Boxing 101
The following is a brief synopsis of USA Boxing's rules to help you understand what is happening in the ring and the decisions that are rendered.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Olympic-style boxing features 11 weight classes. To compete internationally, a boxer must be at least 17 years old and not more than 34 years old. In domestic competitions, an athlete must be at least eight years old to compete. The Junior Olympic program is for athletes eight to 16; the Under-19 program is for boxers 17-18; and the open program is for boxers 17-34 years of age. A master's division has been established for the local level only and it is designed for boxers 34 and older.
In October 1993, USA Boxing allowed female competitors to box against other females in sanctioned competition. Rules governing female competition are the same as those for male competition, except women are required to wear breast protectors, sign a written consent stating they are not pregnant and box fewer and shorter rounds.
The following rules are for the open class. The rules and weight categories for Junior Olympics are different, featuring shorter rounds, four age groups and more than 17 weight classes.
THE BOUT
Bouts vary in length depending upon age and whether it is male or female competition. In the open division, all bouts consist of four, two-minute rounds, with one-minute intervals between rounds.
THE REFEREE
Referees are the sole authority in the ring, and they must maintain control of the match from start to finish, placing the foremost importance on the boxers' safety. Before the match begins, the referee checks each boxer's gloves and attire for suitability. The referee makes sure the bout is clean and fair; that the boxers are physically able to continue; and most importantly, that the match is not one-sided.
Referees are all-powerful in the ring. Yet, to maintain control, they need speak only three words: "stop" (boxing), "box" (begin again) and "break" (step back - used to break up clinches). Any boxer who does not obey immediately may be disqualified. Using their best judgment, referees may stop a match any time they think it is too one-sided, the boxers are not in earnest or one of the boxers seems unable to continue due to injury. At any point during the match, the referee may consult the ringside physician for advice - the physician's recommendation is binding.
Referees may disqualify a boxer, with or without warning, whenever a boxer acts aggressively toward them or delays in obeying a command.
COMMON FOULS
The following are some of the common fouls for which boxers will be cautioned: hitting below the belt; holding, kicking or striking the opponent with anything other than the gloved knuckles; lying against the ropes or using them unfairly; using offensive language; not breaking on command; and behaving aggressively towards the referee. Even no defense (passive defense) is unfair and a foul.
When a boxer commits a foul, the referee usually cautions the boxer and indicates the foul through hand motions. After three cautions for the same foul, the referee will warn the boxer, which results in the boxer losing a point. Upon the third warning for the same foul, the boxer is disqualified.
When issuing a warning, the referee is making a recommendation to the judges to penalize the offending boxer by deducting a point. The judges decide whether or not they agree with the referee and make that notation on the score card. Judges may award a "J" to a boxer they think has fouled excessively but the referee has not warned the boxer to their satisfaction.
SCORING THE BOUT
For the first time in Olympic boxing competition, an electronic scoring system was used at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Under electronic scoring, five working judges are positioned at ringside with a desk-mounted keypad at each judge's position. In international and domestic competitions, three judges may be used. Each judge works alone. The judge assesses the scoring value of each blow as it occurs and enters the scoring blows by pressing either the red or blue button on the keypad. A scoring blow must be clean, fair, unguarded and have the proper weight of the body or shoulder behind it. Essentially, the white part of the glove, covering the knuckles, must make contact within the target area to be a scoring blow. All legal blows are scored equally, regardless if they result in a knockdown or not.
The keypads, each of which is linked to the mainframe computer, feature four buttons - red and blue scoring and red and blue warning buttons.
During the course of the bout, judges record scoring blows for each competitor on their keypad. In order for a blow to be recorded by the computer as part of the official (or combined/accepted) score, three of five judges must press the same colored button within a one-second interval. The one-second interval begins when the first judge records a blow. Scores are reported in terms of number of blows recognized by a majority of judges over the course of the four rounds combined.
For example, a 32-27 win for the Red Corner indicates that over the course of the four rounds Red was credited with 32 blows by a majority of the judges while Blue was credited with 27 blows.
If a boxer receives a warning for a foul, the referee will stop action, mimic the foul and look to each judge to recommend a point deduction. If the judges agree with the warning, they will press the warning button corresponding to the fouling boxer's corner color. If the warning is recognized by a majority of the judges, the warning will result in the addition of two points ("blows") to the opponent's score.
WINNING THE BOUT
Winning on points. This is the most common type of win and is decided simply by consulting the electronic scoring system for final scores at the end of a bout.
Sample result:
Gary Russell, Jr., Capitol Heights, Md./USA dec. Robson Conceicao, 27-8
Winning by retirement. A boxer (or coach) who voluntarily "throws in the towel" or one who is unfit to continue forfeits the match.
Sample result:
Luis Arias, Milwaukee, Wis./USA won on retirement over Enrique Collazo, Puerto Rico, RET-3 (:03)
Winning when the referee stops the contest (RSC). If the referee thinks a boxer is totally outclassed, the bout will be stopped and the superior opponent wins. The bout also will be stopped if one of the boxer is injured or is unable to continue or if one of the boxers receives an eight-count three times in one round or four times in a bout.
Sample results:
Deontay Wilder, Tuscaloosa, Ala./USA stopped Yushan Nijiati, China, RSC-2
Rau'shee Warren, Cincinnati, Ohio/USA stopped Carlos Ortiz, Puerto Rico, RSCO-3 (1:08)
Boxers are "down" if they touch the floor with anything other than their feet. They also are "down" if they are dangling on the ropes or are wholly or partially outside the ropes from a blow.
A boxer can be considered "down" while standing up. This state usually occurs after the boxer has received a blow or blows to the head and may be dazed. When "out on the feet," a boxer is given a mandatory eight-count by the referee. The referee uses this time to evaluate the status of the boxer to determine if the bout can continue. Even if boxers are able to box sooner, they must wait until the eight seconds are counted to continue. If they are not able to box by the count of eight, they lose the match.
If a bout is stopped, it may also be called an RSCH. The "H" designation is used when the match was stopped due to head blows. Boxers receiving an "H" are evaluated by the ringside physician and issued a 30-, 60- or 90-day restriction.
The ringside physician has the option to stop a match, at his or her discretion, at any point. The physician will examine the boxer and signal the match to continue or stop at that point. The physician's decision is always binding.
Sample result:
Christopher Downs, Fort Carson, Colo./USA stopped Patricio Pitto, ARG, RSCH-2 (1:46)
The "technical knockout" (TKO) does not exist in Olympic-style boxing.
Winning by disqualification. If the referee disqualifies a boxer, the opponent wins the bout. If both boxers are disqualified, neither wins, and this result is announced.
Sample result:
Shawn Porter, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, won on disqualification over Dominic Wade, Largo, Md., DQ
Winning by walkover. A boxer's opponent is awarded the victory should a boxer fail to make weight, miss a scheduled bout or be unable to compete for medical reasons.
Sample result:
Raynell Williams, Cleveland, Ohio/USA won on walkover over Yang Li, CHN, W/O
No contest. Sometimes, for reasons beyond anyone's control, a match must be called off. If the lights should fail or if the ring is damaged, the match's final determination is "no contest" and will go into the record books as such.
Ties. Should electronic scoring indicate a tie, each corner's high and low raw scores (total punches per judge) are dropped. The remaining three raw scores are then added to determine the winner.
Sample result:
Shawn Estrada, Downey, Calif. dec. Daniel Jacobs, Brooklyn, N.Y., 13-13 (33-23)
SAFETY
The main objective of Olympic-style boxing's rules and the actions and decisions of the referee is the safety and protection of boxers.
As safety measures, boxers are required to wear a form-fitted mouthpiece, a foul-proof cup, a breast protector for women and a headguard. The headguard was made mandatory for all international events and major tournaments in 1984.
Pre- and post-bout medical examinations are required for all competitions.
Additional safety measures to limit athletes' and officials' exposure to bodily fluids include provisions that a referee may stop a bout when both boxers are bleeding.
Ringside physicians may stop a match at their discretion at any point during the bout.
The standing eight-count and medical advice concerning potential injuries are two additional ways the athlete is protected.
Referees may administer the standing eight whenever they think boxers are unable to defend themselves, are dazed or have received too many blows. The referee uses this time to evaluate the boxer's condition and ability to continue.
If a boxer has received a cut or other injury, the referee may consult the ringside physician, who has the option to stop the bout or let it continue. A physician is required at ringside during all contests.
If a boxer's match is stopped because of head blows, the boxer is restricted from sparring or competition for a specified period. Before resuming after a restriction period, the boxer must be cleared by a physician.
To compete, boxers must have an athlete's passbook, which is a record of their matches to date. This is to ensure their eligibility and record to box.
