BOXING RULES
A user-friendly boxing rules guide, listing every infraction of the fight game.
Boxing, a seemingly simple sporting contest at first glance, has a number of rules which have evolved since being established by the Marquess of Queensberry in 1867.
Modern boxing rules may differ slightly depending on the jurisdiction of a bout, but the rules below generally apply. If an infringement of the rules takes place, a warning, point deduction, or disqualification in the worst case, can be exercised by the referee.
- After being knocked down, a fighter has up to 10 seconds to rise to his feet before losing by way of knockout (KO); if a fighter successfully rises, but does so quickly, the referee must reach a minimum count of 8 (mandatory 8 count) before he resumes the action; though uncommon in most bouts, a referee may be permitted to give a standing ‘knockdown’ count (standing 8 count)
- Even if the bell sounds to end a round, a knocked down fighter still has to beat the 10 count to not lose by KO (he cannot be saved by the bell)
- In the event of a fighter being knocked out of the ring, he is granted a 20 count; he must return to the ring unassisted and rise to his feet before the referee
- Depending on the jurisdiction or sanctioning body, a three-knockdown rule may be implemented; if a fighter is knocked down 3 times he loses the bout
- If a low blow (punch to the groin/below belt line) takes place, the afflicted fighter has up to 5 minutes to recover
- If a fighter commits an intentional foul that results in the fight ending, he will be Disqualified (DQ)
- If an unintentional foul results in the fight being halted and under 4 rounds have been completed, the outcome is ruled a No Decision (ND)/No Contest (NC); if 4 rounds have passed, a Technical Decision (TD) is awarded after the bout goes to the scorecards to determine a winner based on points; if the scores are even, however, a Technical Draw is ruled
- In between rounds, the use of ‘smelling salts’ by the corner is illegal; the use of any illegal performance enhancing drug (PED), liquid or solid-based, is also prohibited; generally, only a ringside doctor may apply such drugs, if necessary, but they must be administered after the fight has officially ended
- Generally, only the referee can make the decision to end a fight (however, in addition to his own judgment, he must take on-board any health/safety concerns from a fighter’s corner or that of a ringside doctor)
The following actions are considered fouls:
- Hitting with an elbow, head, shoulder, forearm, open glove, inside/back/side of glove
- Wrestling, holding, tripping, kicking, biting, spitting on, pushing
- Punching below the belt-line, punching an opponent’s back/head (rabbit punch), or hitting when he has turned away (turning away from your opponent is also a foul)
- Throwing a punch while holding the ropes to trap an opponent and gain leverage, throwing a punch while holding an opponent
- Ducking too low; your head goes below your opponent’s belt line
- Punching on a break; after the referee has issued a ‘break’ following a clinch, no punches may be thrown before both fighters take one full step back
- Spitting out a mouthpiece intentionally to receive a rest
- Not going to the farthest neutral corner following a knockdown while the referee reads the floored fighter a 10 count
- Hitting a knocked down opponent while he is on the canvas; if at least three points of his body are touching down
Like to know more about boxing? Our extensive Boxing FAQ section has lots more information on the sport.
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