Boxing is a combat sport in which two competitors, matched by weight, punch each other with gloved fists inside a roped square called a ring. A bout is won by knockout, by the referee stopping the contest, or by a judges’ decision if both boxers are still standing at the final bell.
Objective
Each boxer tries to land clean, legal punches on the opponent while avoiding being hit in return. A fighter can win instantly by knocking the opponent down for a count of ten, or by the referee deciding one boxer cannot safely continue. Failing that, the winner is whoever the judges believe landed the better work over the scheduled rounds.
Rules and regulations
- Since 2025, World Boxing has been the sport’s recognised international governing body, taking over Olympic oversight after the previous body, the International Boxing Association, lost recognition from the International Olympic Committee.
- World Boxing sets weight categories for men and women, runs qualification events on the pathway to the Los Angeles 2028 Games, and writes the technical rules followed by its member federations, including the Boxing Federation of India.
- Amateur bouts are typically fought over three rounds of three minutes, with a minute’s rest between rounds.
- Punches must land with the knuckle part of the glove above the belt; hitting below the belt, holding, headbutting or striking the back of the head or kidneys are fouls that can cost a boxer points or, if repeated, disqualification.
- Headguards are no longer compulsory for senior elite amateur boxers, though younger and novice fighters still wear them for safety.
- Professional boxing, run separately by bodies such as the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO, is contested over longer fights, usually up to twelve rounds for world titles.
Equipment and playing area
- Bouts take place in a square ring, typically between roughly 6.1 and 7.3 metres along each side inside the ropes, with a canvas-covered floor and padded corner posts.
- Boxers wear gloves weighing around 8 to 10 ounces depending on their weight class, hand wraps for support, a gumshield, and a groin guard for men.
- Women may wear a chest guard, though this is optional at most levels.
Scoring
- Judges use the ten-point-must system, awarding the winner of each round ten points and the loser nine or fewer, based on clean punching, ring control, defence and effectiveness.
- A knockdown usually costs the boxer on the floor an extra point.
- Scores from three ringside judges are added up after the final round, and the boxer with the higher total on a majority of cards wins on points.
