Boxing

Boxing is a close-combat sport in which two opponents, who are matched in weight, fight with their fists in rounds of up to three minutes. A single match can last from three to fifteen rounds. Boxing matches are presided over by a referee, who controls the fight from within the boxing ring.

The victor of a match can be decided in one of three ways. One participant is declared the victor if their opponent is knocked down and unable to get up by the time the referee counts to ten (a knockout), or if the referee decides one participant is too seriously injured to continue (a technical knockout). If neither of these two situations occurs by the time the fight reaches its agreed number of rounds, the victor is decided on the basis of a referee decision or by scores assigned by the judges of the match.

In traditional boxing, the participants are prohibited from certain actions—they may not hit below the belt, or trip, push, head-but, bite or wrestle their opponent. The opponents may only hit each other with their closed fist. Violation of any rule will result in the referee calling a foul, and can result in points deduction or disqualification.

Boxing is characterized by a variety of techniques, which include four basic punches—the jab, the cross, the hook, and the uppercut. There are also several basic defensive maneuvers, including slipping, bobbing, and clinching. These are the “meat” of boxing, and are used in different combinations to land punches or block the opponent.