and reduce the risk of injury. However, boxers will also wear hand wraps underneath the gloves for further protection. The fighters are also required to wear a mouthguard and when sparring (practicing), they often wear protective head gear.
Rounds
A professional boxing match is typically set up as a series of rounds, with each round lasting for a specific amount of time. The length of each round and the number of rounds in a match vary depending on the level of competition and the governing body overseeing the match. The standard length of a round is three minutes, with a one-minute rest period in between rounds. Championship fights, however, may have longer rounds of up to 12 rounds, with a two-minute rest period.
Before the match
Before the start of the match, both fighters will be weighed in a process called “weigh-in”. This is regulated by the governing body, and boxers must meet the weight limit of their respective weight class.
Weight Classes
Boxing weight classes are divisions in which boxers compete based on their weight. The purpose of weight classes is to ensure that fighters are matched with opponents of similar size and weight. This makes for a more fair and competitive match.
There are 17 weight classes in professional boxing. These are:
- Strawweight (up to 105 pounds, or 47.6 kg)
- Junior Flyweight (up to 108 pounds, or 49.0 kg)
- Flyweight (up to 112 pounds, or 50.8 kg)
- Junior Bantamweight (up to 115 pounds, or 52.2 kg)
- Bantamweight (up to 118 pounds, or 53.5 kg)
- Junior Featherweight (up to 122 pounds, or 55.3 kg)
- Featherweight (up to 126 pounds, or 57.2 kg)
- Junior Lightweight (up to 130 pounds, or 59.0 kg)
- Lightweight (up to 135 pounds, or 61.2 kg)
- Junior Welterweight (up to 140 pounds, or 63.5 kg)
- Welterweight (up to 147 pounds, or 66.7 kg)
- Junior Middleweight (up to 154 pounds, or 69.9 kg)
- Middleweight (up to 160 pounds, or 72.6 kg)
- Super Middleweight (up to 168 pounds, or 76.2 kg)
- Light Heavyweight (up to 175 pounds, or 79.4 kg)
- Cruiserweight (up to 200 pounds, or 90.7 kg)
- Heavyweight (over 200 pounds, or over 90.7 kg)
Each weight class has its own set of champions, with a belt awarded to the winner of a title fight. Boxers may move up or down in weight class as they progress in their career, but they must meet the weight requirement for each class.
It’s important to note that each organization may have slightly different weight limits for their weight classes, but the general idea is the same.
It’s also worth mentioning that amateur boxing has different weight classes and rules. For example, in the Olympics, there are 10 weight classes for men and 5 for women.
The Match
The match begins with the fighters entering the ring and the referee giving them final instructions. The fighters will then take their corners and await the start of the first round.
At the start of each round, the bell will sound, and the fighters will proceed to fight. The rules of boxing dedicate that fighters are allowed to punch their opponent anywhere above the waist, but not below the belt.
The referee will ensure that the rules are being followed and will intervene if necessary. The fighters are not allowed to hit their opponent with their head, elbow, or intentionally cause them to fall out of the ring. If a fighter violates these rules, the referee may issue a warning or deduct points from their score.
At the end of each round, the fighters will return to their corners for a rest period. The cornermen will tend to the fighter’s needs, such as providing water and giving advice.
The fight continues in this manner until the final round. The judges will tally their scores and determine the winner. The fighter with the most points at the end of the match is declared the winner. If the match ends in a draw, the judges will decide the winner based on the number of rounds each fighter won.
Scoring
Boxing is scored by a panel of judges who sit ringside. Scores are awarded based on the punches thrown and landed by each fighter. The judges use a 10-point must system, where the winner of each round is awarded 10 points and the loser is awarded 9 points or less, depending on the level of domination.
In this system, each judge will score the round independently. Judges will award the fighter they believe landed the most punches and had the most effective aggression 10 points. The fighter who lost the round will receive 9 points or less, depending on the judge’s discretion.
If a round is deemed to be even, both fighters will receive the same score, usually 10 points each.
In addition to scoring the rounds, judges also take into account other factors such as knockdowns, effective aggression, and ring generalship. A knockdown is when a fighter is knocked down to the canvas, and it results in an automatic point deduction for the fighter who wasknocked down, or an additional point for the fighter who suffered it, depending on the governing body rules. Effective aggression is when a fighter is seen as the one who is initiating the action, and ring generalship is when a fighter is seen as controlling the ring and pace of the fight.
The fighter with the most points at the end of the match is declared the winner. If the match ends in a draw, the judges will decide the winner based on the number of rounds each fighter won.
The Knock Out
A KO, or knock-out, refers to when a fighter is knocked out by their opponent’s punches. This results in the end of the fight, with the fighter who inflicted the knock-out being declared the winner.
A KO can happen in a number of ways. A fighter can be knocked down by a punch and unable to get back up before the referee counts to 10. A fighter can also be knocked down multiple times in a round and the referee may decide to stop the fight to protect the fighter from further harm.
A KO can also happen when a fighter is unable to continue fighting due to a severe injury, such as a broken jaw, and the referee stops the fight, resulting in a technical knock-out (TKO).
In a knock-out, the fighter who is knocked out is usually attended to by medical personnel to ensure they are not seriously injured. It’s important to note that a KO does not always mean a fighter is unconscious, but it is a term used to describe the end of the fight due to a fighter being unable to continue fighting.
It’s also worth mentioning that some organizations have different rules regarding knock-outs and TKO’s, for example, in some cases, a TKO is called when the fighter’s corner throws in the towel, or when the referee stops the fight because one of the fighters is not defending themselves properly.
Boxing is a sport that requires discipline, skill, and dedication. The rules of boxing are designed to ensure the safety of the fighters and to make the sport as fair as possible. It is immensely popular and in recent years has been revived in the youth with the advent of ‘youtuber boxing’. We can’t see this popularity growth slowing down any time soon, can you?
If you liked this article and want to have a look at big fights coming up, check this out. If you want to know more about a different sport, why not check out the Rules of Rugby, an equally physical game.