Boxing Rules and Weight Classes: Amateur and Professional.
Boxing, though looked at as a violent game, is a world-famous sport and also an integral part of the Olympic Games. It is also one of the most popular sports of the world. But to qualify as a boxing champion you need to have knowledge of the rules of the game. Read on to know more.
Boxing, also known as pugilism, is a type of martial sport. The sport mainly involves two competitors who fight with each other only by the use of their fists. A referee supervises the fight and pays special attention to the fact that the competitors follow the rules of boxing. A single game is typically divided into a series of one- to three-minute intervals called rounds with 1 minute rest periods. There are two forms of boxing : Amateur boxing and Professional Boxing.
The classification of boxing championships is done on the basis of weight-classes. The many weight-classes of boxing are as follows:
•Flyweight (up to 112 lb/50.8 kg)
•Bantamweight (118 lb/53.5 kg)
•Featherweight (126 lb/57.2 kg)
•Lightweight (135 lb/61.2 kg)
•Welterweight (147 lb/66.7 kg)
•Middleweight (160 lb/72.6 kg)
•Light Heavyweight (175 lb/79.4 kg)
•Heavyweight (no specific end limit)
In recent times, there have been special mentions of junior weights or between-weights such as junior-lightweight or cruiser weight.
Let us now take a look at the different rules that are to be abided in boxing championships and the scoring system in boxing.Boxing rules and Scoring System
The code of rules generally accepted in both Amateur and Professional Boxing are the Marquess of Queensbury Rules. They are named so because John Douglas, the 9th Marquess of Queensbury endorsed this code. These rules had been written by John Graham Chambers in London in 1865 and published in 1867. The first fighter who fought pertaining to the Marquess of Queensbury rules of Boxing was Jem Mace in 1861. The rules are the same for both Amateur and Professional boxing.
The modern rules of boxing and the scoring system are stated as under:
•The boxing match is to be held in an enclosed space of about 24-inches.
•There must be no wrestling or clinching.
•The match takes place in a series of rounds of 3-minute duration with a minute interval between every round.
•No other person other than the referee and the competitors are to be allowed within the ring.
•The boxing-gloves should be fair-sized, of the best quality and new. Should a glove burst or come off, it should be immediately replaced with respect to the satisfaction of the referee.
•Biting, headbutting and hitting below the belt are considered as fouls.
•If any of the competitors falls through weakness or otherwise, he is to recover within ten seconds. During this time the other man is to return to his corner. The match is resumed when the fallen man is on his legs. If he is unable to do so within the ten second time, the decision is made by the referee in the favour of the other competitor who is declared the winner.
•A man who is hanging in the ropes of the ring in a helpless state, with his toes off the ground is also considered to be down. He is also considered to be down if he is on one knee.
•In case the match is to be stopped owing to any unavoidable interference, the referee must specify the later date and time of the match to be continued and finished.
•No shoes or boots with spikes are allowed in the boxing ring.
