Power, precision, and strategy - boxing is one of the most iconic martial arts and combat sports, evolving from ancient traditions into a global sport you can watch live or on replay for free on Eurovision Sport.
Boxing has evolved from ancient contests of endurance to one of the most regulated and popular sports worldwide.
Every punch counts, but how long a boxer has to prove themselves depends on the number of rounds - and that varies between men's and women's matches.
Boxing rounds are timed periods of action - in men's bouts they last 3 minutes, while women's fights are set at 2 minutes. However, a round doesn't always go the distance, as it can end early with a knockout, stoppage, or disqualification.
Introduced in 1867, these rules shaped modern boxing by standardising safety, structure, and fair play.
Weight classes are central to boxing, keeping competition fair by matching fighters of similar size.
| Category | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Light Flyweight | - | 45-48kg |
| Flyweight | 47-50kg | 48-51kg |
| Bantamweight | 50-55kg | 51-54kg |
| Featherweight | - | 54-57kg |
| Lightweight | 55-60kg | 57-60kg |
| Welterweight | 60-65kg | 60-65kg |
| Light Middleweight | 65-70kg | 65-70kg |
| Middleweight | 70-75kg | 70-75kg |
| Light Heavyweight | 75-80kg | 75-80kg |
| Cruiserweight | 80-85kg | - |
| Heavyweight | 85-90kg | 80kg+ |
| Super Heavyweight | 90kg+ | - |
Boxing matches are scored round by round, with judges evaluating performance based on punches, defence, and control of the fight. While knockouts grab headlines, most bouts are decided on points.
In every round, the winner must be awarded 10 points, while the opponent receives 9 or fewer depending on performance.
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 10-10 | An even round, extremely rare but possible if neither boxer has a clear advantage. |
| 10-9 | A close round where one boxer edges ahead. |
| 10-8 | A dominant round, usually with a knockdown or clear superiority. |
| 10-7 | Rare, but possible if there are multiple knockdowns or total domination. |
Yes - a fight doesn't always end with a winner. A draw can occur if:
Points can be deducted by the referee for repeated fouls (e.g., holding, low blows, headbutts, hitting after the bell).
No - while knockouts are dramatic, most fights end with the judges' decision.
| Outcome | Description |
|---|---|
| Knockout (KO) | A boxer is unable to rise and continue after the referee's 10-count. |
| Technical Knockout (TKO) | The referee, ringside doctor, or the boxer's corner stops the fight because the fighter can't continue safely. |
| Unanimous Decision (UD) | All three judges score the fight in favour of the same boxer. |
| Split Decision (SD) | Two judges score the fight for one boxer, while the third judge scores it for the other. |
| Majority Decision (MD) | Two judges score the fight for one boxer, while the third judge scores it as a draw. |
| Draw | Judges' scorecards result in no overall winner. Can be a unanimous draw, split draw, or majority draw. |
| Technical Decision | A fight stopped early due to injury (usually accidental head clash) is decided on the judges' scorecards. |
| No Contest (NC) | The fight is declared void, typically due to an accidental foul or external circumstances before enough rounds are completed. |
Women's boxing has rapidly evolved since its Olympic debut in 2012, producing global stars and headline events on the same stage as men's boxing.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1722 | First documented women's boxing event in London between Elizabeth Wilkinson and Hannah Hyfield |
| 1904 | Demonstration bout at the Olympics in the United States, though it was largely banned in many regions afterward. |
| 1970s-80s | Women push for recognition in amateur circuits, often facing legal battles to gain licenses. |
| 1996 | Christy Martin fights Deirdre Gogarty on a Mike Tyson undercard in Las Vegas - the first women's bout on a major U.S. pay-per-view. |
| 1998 | First officially sanctioned women's world title fight takes place in the UK. |
| 2001 | Laila Ali (daughter of Muhammad Ali) becomes one of the sport's biggest female stars, boosting mainstream visibility. |
| 2012 | Women's boxing makes its Olympic debut at the London Games, with Nicola Adams (GBR) winning the first-ever gold medal. |
| 2021 | Claressa Shields becomes the first boxer in history (male or female) to be an undisputed world champion in two weight divisions. |
| 2022 | Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano headlines Madison Square Garden in New York - the first women's fight to top the iconic venue, selling out the arena. |
| 2023 | Claressa Shields headlines in Detroit, marking one of the largest-attended women's boxing events in U.S. history. |
Women's boxing has produced some of the most dominant champions in recent combat sports history, across multiple weight classes.
You can watch live boxing and full replays for free on Eurovision Sport, with coverage of the upcoming World Boxing Championships.