Utah Amateur Boxing Association

What is Boxing All About?

Olympic-style boxing features 11 weight classes.

To compete in the Open division, 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 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 35 and older.

Beginning 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.

The following rules are for the open class:
The Bout The Referee Common Fouls Winning the Bout Safety.

The rules and weight categories for Junior Olympics are different, featuring shorter rounds, four age groups and more than 17 weight classes.

The Bout

     Each Open Division bout consists of four, two-minute rounds, with a one-minute interval betwee rounds. Women box three, two-minute rounds and Junior Divison boxers go anywhere from three, one-minute rounds to three, two-minute rounds, depending on age. Back to top

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. Back to top

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. Back to top

Winning the Bout

     Winning on points. This is the most common type of win and is decided simply by consulting the judges' scores for each boxer. Again, if a judge has the boxers scored evenly, the judge must select a winner based on aggressiveness, better defense and best style (except under electronic scoring).
     Winning by Retirement. A boxer (or coach) who voluntarily "throws in the towel" or one who is unfit to continue forfeits the match.
     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 boxers 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. For women's bouts, it's two eight-counts in a round, three in a bout.
     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.
     "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" is used when the match was stopped due to head blows.
     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.
     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.
     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. Back to top

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 and a headguard. The headguard was made mandatory for all international events and major tournaments in 1984.
     Internationally, gloves for all weight classes are 10 ounces. In the U.S., boxers 165 Lbs. and up wear 12-ounce gloves.
     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.