Beginner's Guide to Boxing

Boxing has long been known as the sport of kings. Two chiseled gladiators step into the ring and only one will claim victory.

Amateur and professional boxing has developed over the decades from bare-fisted, no-time-limit brawls to highly regulated exhibitions of finesse and athletic power.

All boxers begin at the amateur level and are governed by the regulations of USA Boxing. There are several factors that the USA Boxing organization takes very seriously. These include fouls, weight classes and experience levels, equipment and judging.

Fouls

Fouls have been set in place to keep the boxers safe and promote a fair and competitive fight. Many are aware that low blows are not allowed, however many other fouls will be unfamiliar to the uninitiated.

You can not head butt your opponent or strike them with your shoulder, elbow or forearm. You may also not hit with an open glove, the inside of a glove, the wrist or the back of your hand. This protects a boxer as much as his opponent. Broken wrists or hands will quickly derail a boxing career.

Punches to the back of the head and neck or the kidneys are also not allowed. A boxer can not hold the ropes for leverage, strike an opponent who is already down, duck below an opponent's belt line or hold the ropes and strike an opponent and the same time.

Mouthpieces are to always be worn. The fight will stop if a fighter loses his. If the referee believes the mouthpiece was spit out he will call a foul.

Professional fighters are able to get away with more fouls than the amateurs. Some could argue that they get away with too much. As an amateur, a boxer will be protected to a certain extent.

Weight Classes

Boxing has defined weight classes that match up similar sized individuals for matches. This means a 115 pounder will not step in the ring against a Super Heavyweight. The weight classes for the amateur and professional ranks are as follows:

Amateur

Light Flyweight: Up to 106 pounds

Flyweight: 112 pounds

Bantamweight: 119 pounds

Featherweight: 125 pounds

Lightweight: 132 pounds

Light Welterweight: 141 pounds

Welterweight: 152 pounds

Middleweight: 165 pounds

Light Heavyweight: 178 pounds

Heavyweight: 201 pounds

Super Heavyweight: over 201 pounds

Professional

Mini Flyweight: up to 105 pounds

Light Flyweight: 108 pounds

Flyweight: 112 pounds

Junior Bantamweight: 115 pounds

Bantamweight: 118 pounds

Junior Featherweight: 122 pounds

Featherweight: 126 pounds

Junior Lightweight: 130 pounds

Lightweight: 135 pounds

Junior Welterweight: 140 pounds

Welterweight: 147 pounds

Junior Middleweight: 154 pounds

Middleweight: 160 pounds

Super Middleweight: 168 pounds

Light Heavyweight: 175 pounds

Cruiserweight: 200 pounds

Heavyweight: over 200 pounds

Weight classes for women boxers are slightly varied from those of the men. Amateur boxing includes experience levels to protect boxers who have not had many fights and to promote matching up boxers with similar experience in competitive fights.

Boxers who have never had a sanctioned bout will be placed in the Sub-Novice category. Novice is reserved for fighters with less than 10 fights and Open is for everyone beyond that. Further separations are made for fighters under 19 and above 35 years of age.

Equipment

Equipment required for amateurs include a sleeveless t-shirt, a protective cup for men and an optional breast protector for women as well as the groin protector. Headgear must be between 10 and 12 ounces and be officially endorsed by USA Boxing. The mouthpiece must be custom made or individually fitted. Finally, authorized gloves that weigh 10 ounces for fighters between 106 and 152 pounds and 12 ounce gloves for larger than 152 pounds.

Professional boxers must have custom mouthpieces, boxing shorts, shoes and groin protector. They do not wear shirts or headgear.

Judging

One of the most confusing aspects in boxing is determining how fights are scored. For amateur fighters the score is a simple calculation. Five judges will score the fight by counting the number of landed punches. At the end of the fight the judges will combine all of their totals. The boxer with the most landed punches is declared the winner.

As an amateur any punch that connects with your opponent will be counted the same, whether it is a weak jab to the ribs or a crushing knockout on the chin. If the opponent gets up after the knockdown, only one point will be awarded for the landed punch.

Professional judging is much different. Judges in pro fights must determine the weight and power of a landed punch. One fighter may connect with 10 punches, but if his opponent staggers him with one punch, the score will be in favor of the more powerful boxer.

Knockdowns weigh heavily on the score of a professional boxing match. For each round the judges begin with 10 points for each boxer. The winner of the round will receive 10 points while the loser will receive 9 points or less.

A boxer will automatically lose 1 point if they are knocked down in the round. A knockdown is scored when any part of a boxer's body, other than his feet hits the canvas as the result of a legal landed punch. The referee is the final determinant of what is and is not a knockdown.

When a knockdown does not occur, judges use four elements to determine the winner of a round. A boxer that lands clean, obvious punches on his opponent will take command of the fight. Extra weight is given for powerful, damaging punches.

The term "effective aggression" means a boxer is attacking his opponent and landing quality punches. Without landing punches the boxer has done nothing.

Points go to a boxer who has a command of the ring with their presence, footwork and by using skill to outmaneuver an opponent.

Finally, making an opponent miss his punches is beneficial to a boxer. Not only will he not get repeatedly punched in the face but he will positively influence the judges in the round.

Without a decisive knockout, the fight will go the length of the predetermined number of rounds. At this point the judges will determine the winner.

The scoring system has provided questionable decisions over the years but continues to be the chosen method. Knockdowns seem to be the favored method of winning for boxers. It removes any doubt at who the winner is and typically adds to the drama of an exciting fight.

Now that you understand the game a little better, sit back and enjoy the sweet science of athletic domination. Boxing, the sport of kings.