BOXING

Boxer", "Boxers", and "Fistfight" redirect here.
For other uses, see Boxing (disambiguation) ,
Boxer (disambiguation) , Boxers
(disambiguation) , and Fistfight
(disambiguation) .
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Boxing is a combat sport in which two people,
usually wearing protective gloves, throw punches
at each other for a predetermined amount of time
in a boxing ring.
Amateur boxing is both an Olympic and
Commonwealth Games sport and is a common
fixture in most international games—it also has
its own World Championships. Boxing is
overseen by a referee over a series of one- to
three-minute intervals called rounds.
The result is decided when an opponent is
deemed incapable to continue by a referee, is
disqualified for breaking a rule, or resigns by
throwing in a towel . If a fight completes all of
its allocated rounds, the victor is determined by
judges' scorecards at the end of the contest. In
the event that both fighters gain equal scores
from the judges, professional bouts are
considered a draw. In Olympic boxing, because
a winner must be declared, judges award the
content to one fighter on technical criteria.
While humans have fought in hand-to-hand
combat since the dawn of human history, the
earliest evidence of fist-fighting sporting contests
date back to the ancient Near East in the 3rd
and 2nd millennia BC. [2] The earliest evidence
of boxing rules date back to Ancient Greece ,
where boxing was established as an Olympic
game in 688 BC. [2] Boxing evolved from 16th-
and 18th-century prizefights, largely in Great
Britain , to the forerunner of modern boxing in the
mid-19th century with the 1867 introduction of
the Marquess of Queensberry Rules .
History
Ancient history
See also: Ancient Greek boxing
A painting of Minoan
youths boxing, from an
Akrotiri fresco circa 1650
BC. This is the earliest
documented use of boxing
gloves.
A boxing scene depicted on a
Panathenaic amphora from Ancient
Greece, circa 336 BC, British Museum
The earliest known depiction of boxing comes
from a Sumerian relief in Iraq from the 3rd
millennium BC. [2] Later depictions from the 2nd
millennium BC are found in reliefs from the
Mesopotamian nations of Assyria and Babylonia,
and in Hittite art from Asia
Minor . [ citation needed ] A relief sculpture from
Egyptian Thebes (c. 1350 BC) shows both
boxers and spectators. [2] These early Middle-
Eastern and Egyptian depictions showed
contests where fighters were either bare-fisted or
had a band supporting the wrist. [2] The earliest
evidence of fist fighting with the use of gloves
can be found on Minoan Crete (c. 1500–1400
BC). [2]
Various types of boxing existed in ancient India .
The earliest references to musti-yuddha come
from classical Vedic epics such as the Ramayana
and Rig Veda . The Mahabharata describes two
combatants boxing with clenched fists and
fighting with kicks, finger strikes, knee strikes
and headbutts. [3] Duels (niyuddham ) were often
fought to the death. [ citation needed ] During the
period of the Western Satraps, the ruler
Rudradaman - in addition to being well-versed in
"the great sciences" which included Indian
classical music , Sanskrit grammar , and logic -
was said to be an excellent horseman,
charioteer, elephant rider, swordsman and
boxer. [4] The Gurbilas Shemi , an 18th-century
Sikh text, gives numerous references to musti-
yuddha.
In Ancient Greece boxing was a well developed
sport and enjoyed consistent popularity. In
Olympic terms, it was first introduced in the
23rd Olympiad, 688 BC. The boxers would wind
leather thongs around their hands in order to
protect them. There were no rounds and boxers
fought until one of them acknowledged defeat or
could not continue. Weight categories were not
used, which meant heavyweights had a tendency
to dominate. The style of boxing practiced
typically featured an advanced left leg stance,
with the left arm semi-extended as a guard, in
addition to being used for striking, and with the
right arm drawn back ready to strike. It was the
head of the opponent which was primarily
targeted, and there is little evidence to suggest
that targeting the body was common. [5]
Boxing was a popular spectator sport in Ancient
Rome . [6] In order for the fighters to protect
themselves against their opponents they
wrapped leather thongs around their fists.
Eventually harder leather was used and the thong
soon became a weapon . The Romans even
introduced metal studs to the thongs to make
the cestus. Fighting events were held at Roman
Amphitheatres. The Roman form of boxing was
often a fight until death to please the spectators
who gathered at such events. However,
especially in later times, purchased slaves and
trained combat performers were valuable
commodities, and their lives were not given up
without due consideration. Often slaves were
used against one another in a circle marked on
the floor. This is where the term ring came from.
In AD 393, during the Roman gladiator period,
boxing was abolished due to excessive brutality.
It was not until the late 16th century that boxing
re-surfaced in London. [ citation needed ]
Early London prize ring rules
A straight right demonstrated in
Edmund Price's The Science of
Defence: A Treatise on Sparring and
Wrestling , 1867
Records of Classical boxing activity disappeared
after the fall of the Western Roman Empire when
the wearing of weapons became common once
again and interest in fighting with the fists
waned. However, there are detailed records of
various fist-fighting sports that were maintained
in different cities and provinces of Italy between
the 12th and 17th centuries. There was also a
sport in ancient Rus called Kulachniy Boy or "Fist
Fighting".
As the wearing of swords became less common,
there was renewed interest in fencing with the
fists. The sport would later resurface in England
during the early 16th century in the form of bare-
knuckle boxing sometimes referred to as
prizefighting . The first documented account of a
bare-knuckle fight in England appeared in 1681
in the London Protestant Mercury , and the first
English bare-knuckle champion was James Figg
in 1719. [7] This is also the time when the word
"boxing" first came to be used. This earliest
form of modern boxing was very different.
Contests in Mr. Figg's time, in addition to fist
fighting, also contained fencing and cudgeling.
On 6 January 1681, the first recorded boxing
match took place in Britain when Christopher
Monck , 2nd Duke of Albemarle (and later
Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica) engineered a
bout between his butler and his butcher with the
latter winning the prize.
Early fighting had no written rules. There were no
weight divisions or round limits, and no referee.
In general, it was extremely chaotic. An early
article on boxing was published in Nottingham,
1713, by Sir Thomas Parkyns, a successful
Wrestler from Bunny, Nottinghamshire , who had
practised the techniques he described. The
article, a single page in his manual of wrestling
and fencing, Progymnasmata: The inn-play, or
Cornish-hugg wrestler, described a system of
headbutting, punching, eye-gouging, chokes, and
hard throws, not recognized in boxing today. [8]
The first boxing rules, called the Broughton's
rules, were introduced by champion Jack
Broughton in 1743 to protect fighters in the ring
where deaths sometimes occurred. [9] Under
these rules, if a man went down and could not
continue after a count of 30 seconds, the fight
was over. Hitting a downed fighter and grasping
below the waist were prohibited. Broughton
encouraged the use of 'mufflers', a form of
padded bandage or mitten, to be used in
'jousting' or sparring sessions in training, and in
exhibition matches.
Tom Cribb vs Tom Molineaux in a re-
match for the heavyweight championship
of England, 1811
These rules did allow the fighters an advantage
not enjoyed by today's boxers; they permitted
the fighter to drop to one knee to end the round
and begin the 30-second count at any time.
Thus a fighter realizing he was in trouble had an
opportunity to recover. However, this was
considered "unmanly" [10] and was frequently
disallowed by additional rules negotiated by the
Seconds of the Boxers. [11] In modern boxing,
there is a three-minute limit to rounds (unlike
the downed fighter ends the round rule).
Intentionally going down in modern boxing will
cause the recovering fighter to lose points in the
scoring system. Furthermore, as the contestants
did not have heavy leather gloves and wristwraps
to protect their hands, they used different
punching technique to preserve their hands
because the head was a common target to hit
full out. [ dubious – discuss][ citation needed ]
Almost all period manuals have powerful straight
punches with the whole body behind them to the
face (including forehead) as the basic
blows. [12][13] [ unreliable source? ]
The London Prize Ring Rules introduced
measures that remain in effect for professional
boxing to this day, such as outlawing butting,
gouging, scratching, kicking, hitting a man while
down, holding the ropes, and using resin, stones
or hard objects in the hands, and biting. [14]
Marquess of Queensberry rules
(1867)
In 1867, the Marquess of Queensberry rules were
drafted by John Chambers for amateur
championships held at Lillie Bridge in London for
Lightweights , Middleweights and Heavyweights .
The rules were published under the patronage of
the Marquess of Queensberry , whose name has
always been associated with them.
Play media
The June 1894 Leonard–Cushing bout.
Each of the six one-minute rounds
recorded by the Kinetograph was made
available to exhibitors for $22.50. [15]
Customers who watched the final round
saw Leonard score a knockdown.
There were twelve rules in all, and they specified
that fights should be "a fair stand-up boxing
match" in a 24-foot-square or similar ring.
Rounds were three minutes with one-minute rest
intervals between rounds. Each fighter was given
a ten-second count if he was knocked down, and
wrestling was banned. The introduction of gloves
of "fair-size" also changed the nature of the
bouts. An average pair of boxing gloves
resembles a bloated pair of mittens and are
laced up around the wrists. [16] The gloves can
be used to block an opponent's blows. As a
result of their introduction, bouts became longer
and more strategic with greater importance
attached to defensive maneuvers such as
slipping, bobbing, countering and angling.
Because less defensive emphasis was placed on
the use of the forearms and more on the gloves,
the classical forearms outwards, torso leaning
back stance of the bare knuckle boxer was
modified to a more modern stance in which the
torso is tilted forward and the hands are held
closer to the face.
Late 19th and early 20th
centuries
Through the late nineteenth century, the martial
art of boxing or prizefighting was primarily a
sport of dubious legitimacy. Outlawed in England
and much of the United States, prizefights were
often held at gambling venues and broken up by
police. [17] Brawling and wrestling tactics
continued, and riots at prizefights were common
occurrences. Still, throughout this period, there
arose some notable bare knuckle champions
who developed fairly sophisticated fighting
tactics.
Amateur Boxing Club, Wales
1963
The English case of R v. Coney in 1882 found
that a bare-knuckle fight was an assault
occasioning actual bodily harm , despite the
consent of the participants. This marked the end
of widespread public bare-knuckle contests in
England.
The first world heavyweight champion under the
Queensberry Rules was "Gentleman Jim" Corbett,
who defeated John L. Sullivan in 1892 at the
Pelican Athletic Club in New Orleans. [18]
The first instance of film censorship in the
United States occurred in 1897 when several
states banned the showing of prize fighting films
from the state of Nevada, [19] where it was legal
at the time.
Throughout the early twentieth century, boxers
struggled to achieve legitimacy. [ citation needed ]
They were aided by the influence of promoters
like Tex Rickard and the popularity of great
champions such as John L. Sullivan.
Modern boxing
The sport rising from illegal venues and
outlawed prize fighting has become one of the
largest multibillion-dollar sports today. A
majority of young talent still comes from
poverty-stricken areas around the world. Places
like Mexico, Africa, South America, and Eastern
Europe prove to be filled with young aspiring
athletes who wish to become the future of
boxing. Even in the U.S., places like the inner
cities of New York, and Chicago have given rise
to promising young talent. According to Rubin,
"boxing lost its appeal with the American middle
class, and most of who boxes in modern
America come from the streets and are street
fighters". [20]
Rules
Main article: Marquess of Queensberry Rules
The Marquess of Queensberry rules have been
the general rules governing modern boxing since
their publication in 1867. [21]
A boxing match typically consists of a
determined number of three-minute rounds, a
total of up to 9 to 12 rounds. A minute is
typically spent between each round with the
fighters in their assigned corners receiving
advice and attention from their coach and staff.
The fight is controlled by a referee who works
within the ring to judge and control the conduct
of the fighters, rule on their ability to fight safely,
count knocked-down fighters, and rule on fouls.
Up to three judges are typically present at
ringside to score the bout and assign points to
the boxers, based on punches and elbows that
connect, defense, knockdowns, hugging and
other, more subjective, measures. Because of the
open-ended style of boxing judging, many fights
have controversial results, in which one or both
fighters believe they have been "robbed" or
unfairly denied a victory. Each fighter has an
assigned corner of the ring, where his or her
coach, as well as one or more "seconds" may
administer to the fighter at the beginning of the
fight and between rounds. Each boxer enters into
the ring from their assigned corners at the
beginning of each round and must cease fighting
and return to their corner at the signalled end of
each round.
A bout in which the predetermined number of
rounds passes is decided by the judges, and is
said to "go the distance". The fighter with the
higher score at the end of the fight is ruled the
winner. With three judges, unanimous and split
decisions are possible, as are draws. A boxer
may win the bout before a decision is reached
through a knock-out; such bouts are said to have
ended "inside the distance". If a fighter is
knocked down during the fight, determined by
whether the boxer touches the canvas floor of
the ring with any part of their body other than the
feet as a result of the opponent's punch and not
a slip, as determined by the referee, the referee
begins counting until the fighter returns to his or
her feet and can continue. Some jurisdictions
require the referee to count to eight regardless
of if the fighter gets up before.
Should the referee count to ten, then the
knocked-down boxer is ruled "knocked
out" (whether unconscious or not) and the other
boxer is ruled the winner by knockout (KO). A
"technical knock-out" (TKO) is possible as well,
and is ruled by the referee, fight doctor, or a
fighter's corner if a fighter is unable to safely
continue to fight, based upon injuries or being
judged unable to effectively defend themselves.
Many jurisdictions and sanctioning agencies also
have a "three-knockdown rule", in which three
knockdowns in a given round result in a TKO. A
TKO is considered a knockout in a fighter's
record. A "standing eight" count rule may also
be in effect. This gives the referee the right to
step in and administer a count of eight to a
fighter that he or she feels may be in danger,
even if no knockdown has taken place. After
counting the referee will observe the fighter, and
decide if he or she is fit to continue. For scoring
purposes, a standing eight count is treated as a
knockdown.
Ingemar Johansson of Sweden KO's
heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson ,
26 June 1959.
In general, boxers are prohibited from hitting
below the belt, holding, tripping, pushing, biting,
or spitting. The boxer's shorts are raised so the
opponent is not allowed to hit to the groin area
with intent to cause pain or injury. Failure to
abide by the former may result in a foul. They
also are prohibited from kicking, head-butting, or
hitting with any part of the arm other than the
knuckles of a closed fist (including hitting with
the elbow, shoulder or forearm, as well as with
open gloves, the wrist, the inside, back or side
of the hand). They are prohibited as well from
hitting the back, back of the head or neck (called
a "rabbit-punch") or the kidneys. They are
prohibited from holding the ropes for support
when punching, holding an opponent while
punching, or ducking below the belt of their
opponent (dropping below the waist of your
opponent, no matter the distance between).
If a "clinch" – a defensive move in which a boxer
wraps his or her opponents arms and holds on
to create a pause – is broken by the referee,
each fighter must take a full step back before
punching again (alternatively, the referee may
direct the fighters to "punch out" of the clinch).
When a boxer is knocked down, the other boxer
must immediately cease fighting and move to
the furthest neutral corner of the ring until the
referee has either ruled a knockout or called for
the fight to continue.
Violations of these rules may be ruled "fouls" by
the referee, who may issue warnings, deduct
points, or disqualify an offending boxer, causing
an automatic loss, depending on the seriousness
and intentionality of the foul. An intentional foul
that causes injury that prevents a fight from
continuing usually causes the boxer who
committed it to be disqualified. A fighter who
suffers an accidental low-blow may be given up
to five minutes to recover, after which they may
be ruled knocked out if they are unable to
continue. Accidental fouls that cause injury
ending a bout may lead to a "no contest" result,
or else cause the fight to go to a decision if
enough rounds (typically four or more, or at least
three in a four-round fight) have passed.
Unheard of in the modern era, but common
during the early 20th Century in North America, a
"newspaper decision (NWS)" might be made
after a no decision bout had ended. A "no
decision" bout occurred when, by law or by pre-
arrangement of the fighters, if both boxers were
still standing at the fight's conclusion and there
was no knockout, no official decision was
rendered and neither boxer was declared the
winner. But this did not prevent the pool of
ringside newspaper reporters from declaring a
consensus result among themselves and printing
a newspaper decision in their publications.
Officially, however, a "no decision" bout resulted
in neither boxer winning or losing. Boxing
historians sometimes use these unofficial
newspaper decisions in compiling fight records
for illustrative purposes only. Often, media
outlets covering a match will personally score
the match, and post their scores as an
independent sentence in their report.
Professional vs. amateur
boxing
Roberto Durán (right) appeared in a book
by Prvoslav Vujčić (left)
Throughout the 17th to 19th centuries, boxing
bouts were motivated by money , as the fighters
competed for prize money , promoters controlled
the gate, and spectators bet on the result. The
modern Olympic movement revived interest in
amateur sports, and amateur boxing became an
Olympic sport in 1908. In their current form,
Olympic and other amateur bouts are typically
limited to three or four rounds, scoring is
computed by points based on the number of
clean blows landed, regardless of impact, and
fighters wear protective headgear, reducing the
number of injuries, knockdowns, and
knockouts. [22] Currently scoring blows in
amateur boxing are subjectively counted by
ringside judges, but the Australian Institute for
Sport has demonstrated a prototype of an
Automated Boxing Scoring System , which
introduces scoring objectivity, improves safety,
and arguably makes the sport more interesting
to spectators. Professional boxing remains by
far the most popular form of the sport globally,
though amateur boxing is dominant in Cuba and
some former Soviet republics. For most fighters,
an amateur career, especially at the Olympics,
serves to develop skills and gain experience in
preparation for a professional career. Western
boxers typically participate in one Olympics and
then turn pro, Cubans and other socialist
countries have an opportunity to collect multiple
medals. [23] In 2016, professional boxers were
admitted in the Olympic Games and other
tournaments sanctioned by AIBA. [24] This was
done in part to level the playing field and give
all of the athletes the same opportunities
government-sponsored boxers from socialist
countries and post-Soviet republics have. [25]
However, professional organizations strongly
opposed that decision. [26][27]
Amateur boxing
Main article: Amateur boxing
Nicola Adams is the first female boxer to win an
Olympic gold medal. Here with Mary Kom of
India.
Amateur boxing may be found at the collegiate
level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth
Games , and in many other venues sanctioned by
amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing
has a point scoring system that measures the
number of clean blows landed rather than
physical damage. Bouts consist of three rounds
of three minutes in the Olympic and
Commonwealth Games, and three rounds of
three minutes in a national ABA (Amateur Boxing
Association) bout, each with a one-minute
interval between rounds.
Competitors wear protective headgear and gloves
with a white strip or circle across the knuckle.
There are cases however, where white ended
gloves are not required but any solid color may
be worn. The white end is just a way to make it
easier for judges to score clean hits. Each
competitor must have their hands properly
wrapped, pre-fight, for added protection on their
hands and for added cushion under the gloves.
Gloves worn by the fighters must be twelve
ounces in weight unless the fighters weigh under
165 pounds (75 kg), thus allowing them to wear
ten ounce gloves. A punch is considered a
scoring punch only when the boxers connect with
the white portion of the gloves. Each punch that
lands cleanly on the head or torso with sufficient
force is awarded a point. A referee monitors the
fight to ensure that competitors use only legal
blows. A belt worn over the torso represents the
lower limit of punches – any boxer repeatedly
landing low blows below the belt is disqualified.
Referees also ensure that the boxers don't use
holding tactics to prevent the opponent from
swinging. If this occurs, the referee separates
the opponents and orders them to continue
boxing. Repeated holding can result in a boxer
being penalized or ultimately disqualified.
Referees will stop the bout if a boxer is
seriously injured, if one boxer is significantly
dominating the other or if the score is severely
imbalanced. [28] Amateur bouts which end this
way may be noted as "RSC" (referee stopped
contest) with notations for an outclassed
opponent (RSCO), outscored opponent (RSCOS),
injury (RSCI) or head injury (RSCH).
Professional boxing
Main article: Professional boxing
Firpo sending Dempsey outside the ring;
painting by George Bellows.
Professional bouts are usually much longer than
amateur bouts, typically ranging from ten to
twelve rounds, though four-round fights are
common for less experienced fighters or club
fighters. There are also some two- [29] and
three-round professional bouts, [30] especially in
Australia. Through the early 20th century, it was
common for fights to have unlimited rounds,
ending only when one fighter quit, benefiting
high-energy fighters like Jack Dempsey . Fifteen
rounds remained the internationally recognized
limit for championship fights for most of the
20th century until the early 1980s , when the
death of boxer Kim Duk-koo eventually prompted
the World Boxing Council and other
organizations sanctioning professional boxing to
reduce the limit to twelve rounds.
Headgear is not permitted in professional bouts,
and boxers are generally allowed to take much
more damage before a fight is halted. At any
time, the referee may stop the contest if he
believes that one participant cannot defend
himself due to injury. In that case, the other
participant is awarded a technical knockout win.
A technical knockout would also be awarded if a
fighter lands a punch that opens a cut on the
opponent, and the opponent is later deemed not
fit to continue by a doctor because of the cut.
For this reason, fighters often employ cutmen ,
whose job is to treat cuts between rounds so
that the boxer is able to continue despite the
cut. If a boxer simply quits fighting, or if his
corner stops the fight, then the winning boxer is
also awarded a technical knockout victory. In
contrast with amateur boxing, professional male
boxers have to be bare-chested. [31]
Boxing styles
Definition of style
"Style" is often defined as the strategic approach
a fighter takes during a bout. No two fighters'
styles are alike, as each is determined by that
individual's physical and mental attributes. Three
main styles exist in boxing: outside fighter
("boxer"), brawler (or "slugger"), and Inside
fighter ("swarmer"). These styles may be divided
into several special subgroups, such as counter
puncher, etc. The main philosophy of the styles
is, that each style has an advantage over one,
but disadvantage over the other one. It follows
the rock-paper-scissors scenario - boxer beats
brawler, brawler beats swarmer, and swarmer
beats boxer. [32]
Boxer/out-fighter
Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali
was a typical example of an out-fighter.
A classic "boxer" or stylist (also known as an
"out-fighter") seeks to maintain distance between
himself and his opponent, fighting with faster,
longer range punches, most notably the jab, and
gradually wearing his opponent down. Due to
this reliance on weaker punches, out-fighters
tend to win by point decisions rather than by
knockout, though some out-fighters have notable
knockout records. They are often regarded as the
best boxing strategists due to their ability to
control the pace of the fight and lead their
opponent, methodically wearing him down and
exhibiting more skill and finesse than a
brawler. [33] Out-fighters need reach, hand speed,
reflexes, and footwork.
Notable out-fighters include Muhammad Ali ,
Larry Holmes, Joe Calzaghe , Wilfredo Gómez ,
Salvador Sanchez , Cecilia Brækhus , Gene
Tunney , [34] Ezzard Charles , [35] Willie Pep, [36]
Meldrick Taylor , Ricardo Lopez, Floyd
Mayweather Jr. , Roy Jones Jr. , Sugar Ray
Leonard , Miguel Vazquez , Sergio "Maravilla"
Martínez , Vitali Klitschko , Wladimir Klitschko and
Guillermo Rigondeaux. This style was also used
by fictional boxer Apollo Creed .
Boxer-puncher
A boxer-puncher is a well-rounded boxer who is
able to fight at close range with a combination
of technique and power, often with the ability to
knock opponents out with a combination and in
some instances a single shot. Their movement
and tactics are similar to that of an out-fighter
(although they are generally not as mobile as an
out-fighter), [37] but instead of winning by
decision, they tend to wear their opponents down
using combinations and then move in to score
the knockout. A boxer must be well rounded to
be effective using this style.
Notable boxer-punchers include Muhammad Ali,
Canelo Álvarez , Wladimir Klitschko , Vasyl
Lomachenko , Lennox Lewis , Joe Louis ,[38]
Wilfredo Gómez, Oscar de la Hoya , Archie
Moore , Miguel Cotto, Nonito Donaire, Sam
Langford, [39] Henry Armstrong, [40] Sugar Ray
Robinson, [41] Tony Zale, Carlos Monzón , [42]
Alexis Argüello, Erik Morales , Terry Norris , Marco
Antonio Barrera , Naseem Hamed, Thomas
Hearns , and Gennady Golovkin .
Counter puncher
Counter punchers are slippery, defensive style
fighters who often rely on their opponent's
mistakes in order to gain the advantage, whether
it be on the score cards or more preferably a
knockout. They use their well-rounded defense to
avoid or block shots and then immediately catch
the opponent off guard with a well placed and
timed punch. A fight with a skilled counter-
puncher can turn into a war of attrition, where
each shot landed is a battle in itself. Thus,
fighting against counter punchers requires
constant feinting and the ability to avoid
telegraphing one's attacks. To be truly
successful using this style they must have good
reflexes, a high level of prediction and
awareness, pinpoint accuracy and speed, both in
striking and in footwork.
Notable counter punchers include Muhammad
Ali , Joe Calzaghe , Vitali Klitschko , Evander
Holyfield , Max Schmeling , Chris Byrd, Jim
Corbett , Jack Johnson, Bernard Hopkins , Laszlo
Papp , Jerry Quarry , Anselmo Moreno , James
Toney, Marvin Hagler, Juan Manuel Márquez ,
Humberto Soto , Floyd Mayweather Jr. , Roger
Mayweather , Pernell Whitaker , Sergio Gabriel
Martinez and Guillermo Rigondeaux. This style of
boxing is also used by fictional boxer Little Mac .
Counter punchers usually wear their opponents
down by causing them to miss their punches.
The more the opponent misses, the faster they
tire, and the psychological effects of being
unable to land a hit will start to sink in. The
counter puncher often tries to outplay their
opponent entirely, not just in a physical sense,
but also in a mental and emotional sense. This
style can be incredibly difficult, especially
against seasoned fighters, but winning a fight
without getting hit is often worth the pay-off.
They usually try to stay away from the center of
the ring, in order to outmaneuver and chip away
at their opponents. A large advantage in counter-
hitting is the forward momentum of the attacker,
which drives them further into your return strike.
As such, knockouts are more common than one
would expect from a defensive style.
Brawler/slugger
Famous brawler George Foreman
A brawler is a fighter who generally lacks finesse
and footwork in the ring, but makes up for it
through sheer punching power. Many brawlers
tend to lack mobility, preferring a less mobile,
more stable platform and have difficulty pursuing
fighters who are fast on their feet. They may also
have a tendency to ignore combination punching
in favor of continuous beat-downs with one hand
and by throwing slower, more powerful single
punches (such as hooks and uppercuts). Their
slowness and predictable punching pattern
(single punches with obvious leads) often leaves
them open to counter punches, so successful
brawlers must be able to absorb substantial
amounts of punishment. However, not all
brawler/slugger fighters are not mobile; some
can move around and switch styles if needed but
still have the brawler/slugger style such as
Wilfredo Gómez, Prince Naseem Hamed and
Danny García.
A brawler's most important assets are power
and chin (the ability to absorb punishment while
remaining able to continue boxing). Examples of
this style include George Foreman, Rocky
Marciano , Julio César Chávez , Roberto Duran,
Danny García, Wilfredo Gómez , Sonny Liston ,
John L. Sullivan , Max Baer , Prince Naseem
Hamed , Ray Mancini, David Tua , Arturo Gatti,
Micky Ward , Brandon Ríos, Ruslan Provodnikov ,
Michael Katsidis , James Kirkland , Marcos
Maidana , Jake LaMotta , Manny Pacquiao , and
Ireland's John Duddy . This style of boxing was
also used by fictional boxers Rocky Balboa and
James "Clubber" Lang.
Brawlers tend to be more predictable and easy
to hit but usually fare well enough against other
fighting styles because they train to take
punches very well. They often have a higher
chance than other fighting styles to score a
knockout against their opponents because they
focus on landing big, powerful hits, instead of
smaller, faster attacks. Oftentimes they place
focus on training on their upper body instead of
their entire body, to increase power and
endurance. They also aim to intimidate their
opponents because of their power, stature and
ability to take a punch.
Swarmer/in-fighter
Henry Armstrong was known for his
aggressive, non-stop assault style of
fighting.
In-fighters/swarmers (sometimes called
"pressure fighters") attempt to stay close to an
opponent, throwing intense flurries and
combinations of hooks and uppercuts. Mainly
Mexican , Irish, Irish-American , Puerto Rican , and
Mexican-American boxers popularized this style.
A successful in-fighter often needs a good " chin"
because swarming usually involves being hit with
many jabs before they can maneuver inside
where they are more effective. In-fighters operate
best at close range because they are generally
shorter and have less reach than their opponents
and thus are more effective at a short distance
where the longer arms of their opponents make
punching awkward. However, several fighters tall
for their division have been relatively adept at in-
fighting as well as out-fighting.
The essence of a swarmer is non-stop
aggression. Many short in-fighters use their
stature to their advantage, employing a bob-and-
weave defense by bending at the waist to slip
underneath or to the sides of incoming punches.
Unlike blocking, causing an opponent to miss a
punch disrupts his balance, this permits forward
movement past the opponent's extended arm
and keeps the hands free to counter. A distinct
advantage that in-fighters have is when throwing
uppercuts, they can channel their entire
bodyweight behind the punch; Mike Tyson was
famous for throwing devastating uppercuts.
Marvin Hagler was known for his hard "chin",
punching power, body attack and the stalking of
his opponents. Some in-fighters, like Mike
Tyson, have been known for being notoriously
hard to hit. The key to a swarmer is aggression,
endurance, chin, and bobbing-and-weaving.
Notable in-fighters include Henry Armstrong ,
Aaron Pryor , Julio César Chávez, Jack Dempsey ,
Shawn Porter, Miguel Cotto, Joe Frazier, Danny
García , Mike Tyson , Manny Pacquiao , Rocky
Marciano , [43] Wayne McCullough , Gerry
Penalosa , Harry Greb,[44][45] David Tua , James
Toney and Ricky Hatton . This style was also
used by the Street Fighter character Balrog .
Combinations of styles
All fighters have primary skills with which they
feel most comfortable, but truly elite fighters are
often able to incorporate auxiliary styles when
presented with a particular challenge. For
example, an out-fighter will sometimes plant his
feet and counter punch, or a slugger may have
the stamina to pressure fight with his power
punches.
Old history of the development of boxing and it's
prevalence contribute to fusion of various types
of martial arts and the emergence of new ones
that are based on them. For example, a
combination of boxing and sportive sambo
techniques gave rise to a combat sambo.
Style matchups
Louis vs. Schmeling, 1936
There is a generally accepted rule of thumb
about the success each of these boxing styles
has against the others. In general, an in-fighter
has an advantage over an out-fighter, an out-
fighter has an advantage over a brawler, and a
brawler has an advantage over an in-fighter;
these form a cycle with each style being stronger
relative to one, and weaker relative to another,
with none dominating, as in rock-paper-scissors .
Naturally, many other factors, such as the skill
level and training of the combatants, determine
the outcome of a fight, but the widely held belief
in this relationship among the styles is
embodied in the cliché amongst boxing fans and
writers that "styles make fights."
Brawlers tend to overcome swarmers or in-
fighters because, in trying to get close to the
slugger, the in-fighter will invariably have to walk
straight into the guns of the much harder-hitting
brawler, so, unless the former has a very good
chin and the latter's stamina is poor, the
brawler's superior power will carry the day. A
famous example of this type of match-up
advantage would be George Foreman's knockout
victory over Joe Frazier in their original bout "The
Sunshine Showdown".
Although in-fighters struggle against heavy
sluggers, they typically enjoy more success
against out-fighters or boxers. Out-fighters prefer
a slower fight, with some distance between
themselves and the opponent. The in-fighter tries
to close that gap and unleash furious flurries. On
the inside, the out-fighter loses a lot of his
combat effectiveness, because he cannot throw
the hard punches. The in-fighter is generally
successful in this case, due to his intensity in
advancing on his opponent and his good agility,
which makes him difficult to evade. For example,
the swarming Joe Frazier, though easily
dominated by the slugger George Foreman, was
able to create many more problems for the
boxer Muhammad Ali in their three fights. Joe
Louis , after retirement, admitted that he hated
being crowded, and that swarmers like untied/
undefeated champ Rocky Marciano would have
caused him style problems even in his prime.
The boxer or out-fighter tends to be most
successful against a brawler, whose slow speed
(both hand and foot) and poor technique makes
him an easy target to hit for the faster out-
fighter. The out-fighter's main concern is to stay
alert, as the brawler only needs to land one good
punch to finish the fight. If the out-fighter can
avoid those power punches, he can often wear
the brawler down with fast jabs, tiring him out. If
he is successful enough, he may even apply
extra pressure in the later rounds in an attempt
to achieve a knockout. Most classic boxers,
such as Muhammad Ali, enjoyed their best
successes against sluggers.
An example of a style matchup was the
historical fight of Julio César Chávez , a swarmer
or in-fighter, against Meldrick Taylor, the boxer
or out-fighter (see Julio César Chávez vs.
Meldrick Taylor ). The match was nicknamed
"Thunder Meets Lightning" as an allusion to
punching power of Chávez and blinding speed of
Taylor. Chávez was the epitome of the "Mexican"
style of boxing. Taylor's hand and foot speed
and boxing abilities gave him the early
advantage, allowing him to begin building a
large lead on points. Chávez remained relentless
in his pursuit of Taylor and due to his greater
punching power Chávez slowly punished Taylor.
Coming into the later rounds, Taylor was
bleeding from the mouth, his entire face was
swollen, the bones around his eye socket had
been broken, he had swallowed a considerable
amount of his own blood, and as he grew tired,
Taylor was increasingly forced into exchanging
blows with Chávez, which only gave Chávez a
greater chance to cause damage. While there
was little doubt that Taylor had solidly won the
first three quarters of the fight, the question at
hand was whether he would survive the final
quarter. Going into the final round, Taylor held a
secure lead on the scorecards of two of the
three judges. Chávez would have to knock Taylor
out to claim a victory, whereas Taylor merely
needed to stay away from the Mexican legend.
However, Taylor did not stay away, but continued
to trade blows with Chávez. As he did so, Taylor
showed signs of extreme exhaustion, and every
tick of the clock brought Taylor closer to victory
unless Chávez could knock him out. With about
a minute left in the round, Chávez hit Taylor
squarely with several hard punches and stayed
on the attack, continuing to hit Taylor with well-
placed shots. Finally, with about 25 seconds to
go, Chávez landed a hard right hand that caused
Taylor to stagger forward towards a corner,
forcing Chávez back ahead of him. Suddenly
Chávez stepped around Taylor, positioning him
so that Taylor was trapped in the corner, with no
way to escape from Chávez' desperate final
flurry. Chávez then nailed Taylor with a
tremendous right hand that dropped the younger
man. By using the ring ropes to pull himself up,
Taylor managed to return to his feet and was
given the mandatory 8-count. Referee Richard
Steele asked Taylor twice if he was able to
continue fighting, but Taylor failed to answer.
Steele then concluded that Taylor was unfit to
continue and signaled that he was ending the
fight, resulting in a TKO victory for Chávez with
only two seconds to go in the bout.
Equipment
Since boxing involves forceful, repetitive
punching, precautions must be taken to prevent
damage to bones in the hand . Most trainers do
not allow boxers to train and spar without wrist
wraps and boxing gloves. Hand wraps are used
to secure the bones in the hand, and the gloves
are used to protect the hands from blunt injury,
allowing boxers to throw punches with more
force than if they did not use them. Gloves have
been required in competition since the late
nineteenth century, though modern boxing gloves
are much heavier than those worn by early
twentieth-century fighters. Prior to a bout, both
boxers agree upon the weight of gloves to be
used in the bout, with the understanding that
lighter gloves allow heavy punchers to inflict
more damage. The brand of gloves can also
affect the impact of punches, so this too is
usually stipulated before a bout. Both sides are
allowed to inspect the wraps and gloves of the
opponent to help ensure both are within agreed
upon specifications and no tampering has taken
place.
A mouthguard is important to protect the teeth
and gums from injury, and to cushion the jaw,
resulting in a decreased chance of knockout.
Both fighters must wear soft soled shoes to
reduce the damage from accidental (or
intentional) stepping on feet. While older boxing
boots more commonly resembled those of a
professional wrestler, modern boxing shoes and
boots tend to be quite similar to their amateur
wrestling counterparts.
Boxers practice their skills on several types of
punching bags. A small, tear-drop-shaped
"speed bag" is used to hone reflexes and
repetitive punching skills, while a large
cylindrical "heavy bag" filled with sand, a
synthetic substitute, or water is used to practice
power punching and body blows. The double-
end bag is usually connected by elastic on the
top and bottom and moves randomly upon
getting struck and helps the fighter work on
accuracy and reflexes. In addition to these
distinctive pieces of equipment, boxers also use
sport-nonspecific training equipment to build
strength, speed, agility, and stamina. Common
training equipment includes free weights, rowing
machines, jump rope , and medicine balls .
Boxers also use punch/focus mitts in which a
trainer calls out certain combinations and the
fighter strikes the mitts accordingly. This is a
great exercise for stamina as the boxer isn't
allowed to go at his own pace but that of the
trainer, typically forcing the fighter to endure a
higher output and volume than usual. In addition,
they also allow trainers to make boxers utilize
footwork and distances more accurately.
Boxing matches typically take place in a boxing
ring, a raised platform surrounded by ropes
attached to posts rising in each corner. The term
"ring" has come to be used as a metaphor for
many aspects of prize fighting in general.
Technique
Main article: Boxing styles and technique
Stance
The modern boxing stance differs substantially
from the typical boxing stances of the 19th and
early 20th centuries. The modern stance has a
more upright vertical-armed guard, as opposed
to the more horizontal, knuckles-facing-forward
guard adopted by early 20th century hook users
such as Jack Johnson.
Upright stance
Semi-crouch
Full crouch
In a fully upright stance, the boxer stands with
the legs shoulder-width apart and the rear foot a
half-step in front of the lead man. Right-handed
or orthodox boxers lead with the left foot and fist
(for most penetration power). Both feet are
parallel, and the right heel is off the ground. The
lead (left) fist is held vertically about six inches
in front of the face at eye level. The rear (right)
fist is held beside the chin and the elbow tucked
against the ribcage to protect the body. The chin
is tucked into the chest to avoid punches to the
jaw which commonly cause knock-outs and is
often kept slightly off-center. Wrists are slightly
bent to avoid damage when punching and the
elbows are kept tucked in to protect the ribcage.
Some boxers fight from a crouch, leaning
forward and keeping their feet closer together.
The stance described is considered the
"textbook" stance and fighters are encouraged to
change it around once it's been mastered as a
base. Case in point, many fast fighters have their
hands down and have almost exaggerated
footwork, while brawlers or bully fighters tend to
slowly stalk their opponents. In order to retain
their stance boxers take 'the first step in any
direction with the foot already leading in that
direction.' [46]
Different stances allow for bodyweight to be
differently positioned and emphasised; this may
in turn alter how powerfully and explosively a
type of punch can be delivered. For instance, a
crouched stance allows for the bodyweight to be
positioned further forward over the lead left leg.
If a lead left hook is thrown from this position, it
will produce a powerful springing action in the
lead leg and produce a more explosive punch.
This springing action could not be generated
effectively, for this punch, if an upright stance
was used or if the bodyweight was positioned
predominately over the back leg. [47] Mike Tyson
was a keen practitioner of a crouched stance and
this style of power punching.
Left-handed or southpaw fighters use a mirror
image of the orthodox stance, which can create
problems for orthodox fighters unaccustomed to
receiving jabs, hooks, or crosses from the
opposite side. The southpaw stance, conversely,
is vulnerable to a straight right hand.
North American fighters tend to favor a more
balanced stance, facing the opponent almost
squarely, while many European fighters stand
with their torso turned more to the side. The
positioning of the hands may also vary, as some
fighters prefer to have both hands raised in front
of the face, risking exposure to body shots.
Punches
There are four basic punches in boxing: the jab,
cross, hook and uppercut. Any punch other than
a jab is considered a power punch. If a boxer is
right-handed (orthodox), his left hand is the lead
hand and his right hand is the rear hand. For a
left-handed boxer or southpaw, the hand
positions are reversed. For clarity, the following
discussion will assume a right-handed boxer.
Jab
Cross - in counter-punch with a looping
Hook
Uppercut
Jab – A quick, straight punch thrown with the
lead hand from the guard position. The jab
extends from the side of the torso and
typically does not pass in front of it. It is
accompanied by a small, clockwise rotation
of the torso and hips, while the fist rotates 90
degrees, becoming horizontal upon impact.
As the punch reaches full extension, the lead
shoulder can be brought up to guard the chin.
The rear hand remains next to the face to
guard the jaw. After making contact with the
target, the lead hand is retracted quickly to
resume a guard position in front of the face.
The jab is recognized as the most
important punch in a boxer's arsenal
because it provides a fair amount of its
own cover and it leaves the least
amount of space for a counter punch
from the opponent. It has the longest
reach of any punch and does not require
commitment or large weight transfers.
Due to its relatively weak power, the jab
is often used as a tool to gauge
distances, probe an opponent's
defenses, harass an opponent, and set
up heavier, more powerful punches. A
half-step may be added, moving the
entire body into the punch, for
additional power. Some notable boxers
who have been able to develop relative
power in their jabs and use it to punish
or 'wear down' their opponents to some
effect include Larry Holmes and
Wladimir Klitschko .
Cross – A powerful, straight punch thrown
with the rear hand. From the guard position,
the rear hand is thrown from the chin,
crossing the body and traveling towards the
target in a straight line. The rear shoulder is
thrust forward and finishes just touching the
outside of the chin. At the same time, the
lead hand is retracted and tucked against the
face to protect the inside of the chin. For
additional power, the torso and hips are
rotated counter-clockwise as the cross is
thrown. A measure of an ideally extended
cross is that the shoulder of the striking arm,
the knee of the front leg and the ball of the
front foot are on the same vertical plane. [48]
Weight is also transferred from the rear
foot to the lead foot, resulting in the
rear heel turning outwards as it acts as
a fulcrum for the transfer of weight.
Body rotation and the sudden weight
transfer is what gives the cross its
power. Like the jab, a half-step forward
may be added. After the cross is
thrown, the hand is retracted quickly
and the guard position resumed. It can
be used to counter punch a jab, aiming
for the opponent's head (or a counter to
a cross aimed at the body) or to set up
a hook. The cross is also called a
"straight" or "right", especially if it does
not cross the opponent's outstretched
jab.
Hook – A semi-circular punch thrown with the
lead hand to the side of the opponent's head.
From the guard position, the elbow is drawn
back with a horizontal fist (palm facing down)
though in modern times a wide percentage of
fighters throw the hook with a vertical fist
(palm facing themselves). The rear hand is
tucked firmly against the jaw to protect the
chin. The torso and hips are rotated
clockwise, propelling the fist through a tight,
clockwise arc across the front of the body
and connecting with the target.
At the same time, the lead foot pivots
clockwise, turning the left heel
outwards. Upon contact, the hook's
circular path ends abruptly and the lead
hand is pulled quickly back into the
guard position. A hook may also target
the lower body and this technique is
sometimes called the "rip" to
distinguish it from the conventional
hook to the head. The hook may also
be thrown with the rear hand. Notable
left hookers include Joe Frazier , Roy
Jones Jr. and Mike Tyson .
Ricardo Dominguez ( left) throws an
uppercut on Rafael Ortiz (right ). [49]
Uppercut – A vertical, rising punch thrown
with the rear hand. From the guard position,
the torso shifts slightly to the right, the rear
hand drops below the level of the opponent's
chest and the knees are bent slightly. From
this position, the rear hand is thrust upwards
in a rising arc towards the opponent's chin or
torso.
At the same time, the knees push
upwards quickly and the torso and hips
rotate anti-clockwise and the rear heel
turns outward, mimicking the body
movement of the cross. The strategic
utility of the uppercut depends on its
ability to "lift" the opponent's body,
setting it off-balance for successive
attacks. The right uppercut followed by
a left hook is a deadly combination
employing the uppercut to lift the
opponent's chin into a vulnerable
position, then the hook to knock the
opponent out.
These different punch types can be thrown in
rapid succession to form combinations or
"combos." The most common is the jab and
cross combination, nicknamed the "one-two
combo." This is usually an effective combination,
because the jab blocks the opponent's view of
the cross, making it easier to land cleanly and
forcefully.
A large, swinging circular punch starting from a
cocked-back position with the arm at a longer
extension than the hook and all of the fighter's
weight behind it is sometimes referred to as a
"roundhouse," "haymaker," "overhand," or sucker-
punch. Relying on body weight and centripetal
force within a wide arc, the roundhouse can be a
powerful blow, but it is often a wild and
uncontrolled punch that leaves the fighter
delivering it off balance and with an open guard.
Wide, looping punches have the further
disadvantage of taking more time to deliver,
giving the opponent ample warning to react and
counter. For this reason, the haymaker or
roundhouse is not a conventional punch, and is
regarded by trainers as a mark of poor technique
or desperation. Sometimes it has been used,
because of its immense potential power, to
finish off an already staggering opponent who
seems unable or unlikely to take advantage of
the poor position it leaves the puncher in.
Another unconventional punch is the rarely used
bolo punch, in which the opponent swings an
arm out several times in a wide arc, usually as a
distraction, before delivering with either that or
the other arm.
An illegal punch to the back of the head or neck
is known as a rabbit punch.
Both the hook and uppercut may be thrown with
both hands, resulting in differing footwork and
positioning from that described above if thrown
by the other hand. Generally the analogous
opposite is true of the footwork and torso
movement.
Defense
There are several basic maneuvers a boxer can
use in order to evade or block punches, depicted
and discussed below.
Slipping
Bobbing
Blocking (with the arms)
Cover-Up (with the gloves)
Clinching
Footwork
Pulling away
Slip – Slipping rotates the body slightly so
that an incoming punch passes harmlessly
next to the head. As the opponent's punch
arrives, the boxer sharply rotates the hips and
shoulders. This turns the chin sideways and
allows the punch to "slip" past. Muhammad
Ali was famous for extremely fast and close
slips, as was an early Mike Tyson.
Sway or fade – To anticipate a punch and
move the upper body or head back so that it
misses or has its force appreciably lessened.
Also called "rolling with the punch" or " Riding
The Punch".
Duck or break – To drop down with the back
straight so that a punch aimed at the head
glances or misses entirely.
Bob and weave – Bobbing moves the head
laterally and beneath an incoming punch. As
the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer bends
the legs quickly and simultaneously shifts the
body either slightly right or left. Once the
punch has been evaded, the boxer "weaves"
back to an upright position, emerging on
either the outside or inside of the opponent's
still-extended arm. To move outside the
opponent's extended arm is called "bobbing
to the outside". To move inside the
opponent's extended arm is called "bobbing
to the inside". Joe Frazier, Jack Dempsey,
Mike Tyson and Rocky Marciano were
masters of bobbing and weaving.
Parry/block – Parrying or blocking uses the
boxer's shoulder, hands or arms as defensive
tools to protect against incoming attacks. A
block generally receives a punch while a parry
tends to deflect it. A "palm", "catch", or "cuff"
is a defence which intentionally takes the
incoming punch on the palm portion of the
defender's glove.
The cover-up – Covering up is the last
opportunity (other than rolling with a punch)
to avoid an incoming strike to an unprotected
face or body. Generally speaking, the hands
are held high to protect the head and chin
and the forearms are tucked against the torso
to impede body shots. When protecting the
body, the boxer rotates the hips and lets
incoming punches "roll" off the guard. To
protect the head, the boxer presses both fists
against the front of the face with the forearms
parallel and facing outwards. This type of
guard is weak against attacks from below.
The clinch – Clinching is a form of trapping
or a rough form of grappling and occurs when
the distance between both fighters has closed
and straight punches cannot be employed. In
this situation, the boxer attempts to hold or
"tie up" the opponent's hands so he is unable
to throw hooks or uppercuts . To perform a
clinch, the boxer loops both hands around the
outside of the opponent's shoulders, scooping
back under the forearms to grasp the
opponent's arms tightly against his own body.
In this position, the opponent's arms are
pinned and cannot be used to attack.
Clinching is a temporary match state and is
quickly dissipated by the referee. Clinching is
technically against the rules, and in amateur
fights points are deducted fairly quickly for it.
It is unlikely, however, to see points deducted
for a clinch in professional boxing.
Unorthodox strategies
The "rope-a-dope " strategy : Used by
Muhammad Ali in his 1974 "the Rumble in
the Jungle" bout against George Foreman, the
rope-a-dope method involves lying back
against the ropes, covering up defensively as
much as possible and allowing the opponent
to attempt numerous punches. The back-
leaning posture, which does not cause the
defending boxer to become as unbalanced as
he would during normal backward movement,
also maximizes the distance of the defender's
head from his opponent, increasing the
probability that punches will miss their
intended target. Weathering the blows that do
land, the defender lures the opponent into
expending energy while conserving his/her
own. If successful, the attacking opponent will
eventually tire, creating defensive flaws which
the boxer can exploit. In modern boxing, the
rope-a-dope is generally discouraged since
most opponents are not fooled by it and few
boxers possess the physical toughness to
withstand a prolonged, unanswered assault.
Recently, however, eight-division world
champion Manny Pacquiao skillfully used the
strategy to gauge the power of welterweight
titlist Miguel Cotto in November 2009.
Pacquiao followed up the rope-a-dope gambit
with a withering knockdown. Tyson Fury also
attempted this against Francesco Pianeto but
didn’t pull it off as smoothly.
Bolo punch : Occasionally seen in Olympic
boxing, the bolo is an arm punch which owes
its power to the shortening of a circular arc
rather than to transference of body weight; it
tends to have more of an effect due to the
surprise of the odd angle it lands at rather
than the actual power of the punch. This is
more of a gimmick than a technical
maneuver; this punch is not taught, being on
the same plane in boxing technicality as is
the Ali shuffle . Nevertheless, a few
professional boxers have used the bolo-punch
to great effect, including former welterweight
champions Sugar Ray Leonard , and Kid
Gavilán as well as current British fighter Chris
Eubank Jr. Middleweight champion Ceferino
Garcia is regarded as the inventor of the bolo
punch.
Bolo punch
Overhand (overcut)
Overhand : The overhand is a punch, thrown
from the rear hand, not found in every boxer's
arsenal. Unlike the cross, which has a
trajectory parallel to the ground, the overhand
has a looping circular arc as it is thrown over
the shoulder with the palm facing away from
the boxer. It is especially popular with smaller
stature boxers trying to reach taller
opponents. Boxers who have used this punch
consistently and effectively include former
heavyweight champions Rocky Marciano and
Tim Witherspoon, as well as MMA champions
Chuck Liddell and Fedor Emelianenko . The
overhand has become a popular weapon in
other tournaments that involve fist striking.
Deontay Wilder heavily favours and is
otherwise known for knocking many of his
opponents out with one of his right
overhands.
Check hook : A check hook is employed to
prevent aggressive boxers from lunging in.
There are two parts to the check hook. The
first part consists of a regular hook. The
second, trickier part involves the footwork. As
the opponent lunges in, the boxer should
throw the hook and pivot on his left foot and
swing his right foot 180 degrees around. If
executed correctly, the aggressive boxer will
lunge in and sail harmlessly past his
opponent like a bull missing a matador. This
is rarely seen in professional boxing as it
requires a great disparity in skill level to
execute. Technically speaking it has been
said that there is no such thing as a check
hook and that it is simply a hook applied to
an opponent that has lurched forward and
past his opponent who simply hooks him on
the way past. Others have argued that the
check hook exists but is an illegal punch due
to it being a pivot punch which is illegal in
the sport. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. employed
the use of a check hook against Ricky Hatton,
which sent Hatton flying head first into the
corner post and being knocked down.
Ring corner
Female boxer Tina Rupprecht receiving
instructions from her trainer while being
treated by her cutman in the ring corner
between rounds.
In boxing, each fighter is given a corner of the
ring where he rests in between rounds for 1
minute and where his trainers stand. Typically,
three men stand in the corner besides the boxer
himself; these are the trainer, the assistant
trainer and the cutman . The trainer and assistant
typically give advice to the boxer on what he is
doing wrong as well as encouraging him if he is
losing. The cutman is a cutaneous doctor
responsible for keeping the boxer's face and
eyes free of cuts, blood and excessive swelling.
This is of particular importance because many
fights are stopped because of cuts or swelling
that threaten the boxer's eyes.
In addition, the corner is responsible for
stopping the fight if they feel their fighter is in
grave danger of permanent injury. The corner will
occasionally throw in a white towel to signify a
boxer's surrender (the idiomatic phrase "to throw
in the towel", meaning to give up, derives from
this practice). [50] This can be seen in the fight
between Diego Corrales and Floyd Mayweather .
In that fight, Corrales' corner surrendered despite
Corrales' steadfast refusal.
Medical concerns
See also: Dementia pugilistica and The
distance (boxing) § Distance change
criticisms
Knocking a person unconscious or even causing
a concussion may cause permanent brain
damage . [51] There is no clear division between
the force required to knock a person out and the
force likely to kill a person. [52] From 1980 to
2007, more than 200 amateur boxers,
professional boxers and Toughman fighters died
due to ring or training injuries. [53] In 1983,
editorials in the Journal of the American Medical
Association called for a ban on boxing. [54] The
editor, Dr. George Lundberg, called boxing an
"obscenity" that "should not be sanctioned by
any civilized society." [55] Since then, the
British, [56] Canadian[57] and Australian [58]
Medical Associations have called for bans on
boxing.
Supporters of the ban state that boxing is the
only sport where hurting the other athlete is the
goal. Dr. Bill O'Neill, boxing spokesman for the
British Medical Association , has supported the
BMA's proposed ban on boxing: "It is the only
sport where the intention is to inflict serious
injury on your opponent, and we feel that we
must have a total ban on boxing." [59]
Opponents respond that such a position is
misguided opinion, stating that amateur boxing
is scored solely according to total connecting
blows with no award for "injury". They observe
that many skilled professional boxers have had
rewarding careers without inflicting injury on
opponents by accumulating scoring blows and
avoiding punches winning rounds scored 10-9 by
the 10-point must system, and they note that
there are many other sports where concussions
are much more prevalent. [60]
In 2007, one study of amateur boxers showed
that protective headgear did not prevent brain
damage, [61] and another found that amateur
boxers faced a high risk of brain damage. [62]
The Gothenburg study analyzed temporary levels
of neurofiliment light in cerebral spinal fluid
which they conclude is evidence of damage,
even though the levels soon subside. More
comprehensive studies of neurologiocal function
on larger samples performed by Johns Hopkins
University and accident rates analyzed by
National Safety Council show amateur boxing is
a comparatively safe sport. [ citation needed ]
In 1997, the American Association of
Professional Ringside Physicians was
established to create medical protocols through
research and education to prevent injuries in
boxing. [63][64]
Professional boxing is forbidden in Iceland , [65]
Iran , Saudi Arabia and North Korea . It was
banned in Sweden until 2007 when the ban was
lifted but strict restrictions, including four three-
minute rounds for fights, were imposed. [66] It
was banned in Albania from 1965 until the fall of
Communism in 1991 ; it is now legal there.
Norway legalized professional boxing in
December 2014. [67]
Boxing Hall of Fame
Stamp honoring heavyweight champion
Gene Tunney
The sport of boxing has two internationally
recognized boxing halls of fame; the International
Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) [68] and the World
Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF), with the IBHOF
being the more widely recognized boxing hall of
fame. [69] In 2013, The Boxing Hall of Fame Las
Vegas opened in Las Vegas, NV founded by
Steve Lott , former assistant manager for Mike
Tyson. [70]
The WBHF was founded by Everett L. Sanders in
1980. Since its inception, the WBHOF has never
had a permanent location or museum, which has
allowed the more recent IBHOF to garner more
publicity and prestige. Among the notable
names [ citation needed] in the WBHF are Ricardo
"Finito" Lopez , Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, Michael
Carbajal , Khaosai Galaxy, Henry Armstrong , Jack
Johnson, Roberto Durán, George Foreman,
Ceferino Garcia and Salvador Sanchez . Boxing's
International Hall of Fame was inspired by a
tribute an American town held for two local
heroes in 1982. The town, Canastota, New York,
(which is about 15 miles (24 km) east of
Syracuse, via the New York State Thruway),
honored former world welterweight/middleweight
champion Carmen Basilio and his nephew,
former world welterweight champion Billy
Backus . The people of Canastota raised money
for the tribute which inspired the idea of creating
an official, annual hall of fame for notable
boxers.
The International Boxing Hall of Fame opened in
Canastota in 1989. The first inductees in 1990
included Jack Johnson, Benny Leonard , Jack
Dempsey, Henry Armstrong, Sugar Ray Robinson,
Archie Moore , and Muhammad Ali. Other world-
class figures [ citation needed ] include Salvador
Sanchez, Jose Napoles , Roberto "Manos de
Piedra" Durán, Ricardo Lopez, Gabriel "Flash"
Elorde , Vicente Saldivar, Ismael Laguna, Eusebio
Pedroza, Carlos Monzón, Azumah Nelson, Rocky
Marciano , Pipino Cuevas and Ken Buchanan . The
Hall of Fame's induction ceremony is held every
June as part of a four-day event. The fans who
come to Canastota for the Induction Weekend
are treated to a number of events, including
scheduled autograph sessions, boxing
exhibitions, a parade featuring past and present
inductees, and the induction ceremony itself.
The Boxing Hall of Fame Las Vegas features the
$75 million ESPN Classic Sports fight film and
tape library and radio broadcast collection. The
collection includes the fights of all the great
champions including: Muhammad Ali, Mike
Tyson, George Foreman , Roberto Duran, Marvin
Hagler, Jack Dempsey , Joe Louis , Joe Frazier ,
Rocky Marciano and Sugar Ray Robinson. It is
this exclusive fight film library that will separate
the Boxing Hall of Fame Las Vegas from the
other halls of fame which do not have rights to
any video of their sports. The inaugural
inductees included Muhammad Ali, Henry
Armstrong , Tony Canzoneri, Ezzard Charles , Julio
César Chávez Sr. , Jack Dempsey , Roberto Duran,
Joe Louis, and Sugar Ray Robinson[71]
Governing and
sanctioning bodies
Main article: List of boxing organisations
Former IBF , WBO and WBA heavyweight
champion, Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko
Governing Bodies
British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC)
European Boxing Union (EBU)
Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC)
Major Sanctioning Bodies
International Boxing Federation (IBF)
World Boxing Association (WBA)
World Boxing Council (WBC)
World Boxing Organization (WBO)
Intermediate
International Boxing Organization (IBO)
Amateur
International Boxing Association (AIBA; now
also professional)
Boxing rankings
There are various organization and websites, that
rank boxers in both weight class and pound-for-
pound manner.
Transnational Boxing Rankings Board
(ratings )
ESPN ( ratings )
The Ring (ratings )
BoxRec ( ratings )
See also
Martial arts portal
Boxing portal
Boxing styles and technique
Boxing training
Boxing gloves
List of current world boxing champions
Undisputed champion
List of female boxers
List of male boxers
Weight class in boxing
Milling - military training exercise related to
boxing
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External links
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Boxing . Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
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