Boxing

Boxing, also known as fencing, is a combat sport in which two fighters strike each other with their hands only, wearing padded gloves (hand coverings filled with padding). Matches take place in a four-sided enclosed area surrounded by ropes, known in English as a ring. The sport is divided into rounds of fixed duration, with officials positioned around the perimeter of the arena and scorekeepers stationed outside the fighting area.

Victory can be achieved in two principal ways: by accumulating points when rounds are completed, or when one of the fighters is unable to continue—known as a knockout (KO) or technical knockout (TKO). A match may also be stopped due to rule violation, injury, or a fighter's inability to proceed.

Brief History

Hand combat is ancient, and is visible in the art of the Middle East and classical Greece, where it was among the events of the ancient Olympics. The modern form emerged in England during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The Queensberry Rules, established in the nineteenth century, introduced the use of padded gloves, timed rounds, and the count to ten when a fighter is knocked down.

Rules and Scoring

Blows are allowed only when they land on the front of the head and the upper body above the waist. It is prohibited to strike the back of the head, below the belt, to hold, to use elbows, or to kick. Scorekeepers award points for each round to the two fighters, based on clean strikes, ring control, and defense. Fighters are placed in weight classes to minimize physical disparity.

Amateur and Professional

Boxing is divided into two major categories: amateur, which includes Olympic competition, and professional. In amateur boxing, rounds are shorter and emphasis is placed on the number of clean strikes; headgear for head protection is often required in some weight classes. Professional boxing has longer rounds and multiple organizations that sanction matches, which can result in different weight class divisions and titles for the same category.

Health and Debate

Repeated blows to the head are associated with long-term brain injury. For this reason, medical examination is mandatory following a match, and officials have authority to stop a bout. Some health organizations have called for changes to or restrictions on the sport, while supporters argue that rules and oversight mitigate the risks.