Have you ever watched a boxing match and been confused by the outcome?Maybe you’ve always wanted to watch, but don’t have a clear understanding of the rules. Or maybe you’d even like to step in the ring yourself but don’t know what to expect. This article will walk you through the entire life cycle of an amateur competition, from setting a bout all the way to the judges’ decision. You will walk away with a clear understanding of how athletes are paired, what rules they must follow, and who makes the scoring decisions (and why).
Match Maker
Amateur boxers are first grouped into divisions based on age. Adult age divisions are split between Senior/Elite (18 – 40 years), and Masters (41 and over; boxers aged 35 – 40 can choose between Senior and Master but must compete as a Master on and after their 41st birthday).
Next, competitors are divided by experience. Novice fighters have 0 – 10 bouts; Open fighters have 11 bouts or more. A boxer can opt to enter the Open division as early as his or her 5th match, but he or she will no longer be eligible for future Novice contests. Boxers must enter the Open division by their 11th bout. Some competitions include an additional “True Novice” division for boxers with less than 4 bouts.
Finally, athletes are paired up by weight class. Female amateur weight classes are as follows (in lb.): 106, 112, 119, 125, 132, 141, 152, 165, 178, and 178+. A boxer’s weight cannot exceed the numerical value of their weight class or dip below the next smallest class (for example, a fighter in the 141 lb. weight class must weigh in between 132.1 – 141.0 lb.). Weight Differentials exist to match boxers who would not otherwise have a competitor in their weight class. Differentials are predetermined by USA Boxing based on sex, age division, and weight. The official differential for Elite 152 lb. women is 10 lb., which could facilitate a match-up between two women weighing 144 lb. and 154 lb., respectively.
Rules are Rules
Boxers weigh in on the morning of competition; for multi-day tournaments, athletes must make weight each day. No shoes, socks, or jewelry can be worn while weighing in. If a boxer weighs more than their registered weight class or differential, they are immediately disqualified.
All amateur boxers, coaches, and officials must possess a valid passbook issued by USA Boxing. Passbooks are small paper booklets declaring the holder’s status (athlete, coach, or official), legal name, birth date, and photo. All athletes must have a current physician-signed physical stored in their passbook. The passbook also keeps track of an athlete’s competitive record and is signed by the judge at the end of each competition. All athletes must have their passbook in hand to compete.
Athletes also have equipment requirements based on sex and division. All competitors must have USA Boxing certified competition headgear (Master boxers must have headgear specifically approved for Master competition) and a mouthguard. Red and orange mouthguards are not permitted, as they may be indistinguishable from blood. All boxers are required to wear a two-piece uniform with a contrasting waistband color to provide visual representation of the “clean shot” area (contact below the waistband is a foul). The jersey color does not have to correspond with a boxer’s corner assignment (red or blue), though many amateurs opt for a reversible red and blue jersey that can be adjusted based on their corner color. Groin protectors are mandatory for males and optional for females. Females have the additional option of a chest protector.
Boxers are not permitted to wear their own gloves during competition. A certified official overseeing the glove table will provide each athlete with an approved pair of gloves appropriate for their weight class. Most events will issue 10 or 12 oz gloves for all divisions except Masters, which must use 16 oz.
Most USA Boxing events require an athlete’s hands to be wrapped with gauze or tape as opposed to cloth hand wraps. The style of wrap is up to the coach and athlete, but the gauze for each hand cannot exceed 49 feet in length and 2 inches in width; tape is limited to 16 feet x 1 inch. An official at the glove table will check each athlete’s hands to ensure they are wrapped properly and within the required specifications.
Before sending their boxer into the ring, a coach may apply a thin layer of Vaseline to the boxer’s face. This is to protect their skin from being scratched by an opponent’s glove.
Round lengths vary based on both division and individual event preference. No USA Boxing sanctioned event can exceed 3, 3-minute rounds, but it is not uncommon for boxing shows to choose 2-minute rounds. Master boxers are limited to 3, 2-minute rounds but many elect for 90 second rounds. Two inexperienced Senior boxers may agree to shorter round lengths as well. Regardless of length, each round is capped by a 1-minute break. During the break, a boxer’s coach (or “Second”) may enter the ring to provide water or instruction. Additional coaches can stand nearby with stools, water buckets, or other supplies, but only one Second is allowed in the ring.
Who’s Who: Judging and Outcomes
Each boxing match requires 5 officials – one referee, one clerk, and 3 judges. The Clerk, or Timekeeper, regulates the number and duration of rounds and operates the bell. He or she must ring the bell at the start of each round, 10 seconds before the end of each round, and 10 seconds before the end of each rest period between rounds. The clerk is only permitted to stop the clock when specifically instructed by the referee; the clock will resume after the referee commands, “time.” The clock will continue to run during an 8-count; it will only be paused for a loss of mouthpiece, Low Blow, loss of consciousness (LOC), or if a boxer falls out of the ring.
Each Judge will sit along a different side of the ring with their score card. Judges score each round with a 10, 9, or 8 (boxers cannot tie in an individual round; one must be scored 10 and the other an 8 or 9). A score of 10-9 indicates a close round and 10-8 reflects total dominance. Judges are only permitted to score what they see. If the boxer in red falls down shortly after the boxer in blue goes in for a punch, but the referee was blocking Judge 2’s line of sight, then Judge 2 cannot score that hit in Red’s favor as he or she missed the moment of contact. Judges evaluate performance based on 3 parameters: number of quality punches landed, total dominance in the ring, and competitiveness. Most fights are decided based on the first criteria alone. A “quality punch” is defined as closed-fist contact on an appropriate part of the body (front side of the body between the head and waist). A “slap” – a punch that lands with the palm of the hand instead of the knuckles – is considered a foul. Punches to the back of the head or below the waist are also fouls.
The Referee controls each bout but does not score the match. Before the initial bell the referee will briefly visit each boxer in their respective corner to inspect the boxer’s gloves and headgear. Then he or she will bring both boxers to the center of the ring to remind them to listen to all commands and only throw clean shots. He or she will prompt the boxers to tap gloves and send them back to their corners for the start of the first round. A referee may issue 4 commands during a boxing match: “stop,” “break,” “box,” and “time.” A stoppage is usually called for a uniform malfunction such as an untied shoe, a dislodged mouthguard or a shirt that becomes untucked. When the referee commands Stop, the compromised boxer will quickly remedy their uniform malfunction while the other boxer reports to a neutral corner away from their own coach. “Break” directs each boxer to briefly disengage and take a step back; this command is usually issued to break up a clinch (when one boxer “hugs” the other). When the stoppage or break is over, the referee will command, “Box,” to continue the action. “Time” prompts the clerk to stop the clock, usually due to a boxer losing consciousness or falling out of the ring. If the referee notices that a boxer is taking a lot of hits and struggling to defend themselves, he or she may call an 8-count. In this situation the referee will send the dominant boxer to a neutral corner and calmly count aloud to 8. At the end of the count, the referee will ask the affected boxer if they can continue and to step forward. If the referee believes it is safe for both boxers to continue, he or she will command, “box.” If not, the referee will end the match and the boxer for whom the 8 count was not called will win by technical knockout or TKO. If a boxer receives more than three 8-counts in a round or four total in a match, the match is called, and the dominant boxer wins by TKO. Actual knockouts (when a boxer loses consciousness or is unable to stand after the 8 count) are very rare in the amateurs; most fights that end early are declared a TKO.
A match can be decided by TKO, disqualification, or decision. There are two types of decision, split and unanimous. In a unanimous decision, all judges appoint the same winner, indicating a clearly dominant performance. In a split decision, 2 out of 3 judges agree on a winner. The judges do not confer with one another or see the other judges’ score cards before submitting their own.
At the conclusion of the final round, the referee will collect all 3 judges’ score cards. The boxers meet in the center of the ring and the referee lifts both boxers’ hands simultaneously. The announcer will then declare the type of win (TKO, disqualification, split decision, or unanimous decision) and the corner color of the winning boxer (i.e., “winning by split decision, out of the red corner, Jane Doe”). The referee will lift the hand of the winning boxer; the opponents will then shake hands and exit the ring to be evaluated by the ringside doctor.