Boxing is a combat sport involving two opponents who exchange blows with their hands protected by gloves. The aim is to knock out the opponent or win on points, according to the rules of each organization.
Boxing has been practiced for thousands of years, originating in Greece, and is considered one of the oldest and most popular martial arts in the world.
In this article, we’ll cover everything about boxing, from its history, benefits, modalities, rules, equipment and curiosities.
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What is boxing?
Boxing is a combat sport involving two people fighting each other using only their fists. It is a very old, traditional sport that is widely practiced all over the world.
Boxers wear padded gloves to protect their hands and face each other in a rectangular ring. The aim is to hit your opponent with punches while dodging and defending yourself from their blows.
Fights are divided into rounds and the winner is determined based on specific criteria such as knockouts, points scored or the judges’ decision.
Boxing is a sport that requires technique, strategy, reflexes, strength, agility, motor coordination and, above all, physical endurance.
History of boxing
The history of boxing is a rich and fascinating narrative that goes back centuries of evolution as a combat sport.
Its origins can be traced back to various ancient cultures, such as the Egyptians, who practiced a form of boxing 5,000 years ago, and the ancient Greeks, who competed in the “Pygmakia” at the Olympic Games.
Modern boxing, however, has its roots in England in the 1700s. The sport was practiced in a rudimentary way, with bare hands.
But it was only with the creation of the Marquis of Queensberry Rules in 1872 that boxing became structured. The sport took on body, seriousness and important rules that still exist today, such as the use of gloves and the length of rounds.
After that, the sport’s popularity continued to grow in England and beyond. Championships were created, famous boxers appeared in the ring and the sport became a cultural icon.
Boxing has been played regularly at the Summer Olympics since the 1904 edition in Saint Louis, USA.
Boxing organizations
Unlike some sports such as soccer, basketball and volleyball, boxing has several bodies that promote sporting events.
The four main bodies are, in order of creation: WBA (World Boxing Association), WBC (World Boxing Council), IBF (International Boxing Federation) and WBO (World Boxing Organization).
Professional boxers, therefore, tend to concentrate their forces in these four entities, as they are the ones that distribute the best prizes and give the most status to the fighters’ cartel.
There is even a term for those who win titles in all four organizations and defend their belts for 24 months in a row: super-champions.
Boxing rules
Boxing fights involve up to 12 rounds (rounds) of 3 minutes each. The number varies according to the organizing body. In the Olympic Games, for example, the matches are divided into 3 rounds of 3 minutes.
Wearing protective equipment and throwing punches only above the waist, the boxers exchange blows inside a ring. Victory can be declared in three different ways: knockout, technical knockout or points.
Victory by knockout is declared when the opponent is knocked down and is unable to return to the fight after 10 seconds of counting.
Victory by technical knockout, on the other hand, occurs when a boxer receives several punches in a row and the referee judges that he is unable to continue the fight.
Finally, there is victory by points. In boxing, there is a scoring system that takes into account the performance of the athletes in the fight when neither boxer is knocked down by knockout or technical knockout.
It works like this: when a round is over, the referees meet to assess the athletes. The fighter who showed the best boxing is declared the winner of the round and receives 10 points. The loser, on the other hand, can receive between 6 and 9 points.
The scoring takes into account some important aspects such as the number of punches landed, punches defended, poise, technical superiority and the number of infractions committed.
At the end of the last round, the referees give their final verdicts, taking into account the performances in each round.
In a unanimous decision victory, all the referees agree on the winner. This means that there was no doubt who was the best.
In a majority decision victory, two of the three referees give the victory to one boxer, while the other judge marks it a draw.
Finally, there is the split decision victory, in which two referees award victory to one fighter, while the opponent receives the third vote.
Boxing classes
- Light straw – Up to 46.3 kg
- Straw – Up to 47.6 kg
- Light fly – Up to 49 kg
- Fly – Up to 50.8 kg
- Super fly – Up to 52.2 kg
- Rooster – Up to 53.5 kg
- Super rooster – Up to 55.3 kg
- Feather – Up to 57.2 kg
- Super feather – Up to 59.0 kg
- Lightweight – Up to 61.2 kg
- Super light – Up to 63.5 kg
- Middleweight – Up to 66.7 kg
- Super medium – Up to 69.9 kg
- Medium – Up to 72.6 kg
- Super medium – Up to 76.2 kg
- Medium-heavy – Up to 79.4 kg
- Cruiser – Up to 90.7 kg
- Heavyweight – No limit
Olympic boxing classes (men)
- Fly – Up to 51 kg
- Featherweight – Up to 57 kg
- Lightweight – Up to 63.5 kg
- Medium – Up to 71 kg
- Medium – Up to 80 kg
- Heavyweight – Up to 92 kg
- Super-heavyweight – Over 92 kg
Olympic boxing classes (women)
- Fly – Up to 50 kg
- Rooster – Up to 54 kg
- Feather – Up to 57 kg
- Lightweight – Up to 60 kg
- Medium – Up to 66 kg
- Medium – Up to 75 kg
Boxing punches
- Jab
- Hook
- Cross
Jab
The jab is a quick, direct blow thrown with the fist in front of the guard. It is used to maintain distance, distract the opponent or create opportunities for further punches.
Gancho
The hook is a semi-circular blow.Its aim is to hit the side of the opponent’s head or torso. Hooks can be applied with both hands, i.e. with both the right fist and the left fist.
Cross
The cross is a direct, powerful punch thrown diagonally across the opponent’s guard.It is effective at hitting the opponent’s chin or body.
What can you not do in boxing?
- To strike below the waist;
- Give a blow to the back;
- Strike the back of the head;
- Kicking the opponent;
- Biting the opponent;
- Grabbing the opponent excessively;
- Striking the opponent on the ground;
- Striking with the inside of the hand;
- Striking with the forearm;
- Striking with the elbow;
- Grabbing the ring ropes;
- Headbutting.
Boxing ring
The boxing ring has a square shape with sides measuring 6.10m each. The height of the ropes must measure 1m from the ground.
To ensure the safety of the fighters, the ring needs to be surrounded by a safety area at least 60 centimeters wide.
As for the floor covering, it must be soft to absorb falls, as boxers often fall to the ground during fights.
These dimensions may vary slightly depending on boxing organizations and specific regulations for different types of competitions.
What equipment and instruments are used in boxing?
- Gloves weighing between 225 and 280g;
- Mouth guard;
- Genital protector;
- Regatta;
- Shorts (men);
- Shorts or skirt (women);
- Light shoes or boots.
The benefits of boxing
- Physical conditioning: Boxing training is an excellent way to improve cardiovascular conditioning, endurance, strength and agility. Intense workouts involving jumping, running and punching help burn calories and strengthen muscles;
- Motor coordination: Boxing requires precise coordination between the movements of the arms, legs and torso. This improves motor coordination and balance;
- Self-defense: Boxing teaches self-defense skills, increasing the ability to protect oneself in dangerous situations;
- Stress management: Boxing is a great way to release accumulated stress and tension. Physical exercise helps release endorphins, which are known to improve mood;
- Self-confidence: The constant practice of boxing, the improvement in physical conditioning and the acquisition of self-defense skills contribute to an increase in self-confidence and self-esteem;
- Discipline: Boxing requires discipline and commitment, as it demands rigorous training and obedience to the rules. These self-discipline skills can be applied in other areas of life;
- Concentration: To be effective in boxing, you need to maintain focus and attention. This can help improve your ability to concentrate;
- Socialization: Boxing gyms provide an environment where people can socialize, form friendships and become part of a community of sports enthusiasts.
Now you know all about boxing!Did you enjoy learning about the rules and characteristics of this much-loved sport? Tell us in the comments!Your feedback is very important for us to grow more and more 🥰
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