Legal target
Punches may land only on the front and sides of the head and body above the belt line, and only with the knuckle part of the closed glove. Everything else is a foul.
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COMBAT · World Boxing · BFI · (pro) WBC · WBA · IBF · WBO
Boxing
Boxing pits two fighters of similar weight against each other in a roped ring, striking only with the padded knuckle part of the glove and only above the waist. Bouts are decided by knockout, technical stoppage, or the judges' scorecards after the scheduled rounds. Amateur and professional codes differ mainly in round length and scoring.
group
PLAYERS
1 v 1 within a weight class
schedule
DURATION
Amateur 3 × 3 min · Professional 4–12 × 3 min
stadium
PLAYING AREA
Roped ring, 4.9–6.1 m square inside the ropes
scoreboard
SCORING
10-point must system, or knockout / stoppage
HOW IT IS PLAYED
Core Rules
The 10-point must system
Each judge awards the round winner 10 points and the loser 9 or fewer. A knockdown normally makes the round 10-8, and two knockdowns 10-7. Three judges' cards decide a unanimous, split or majority decision.
Knockdowns
A boxer is down when any part of the body other than the feet touches the canvas, or when they are held up by the ropes. The referee sends the opponent to a neutral corner and begins a mandatory eight count.
The count
A boxer who cannot resume by the count of ten is knocked out. The referee may also wave the fight off at any point if a fighter is taking undue punishment — a technical knockout.
Standing eight count
In amateur boxing the referee may issue a standing eight count to a boxer who is unhurt but momentarily overwhelmed. Three counts in a round, or four in a bout, stop the contest.
The break
On the command 'Break' both boxers must step back a full pace before resuming. Punching on the break is a foul.
Fouls and warnings
The referee may caution, warn or deduct points. Two or three warnings for the same offence generally cost a point, and repeated point deductions lead to disqualification.
Accidental head clashes
If an accidental clash of heads causes a cut that stops the bout after the fourth round in professional boxing, the result is a technical decision on the scorecards; before then it is a technical draw.
Between rounds
One minute is allowed between rounds. A corner may retire its fighter by throwing in the towel at any time, and the ringside doctor may stop the bout on medical grounds.
WATCH OUT
Fouls & Penalties
- errorHitting below the belt, on the back of the head or on the kidneys.
- errorHeadbutting, elbowing, biting, or striking with the inside of the glove or the wrist.
- errorHolding, clinching excessively, or hitting while holding.
- errorHitting an opponent who is down or in the act of rising.
- errorTurning the back, deliberately going down without being hit, or spitting out the mouthguard.
WHO DECIDES
Match Officials
- sportsReferee — the only official in the ring, controls the bout and counts.
- sportsThree or five judges — score each round independently at ringside.
- sportsTimekeeper — signals the start and end of every round.
- sportsRingside physician — may recommend or order a stoppage at any moment.
GOVERNED BY WORLD BOXING · BFI · (PRO) WBC · WBA · IBF · WBO
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