One of the most aggressive sports, boxing involves attack and defense with the fists. The sport has existed since ancient times and continues to have an enthusiastic following today.

Playing area and equipment

Boxing matches, or bouts, take place in a ring. The ring is an 18- to 22-foot- (5.4- to 6.7- meter- ) square platform surrounded by ropes. The size of the ring may vary slightly in amateur contests. Each fighter is allotted his own corner diagonally across from his opponent's. The other two corners are neutral.

The gloves used in boxing are padded and vary in weight. For professional boxers, the weight is 6 to 8 ounces and for amateurs it is 10 to 12 ounces.

Rules

There is no universally accepted world ruling body for professional boxing. As a result, each country has its own set of rules. The United States has different rules in different states. Boxing contestants are classified and matched according to weight and ability. There are eight weight categories: flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light-heavyweight, and heavyweight. The lightest is the flyweight category. In this category the boxer should not be more than 112 pounds (50.8 kilograms). The heaviest is the heavyweight category. In this category the boxer can weigh anything over 175 pounds (79 kilograms).

Professional bouts may be scheduled to last from four to 12 rounds of three minutes' duration each. A referee is stationed inside the ring with the boxers to regulate the bout. He does not participate in the judging. Three ringside officials score the bout. They award points to each boxer for each round. A boxer must win on two of the three scorecards to earn a victory. Points are scored for the number of blows landed, for a clever defense, and for aggressiveness.

A referee declares a knockout when a boxer fails to get up on his feet within ten seconds. The referee counts seconds aloud as long as the fighter remains down. A fight can be stopped on a technical knockout when a boxer is deemed by the referee to be unable to defend himself. If a boxer sustains a serious injury or when a boxer or the boxer's seconds decide the boxer should not continue, the bout is over.

Amateur rules, however, differ from professional boxing rules. In amateur boxing the bouts are normally three rounds in duration, and the boxers wear protective headgear. The rules are also more strictly enforced. Therefore, disqualification is more common in amateur boxing.

Techniques

There are four basic punches: the jab, hook, uppercut, and cross. All other punches are modifications of these basic punches. A jab is a straight punch delivered with the lead hand directly out from the shoulder. A hook is a punch thrown from close range with the arm in a crooked rigid position. An uppercut is a blow that is thrown upward, usually at the point of the jaw. The cross is thrown across the body at shoulder level. Hitting below the belt, on the back of the head, on the neck, or in the region of the kidneys is forbidden. A fighter who breaks these rules is guilty of a foul.

Organization

The sport's first amateur governing body, the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA), was formed in Britain in 1880. The United States of America Amateur Boxing Federation (USA/ABF) now governs U.S. amateur boxing.

The Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (AIBA) controls all international matches. It was formed in 1946 with headquarters in London. Amateur boxing spread rapidly to other countries. Several major international tournaments take place either annually or every two years. Boxing is also an event in the Olympic Games, held every four years. Other important events include the European Games, Commonwealth Games, Pan-American Games, All-African Championships, and the World Military Games.

Professional boxing has no single controlling body that is universally recognized. In 1963 the World Boxing Council (WBC) was formed. In the early 1960s the National Boxing Association changed its name to the World Boxing Association (WBA). In 1983 the International Boxing Federation (IBF) was formed. By the 1980s it was common for most weight divisions to have three so-called “world” champions.

History

There is evidence that boxing existed in about 1500 BC in ancient Crete. Boxing also played an important part in the holiday celebrations of ancient Greece and Rome. Greek boxers used thongs of soft leather to bind their hands and forearms for protection. In Rome gladiators used metal-studded leather hand covering and usually fought to the death. The sport declined with the end of the Roman Empire.

Boxing as a sport had reappeared in England by the early 18th century. The first man to popularize boxing with bare knuckles was James Figg of England. No gloves were used until nearly the end of the 19th century.

Jack Broughton, the heavyweight champion of England, was the first to introduce rules in the game in 1743. They were replaced in 1838 by the detailed London Prize Ring rules. The American champion John L. Sullivan was the last of the great fighters to box under the London Prize Ring rules. In an effort to improve the sport, the marquis of Queensberry framed a new set of rules in 1867. The rules called for the wearing of gloves, and later replaced the London rules.

From the late 19th century onwards, the United States became the center of the boxing scene. After World War II the sport spread to East Asia and in the 1950s to Africa's nations. Television has also played an important role in making boxing popular.

Some famous early boxers include Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis. Among those who made a name for themselves in the post–World War II era were Rocky Marciano, Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali, Leon Spinks, Evander Holyfield, and Mike Tyson. Marciano was considered to be one of the hardest hitters in the history of boxing. When Marciano retired in 1956, he had won all 49 of his professional bouts.

Muhammad Ali dominated boxing during the 1960s and 1970s. He was the first boxer to win the heavyweight championship on three separate occasions. Holyfield was the second boxer to achieve the same feat. Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion at the age of 20.