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Modern Boxing
is a contact sport, controlled by the Marquess of Queensberry
Rules, written by Welshman John Graham Chambers and Endorsed
as the acceptable rules of Boxing by the 9th Marquess of
Queensberry after their publication in 1867. The rules
determined such stipulations as: Ring Size, Boxers conduct
within the ring, Number and duration of the rounds, Safety of
the fighters and When and how the contest should be considered
over. These rules superseded the London Prize Ring Rules
of 1743.
A Boxing match is made of up to 12 x 3 minute rounds, with a
minute's rest time in between rounds. A referee oversees the
conduct of the fight and they will ensure that the boxing match
is fought within the confines of the Marquess of Queensberry
Rules, that the fighters are both in a position to defend
themselves and that the boxing ring is in a safe condition to
fight in. The referee will also make judgements upon fouls and
penalise the offending boxer where necessary. The referee will
also be responsible for the 'count', which is instoigated when
one fighter is knocked to the canvas. The count is begun once
the fighter is down on the canvas and the opponent is in a
'Neutral' corner (i.e. not in contact with his own, or the
opponents corner teams). Should the felled boxer not be standing
when the referee has completed his '10 count' he will be
declared "knocked out" or "KO'd" and the fight is awarded to the
standing fighter. The referee can also appoint a "Technical
Knock Out" or "TKO" should a boxer be no longer able to defend
himself against his opponents blows.
Boxing is a highly controlled contact sport or martial art.
There are many restrictions in the ways that a boxer can deliver
a blow and to which part of the body he may aim at. The boxer
must deliver their punches with closed fists and never use
thumbs, elbows or slap with the inside of the glove. The boxer
can aim punches at the face and body of the opponent, but must
never stike at the back of the head or neck and the back and
kidney areas. The boxer is not allowed to use the ring as a
brace to help deliver harder blows, nor are they to hold the
opponents neck in order to gain a similar advantage. The boxers
will be warned if they clinch or hold each other in a mutually
restrictive fashion. If the warning yields no response from the
boxers they will be ordered to 'Break' and they must immediately
break apart and step back.
Boxing Clothing consists of shorts, sports tank tops, boxing
boots, mouth pieces, padded groin defenders and head guards in
the amateur branch of the sport.
To prevent mis-matching in the sport there has been devised a
number of weight categories or divisions. They consist of
Minimumweight - 47.6kg, Light flyweight - 49kg, Flyweight -
50.8kg, Super flyweight - 52.2kg, Super flyweight - 52.2kg,
Bantamweight - 53.5kg, Super bantamweight 55.3kg, Featherweight
- 57.2kg, Super featherweight - 59kg, Lightweight - 61.2kg,
Super lightweight - 63.5kg, Welterweight - 66.7kg, Super
welterweight - 69.9kg, Middleweight - 72.6kg, Super middleweight
- 76.2kg, Light heavyweight - 79.4kg, Cruiserweight - 90.7kg,
Heavyweight - No Limit.
Boxing has made its share of great super stars including:
Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Marvin Hagler, Sugar
Ray Robinson, Roberto Duran and many many more. |
