BOXING GLOSSARY: S, T, U
A boxing glossary of terms and phrases through S, T, U – just part of our huge Boxing FAQ.
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Boxing Glossary: S
Sanctioning Body
Organizations which sponsor and sanction championship bouts and award title belts to the victors. There are many in existence, with the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF deemed the most ‘legitimate’. Sanctioning bodies charge fighters fees for the privilege of capturing and defending their titles, which has arguably led to more and more sanctioning bodies popping up over the years, along with an exhaustive number of world title variations. This has led to much controversy, and is to blame for the confusion over which fighters are ‘true champions’ in their respective divisions.
Sanctioning Fees
Fees that sanctioning bodies such as the WBC charge fighters/promoters in order to fight for or defend one of their world title belts.
Saved by the Bell
A fighter who, possibly about to get knocked out, survives the round due to the bell ringing.
Scar Tissue
A fighter who has received severe cuts – usually around the eyes – will develop scar tissue during the healing process. Though the fighter may appear visibly clear of damage in his next bout, he will be more susceptible to suffering another cut; fighters with a long history of battles in the ring often cut easily; especially if they have received stitches on a number of deep cuts in the past.
Scoring Criteria
Criteria used by judges to score a fight; for example, bouts are scored in the professional ranks based on effective aggression, ring generalship, and clean shots, usually favoring power over volume. Different states or countries have slightly varying criteria, but they more or less consider the above key features to look for.
Scoring Hit
In either Amateur or Professional boxing, a scoring hit is generally one that lands cleanly on an opponent; in an Amateur contest, the punch must make contact with the head to score.
Script
Often referred to as the ‘pre-fight script’; in other words, how the fight is predicted to play out. For instance, Danny Garcia wasn’t scripted (in the majority of opinions) to stop Amir Khan.
Seconds (corner)
Refers to a fighter’s corner team, such as a head-trainer and cut man who offer their assistance in between rounds.
Seconds Out
The timekeeper or other official calls ‘seconds out’ generally ten seconds before a fighter’s rest period ends; in other words, the fighter’s chief seconds, be it his coach, cutman, should now exit the ring.
Sitting Down on One’s Punches
Refers to a fighter who produces a great deal of power in his punches by planting his feet; conversely, a fighter who is off balance and too mobile may find it hard to execute powerful punches. Novices generally don’t ‘sit down’ on their punches.
Shadow Boxing
A solitary exercise performed by a fighter which involves throwing punches and visualizing an opponent in preparation for a fight; in other words, boxing without a dance partner.
Shade
A fighter may ‘shade’ an opponent, meaning he is winning the fight by a narrow margin.
Shop-Worn (fighter)
Or washed up; a term to describe a fighter who no longer performs at a high level either due to a significant increase in age, or to too many battles in the ring. Many great ex-champions have returned to the ring for financial reasons, but were blasted out due to being ‘shop-worn’.
Short-Straight (punch)
Usually a counter punch landed as an opponent is rushing in with an attack; Juan Manuel Marquez knocked out Manny Pacquiao in their fourth encounter with this shot.
Shoulder Guard
A guard utilized by a fighter who raises his lead shoulder slightly and tucks his chin behind to evade punches.
Shoulder Roll
A defensive maneuver whereby a fighter rotates to the side and raises his lead shoulder, causing the attacker’s punch to miss the head and at worst hit the shoulder. Masters of the shoulder roll, such as Floyd Mayweather, are extremely difficult to hit cleanly.
Slip (ruling)
When a fighter falls to the canvas as the result of slipping or tripping (not due to a knockdown); the referee will rule it a ‘slip’ and not issue a ten-count. Judges must not score a knockdown on the cards, even if they believed it to be.
Slippery
A term for a fighter who is elusive and hard to nail with a clean punch; slippery fighters are usually defensive-minded and unorthodox in style.
Slipping (defense)
Using lateral movement, a fighter can evade punches by leaning left and right to ‘slip’ them. Slipping punches can create counter-punching opportunities, and allow aggressive fighters to ‘slip inside’ and get their shots off.
Slugger
Often characterized as the least refined of boxers; a slugger generally throws caution to the wind and throws full-blooded shots intended to knockout his opponent. Due to their all-out-action style, they often feature in fan-friendly bouts.
Smelling Salts
Or Spirit of Hartshorn, Sal Volatile; a chemical compound (usually ammonium carbonate) used to aid in restoring a fighter’s consciousness. A chief second holds the salts under a fighter’s nose to ‘reawaken him’ if he is still dazed from a punishing round. Using smelling salts in some states and countries is illegal, and in those it is permitted, its usage is the subject of debate. Some boxing commissions have argued it can delay or inhibit a detailed neurological assessment, especially following a concussion where hospitalization may be advisable.
Snoozefest
A bout which is particularly dull due to a lack of action; for various reasons, the fighters may be reluctant to engage and force the action.
Solar Plexus
An abdominal area situated at the peak of the ribcage; a fighter may target this area as it can be a devastating punch to recover from.
Southpaw (stance)
A stance which sees a fighter’s right foot forward; orthodox fighters are often reluctant to fight southpaws for a number of reasons, such as the fact they jab with their right hand.
Sparring
Combat performed in training camps to simulate a looming fight; head gear and 14-16oz gloves are worn, and the sparring itself usually focuses on technique; however, this depends on the trainer’s instructions. Sparring partners are usually asked to replicate a boxer’s fight night opponent in order to prepare them fully.
Speed Bag
A small, round hanging bag which is repeatedly struck to build a fighter’s coordination and rhythm.
Split Decision (SD)
A Split Decision favors one fighter; for example, two judges scored the contest for Fighter A, while the other scored it for Fighter B.
Split Draw (SD)
Essentially a Draw; a Split Draw is reached when one judge scores the bout even, one for Fighter A, and the other Fighter B.
Spoiling
A fighter may ‘spoil the work’ of his opponent; for instance, he is getting outboxed, so chooses to rough up his opponent, clinch, and manhandle him to break his rhythm.
Squared Circle
Simply another term for a boxing ring.
Stable
Refers to a group of fighters who train in the same gym, under the same trainer, or are promoted by the same company or share the same manager. To maximize profits, promoters often stage fights that feature their own stable of fighters.
Stance
Orthodox fighters stand with their left foot forward and jab with the left hand, while southpaws put forward their right foot and jab with right hand.
Standing Count/Standing Ten-Count
When a ten-count is given to a hurt fighter not yet knocked down. Referees seldom give standing eight-counts in professional boxing; the practice is far more common in Amateur bouts.
Stare-Down
Or face off; refers to the moment at a bout’s pre-weigh-in where both fighters pose face-to-face with one another for photographers. It may also refer to the moment shortly before fighter’s touch gloves prior to the first bell of a fight. Stare-downs can be particularly intense, and can feature pushing and trash-talking, particularly at weigh-ins; fighters may look for fear in their competitor’s eyes, and try to gain a psychological edge. Some fighters are deliberately theatrical at weigh-ins to self-promote their fight and make headlines.
Stay-Busy Fight
If a champion is unable to finalize negotiations with a top contender, for example, he may choose to fight a lesser-known (usually dubbed ‘fringe contender’) in a ‘stay-busy’ fight to avoid ring inactivity and to maintain a high profile.
Stick and Move
A fight strategy that sees a fighter throw one or more punches and immediately dart off to remain elusive and avoid counters; the idea is to move in and out of the pocket quickly. Muhammad Ali often circled his opponents, picking them off with jabs.
Strawweight
Or Minimumweight; a boxing weight class which carries a maximum limit of 105lbs/48kg.
Straight Punches
Anything that’s not a hook or uppercut; a jab and cross are straight punches.
Strength and Conditioning (trainer)
Strength and conditioning coaches/trainers are employed by fighters to help fine-tune their strengths and overall performance in the ring. Manny Pacquiao has benefitted from Alex Ariza who engineered a tailored workout program to further increase Pacquiao’s renowned speed and explosive power.
Sucker Punch
A punch thrown at an unsuspecting opponent; a ‘well-schooled’ fighter may choose to punch a fighter when they touch gloves sportsmanly following a foul. This rarely happens, but is within the rules as long as the referee had prompted for the action to continue. Floyd Mayweather delivered possibly the most famous of Sucker Punches against Victor Ortiz, leading to a knockout victory.
Sunday Punch
A powerful shot, generally one which produces a knockout or leads to a fight being stopped.
Super Bantamweight
Also known as Junior Featherweight, Light Featherweight; a boxing weight division with a maximum limit of 122lbs/55kg.
Super Featherweight
Also known as Junior Lightweight; a weight class with a maximum limit of 130lbs/59kg.
Super Flyweight
Or Light Flyweight, Junior Bantamweight; a weight division which carries a maximum limit of 115lbs/52kg.
Super Lightweight
Or Light Welterweight, Junior Welterweight; a weight class were fighters must weigh a maximum of 140lbs/64kg on the scales.
Super Middleweight
A weight division where fighters must not exceed 168lbs/76kg on the scales.
Sweet Science
Refers to the sport of boxing, a name coined by boxing writer, Pierce Egan.
Switch-Hitter
A fighter capable of confidently boxing in an orthodox and southpaw stance; Terence Crawford is well-known for his switch-hitting competency.
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Boxing Glossary: T
Tactician
Or technician; all fighters implement tactics into their game strategies, but it is elite level fighters, such as refined boxers, who are often labeled tacticians. Guillermo Rigondeaux’s extensive Cuban Amateur career likely shaped his tactician-style in the pro game.
Take a Dive
When a fighter purposely fakes a knockout; it is likely the fighter had a stake on the fight, was blackmailed/threatened, or had a monetary incentive with an individual or group. Taking a dive is of course illegal, just as is match-fixing in any other sport. Boxing is considered the easiest sport to fix.
Taking a Knee (strategy)
A fighter may strategically take a knee to regain his senses, recover from a painful shot, but always to buy time; unlike a knockdown, the fighter does so voluntarily. A fighter, for example, may choose to take a knee in the closing seconds of a bout to avoid getting knocked out by a mauling opponent. Timothy Bradley arguably chose to take a knee in this fashion against Ruslan Provodnikov; the decision likely saved him from getting knocked out, and won Bradley the fight.
Tale of the Tape
The key physical statistics of two fighters soon to compete; for example, reach, height and age.
Technical Draw (TD)
Generally reached when a fight ends after the 4th round due to an accidental head butt, where the scorecards stand even. You can find out the circumstances surrounding a Technical Draw and other fight outcomes in our Boxing Results section.
Technical Decision (TD)
A decision reached due to circumstances – not a knockout – which have forced the referee to halt a contest. You can find out about the rules surrounding a Technical Decision in our Boxing Results section.
Technical Knockout (TKO)
Not to be confused with a Knockout (KO); a Technical Knockout is reached after a referee stops a fight in order to save a fighter from undue further punishment.
Technician
Or tactician; a fighter who exudes refined technique, defense, timing, and is often an expert counter-puncher. Fighters like Floyd Mayweather fit the bill without question.
Third Man in the Ring
The referee in charge of the action.
Three-Knockdown Rule
Some fights carry a three knockdown rule, meaning if a fighter suffers three knockdowns in a single round the referee will stop the contest; the rule is seldom used nowadays.
Throw in the Towel
A corner concerned for their fighter’s safety may throw a white towel into the ring to let the referee know they wish to pull out their fighter. Though the referee almost always halts the contest, he is not obligated to do so.
Timekeeper
A ringside official responsible for managing the time of rounds, rest periods in between, and ringing the bell to signal the start and end of these segments. He also times ten-counts issued following knockdowns and records the time a bout ends, i.e. if it happens within the distance due to a technical knockout victory.
Title Bout
Or Championship bout; simply refers to a fight whereby a title is being defended or can be captured, such as a European Middleweight title.
Titlist
Or Champion; a fighter who holds a title, whether it be of the domestic, European, or world variety.
Toe-to-Toe
A very heated exchange where both fighters are literally – or more-or-less – toe-to-toe. Both fighters are likely looking for a knockout blow. Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez often fought ‘toe-to-toe’ during their four fights. Even a refined boxer may decide to go toe-to-toe with his opponent if he suspects he is trailing behind on the scorecards.
Tomato Can
Or bum, journeyman; refers to a very limited fighter who would need a miracle to win a fight. A fighter such as this is usually matched with up-and-coming young fighters to make them look good and build their confidence. Tomato cans typically last no longer than 3 rounds, and are often heavily beaten, knocked out, or stopped.
Trading
Refers to a frequent exchange of punches between fighters, often high in combination volume. A journalist may record how “despite a slow start out the gate, John Smith is now obliging to trade with the champion.”
Trainer
There are many types, but generally speaking a fighter has a head-trainer and assistant-trainer, and perhaps a strength and conditioning specialist if he can afford one.
Trash-Talk
The colorful language some fighters speak prior to a bout, often at press conferences and in interviews; it is often seen as ‘verbal warfare’ which gives fighters a psychological edge. Muhammad Ali is perhaps the first serious trash-talker, belittling his opponent’s appearance and ability, even through poetry.
Trial Horse
Or Gatekeeper; a capable, durable fighter who will nonetheless likely remain a contender; they are usually matched with young prospects to gauge how good they are.
Tune-Up
A fighter who loses or significantly struggles in a mainstream fight may choose to take a ‘tune-up’ bout next; for example, an elite fighter may need a confidence boosting win following a knockout, and may look to a fringe-contender (a capable yet limited fighter).
Turnbuckle
The corner post of a ring which is padded (inside) to protect fighters from injuring their backs.
Boxing Glossary: U
Unanimous Decision (UD)
A Unanimous Decision is reached at the final bell when all three judges score the contest for the same fighter.
Undercard
The fights which take place prior to the night’s final bout, the main event.
Undisputed (Champion)
A fighter who has captured all the major titles in his weight division; for example, David Haye became the undisputed Cruiserweight Champion after unifying all the belts.
Unification (bout)
A bout where a number of title belts are on the line. For instance, fighter A may hold a WBA and WBO world title, and fighter B the WBC title; the bout’s winner would take home all three.
Uppercut
A shot thrown upward to the underside of an opponent’s jaw; increased power is generated if the attacker starts the punch in his knees.
Upset
If a heavy underdog, for example, beats a heavy favorite, that bout would be viewed as a huge ‘upset’; this is uncommon in boxing, but can and does happen. Marcos Maidana dominating Adrien Broner was considered a significant upset by most observers.
Upstart
Or prospect; a young, talented fighter who is seen to have great potential, standing a good chance of capturing a world title.
USA Boxing
The official governing body of Amateur boxing in the US.
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