ACOG - Boxing - IBM

Spectator’s Guide to Boxing

In the quest for the gold medal, boxers in the Olympic Games advance through a single-elimination tournament. A pre-tournament draw determines each boxer’s position in the bracket, so early-round bouts could feature showdowns between top medal contenders. Olympic boxing features 12 weight classes. To compete internationally, a boxer must be at least 17 years old and not more than 34 years old.

The Bout

Each bout consists of three, 3-minute rounds, with a 1-minute interval 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 use three commands to maintain control in the ring: "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

Boxers may be cautioned for any of the following fouls: 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 toward 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 press the corresponding button on their electronic scoring console.

Judging the Bout

Electonic Scoring. 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.

The keypads, each of which are linked to the mainframe computer at the jury table, 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 three rounds combined.

For example, a 32-27 win for the Red Corner indicates that over the course of the three 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.

A scoring blow must be clean, fair, unguarded and have the proper weight of the body or shoulder behind it. All legal blows are scored equally, regardless if they result in a knockdown.

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.

Winning by retirement. A boxer (or coach) who voluntarily "throws in the towel" or 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. 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.

Winning by knockout. If a boxer goes down and cannot rise and continue by the time the referee counts to ten, his opponent wins the bout by knockout.

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.

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, boxers in all weight classes use 10-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.


Kilogram - Pound Conversion Chart

WeightclassKilogramsPounds
Light flyweight48.0106
Flyweight51.0112
Bantamweight54.0119
Featherweight57.0125
Lightweight60.0132
Light welterweight63.5139
Welterweight67.0147
Light middleweight71.0156
Middleweight75.0165
Light heavyweight81.0178
Heavyweight91.0201
Super heavyweight+91.0+201

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publication Department. Information provided by USA Boxing.


Olympic Factoid
The volunteer staff of the 1996 Olympic Games totaled 50,152. They worked an estimated 850,000 shifts.