Boxing

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.

History Of Boxing

Boxing has evolved from ancient contests of endurance to one of the most regulated and popular sports worldwide.

• Originated in ancient Mesopotamia and Greece, where it featured in early Olympic Games.
• Revived in 18th-century Britain with bare-knuckle contests.
• The Marquess of Queensberry Rules (1867) introduced gloves, timed rounds, and weight divisions.
• Boxing became an Olympic sport for men in 1904 and for women in 2012.
• Today, both amateur and professional boxing enjoy a global following.

How Many Rounds In A Boxing Match

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.

• Men's professional boxing: 12 rounds, each lasting 3 minutes.
• Women's professional boxing: currently 10 rounds, each lasting 2 minutes.
• Ongoing debate:
• Many athletes and governing bodies are pushing for women to fight 12 x 3-minute rounds like men, arguing it ensures equality and allows for more decisive outcomes.
• Others believe the current system helps protect athlete welfare, keeping fights safer and less physically demanding.
• In October 2023, Amanda Serrano and Danila Ramos contested the first unified women's title bout scheduled for 12 three-minute rounds, a historic exception to the 10x2 rule.

How Long Are Boxing Rounds

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.

Marquess Of Queensberry Boxing Rules

Introduced in 1867, these rules shaped modern boxing by standardising safety, structure, and fair play.

• Origins: Published in 1867 and endorsed by John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry.
• Gloves required: Replaced bare-knuckle fighting with padded gloves.
• Timed rounds: Established 3-minute rounds with 1-minute rest intervals.
• Knockdown count: Introduced the 10-second rule for a fighter to recover.
• Weight classes: Helped formalise divisions to ensure fair competition.
• Legacy: Still forms the basis of professional and amateur boxing regulations today.

What Are The Weight Divisions Of Boxing

Weight classes are central to boxing, keeping competition fair by matching fighters of similar size.

• Professional boxing: 17 weight divisions for both men and women.
• Paris 2024 featured 13 medal classes (7 men's and 6 women's events).
• LA 2028 update: Men and women will each compete in 7 weight classes, with an equal athlete quota of 124 each.

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+	-

How Is Boxing Scored

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.

Boxing Judges

• Professional fights are almost always scored by three ringside judges.
• Amateur and Olympic bouts also use a multi-judge system, often with five judges, though only three scores are randomly selected to count.
• The three-judge system is mandatory in professional title fights, sanctioned bouts, and most international competitions.

The 10-Point Must System

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.

Can A Boxing Match End In A Draw?

Yes - a fight doesn't always end with a winner. A draw can occur if:

• Two judges score the fight for opposite boxers, and one calls it even.
• All three judges score the fight even.
• The total points across the judges result in no clear majority.

Boxing Fouls and Deductions

Points can be deducted by the referee for repeated fouls (e.g., holding, low blows, headbutts, hitting after the bell).

• A referee usually issues a warning first before taking points away.
• One or two-point deductions can dramatically swing a close fight.

Does a Fight Have to End in a Knockout?

No - while knockouts are dramatic, most fights end with the judges' decision.

• Victory can come by:
  • Knockout (KO) - when a boxer is knocked down and can't get back up before the referee counts to ten
  • Technical Knockout (TKO) - referee, doctor, or corner stops the fight for the fighter's safety
  • Decision - judges' scores determine the winner.
  • Draw - if no winner can be declared.

Common Boxing Fight Outcomes

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

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.

• Professional divisions mirror the 17 men's weight classes, from minimumweight to heavyweight.
• Major competitions include the World Championships, European Championships, and Olympic Games.

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.

Top Women's Boxing Champions

Women's boxing has produced some of the most dominant champions in recent combat sports history, across multiple weight classes.

• Katie Taylor (Ireland) - Undisputed lightweight champion, also competed at super lightweight.
• Claressa Shields (USA) - Multi-weight undisputed champion, dominating middleweight and super middleweight.
• Amanda Serrano (Puerto Rico) - World champion across seven divisions, from super flyweight to lightweight.
• Savannah Marshall (UK) - Former middleweight world champion, now at super middleweight.
• Alycia Baumgardner (USA) - Unified super featherweight champion.
• Jessica McCaskill (USA) - Held the undisputed title in welterweight.
• Estelle Mossely (France) - Olympic gold medallist and former lightweight world champion.
• Hannah Rankin (Scotland) - Former super welterweight world champion.
• Alejandra Jiménez (Mexico) - Pioneering female heavyweight and super middleweight champion.

Watch Boxing Live and On Demand

You can watch live boxing and full replays for free on Eurovision Sport, with coverage of the upcoming World Boxing Championships.