The world of Boxing : A

comprehensive guide
Abhilash
 1. Introduction to Boxing
• Boxing is a combat sport and martial art. Taking place in a boxing ring, it
involves two people – usually wearing protective equipment, such as
protective gloves, hand wraps, and mouthguards – throwing punches at
each other for a predetermined amount of time
• Although the term “boxing” is commonly attributed to western boxing, in
which only fists are involved, it has developed in different ways in different
geographical areas and cultures of the World. In global terms, “boxing” today
is also a set of combat sports focused on striking, in which two opponents
face each other in a fight using at least their fists, and possibly involving
other actions, such as kicks, elbow strikes, knee strikes, and headbutts,
depending on the rules. Some of these variants are the bare-knuckle boxing,
kickboxing, Muay Thai, Lethwei, savate, and sanda. Boxing techniques have
been incorporated into many martial arts, military systems, and other
combat sports
• Humans have engaged in hand-to-hand combat since the earliest days of
human history. The origins of boxing in any of its forms as a sport remain
uncertain, but some sources suggest that it has prehistoric roots in what is
now Ethiopia, emerging as early as the sixth millennium BC. It is believed
that when the Egyptians invaded Nubia, they adopted boxing from the local
populace, subsequently popularizing it in Egypt. From there, the sport of
boxing spread to various regions, including Greece, eastward to
Mesopotamia, and northward to Rome.
• The earliest visual evidence of any type of boxing is from Egypt and Sumer,
both from the third millennia, and can be seen in Sumerian carvings from the
third and second millennia BC. The earliest evidence of boxing rules dates
back to Ancient Greece, where boxing was established as an Olympic game
in 688 BC. Boxing evolved from 16th- and 18th-century prizefights, largely in
Great Britain, to the forerunner of modern boxing in the mid-19 th century with
the 1867 introduction of the Marquess of Queensberry Rule.
• Amateur boxing is both an Olympic and Commonwealth Games
sport and is a standard fixture in most international games—it also
has its world championships. Boxing is overseen by a referee over a
series of one-to-three-minute intervals called “rounds”.
•
• A winner can be resolved before the completion of the rounds when
a referee deems an opponent incapable of continuing, disqualifies
an opponent, or the opponent resigns. When the fight reaches the
end of its final round with both opponents still standing, the judges’
scorecards determine the victor. In case both fighters gain equal
scores from the judges, a professional bout is considered a draw. In
Olympic boxing, because a winner must be declared, judges award
the contest to one fighter on technical criteria.
 2. History of Boxing
• Hitting with different extremities of the body, such as kicks and punches,
as an act of human aggression, has existed across the world throughout
human history, being a combat system as old as wrestling. However, in
terms of sports competition, due to the lack of writing in the prehistoric
times and the lack of references, it is not possible to determine rules of
any kind of boxing in prehistory, and in ancient times only can be inferred
from the few intact sources and references to the sport.
• The origin of the sport of boxing is unknown, however according to some
sources boxing in any of its forms has prehistoric origins in present-day
Ethiopia, where it appeared in the sixth millennium BC. When the
Egyptians invaded Nubia they learned the art of boxing from the local
population, and they took the sport to Egypt where it became popular.
From Egypt, boxing spread to other countries including Greece, eastward
to Mesopotamia, and northward to Rome.
• The earliest visual evidence of any type of boxing comes from Egypt and
Sumer both from the third millennium BC. A relief sculpture from Egyptian
Thebes (c. 1350 BC) shows both boxers and spectators. These early
Middle-Eastern and Egyptian depictions showed contests where fighters
were either bare-fisted or had a band supporting the wrist. The earliest
evidence of use of gloves can be found in Minoan Crete (c. 1500–1400 BC)
•
Various types of boxing existed in ancient India. The earliest references to musti-yuddha
come from classical Vedic epics such as the Rig Veda (c. 1500–1000 BCE) and Ramayana
(c. 700–400 BCE). The Mahabharata describes two combatants boxing with clenched fists
and fighting with kicks, finger strikes, knee strikes and headbutts during the time of King
Virata. Duels (niyuddham) were often fought to the death. 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. The Gurbilas Shemi,
an 18th-century Sikh text, gives numerous references to musti-yuddha. The martial art is
related to other forms of martial arts found in other parts of the Indian cultural sphere
including Muay Thai in Thailand, Muay Lao in Laos, Pradal Serey in Cambodia and Lethwei
in Myanmar.
In Ancient Greece boxing was a well developed sport called pygmachia, 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 heavier fighters 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 or the
use of kicks was common, in which it resembled modern western boxing.
3. The rules of Boxing
• Rules of Boxing
• In professional boxing, bouts take place over 12 three minute rounds with one
minute rest between rounds.
• The only method of attack is punching with a clenched fist and you may not
strike below the belt, in the kidneys or the back of your opponents head or
neck.
• You cannot use the ropes for leverage.
• You cannot hit an opponent when they are down.
• A boxer hit with a low blow can take five minutes to recover.
• If an unintentional foul (such as a clash of heads) ends the fight before four
rounds are completed this is a “no contest”, from the fifth onwards the
decision goes to the judge’s cards and is either a technical decision for either
fighter or a technical draw.
The rules of boxing can often be seen as exaggerating certain aspects of the sport,
particularly when it comes to how matches are judged, the emphasis on specific
techniques, and the limitations placed on fighters. Here are a few points where this might
be true:
1. Emphasis on Points Over Power
Judging and Scoring: In professional boxing, judges often score based on the number of
punches landed rather than the impact or power of those punches. This can exaggerate the
importance of landing frequent, light punches over more powerful, decisive blows,
potentially leading to victories that seem less impressive to casual viewers.
2. Limited Fighting Techniques
No Kicks or Grappling: Boxing rules strictly limit combat to punches only, disallowing kicks,
elbows, knees, or grappling moves. This can give the impression that hand strikes are the
most effective or dominant form of attack in a fight, when in reality, mixed martial arts show
that a combination of techniques is often more effective.
3. 12-Round Structure
Stamina Over Brutality: The structure of a 12-round fight can exaggerate the importance of
stamina and endurance over raw knockout power. A fighter who is extremely powerful but
lacks endurance might struggle in longer matches, even if they could win shorter, more
intense bouts.
.

4. Gloves and Safety Gea

False Sense of Safety: The use of large gloves and mouthguards can create an illusion of safety. While they do
protect fighters from cuts and reduce visible injuries, they also allow fighters to throw harder punches without
damaging their hands, potentially leading to more severe internal injuries like concussions.
5. Referee Stoppage Rules
Emphasis on Protecting Fighters: Referees are instructed to stop fights to prevent serious injury, often as soon
as one fighter is unable to defend themselves effectively. While this rule is in place for safety, it can sometimes
lead to early stoppages, making it appear as if the winner was far more dominant than they may have been.
6. Disqualification for Fouls
Strict Regulation of Fouls: Actions like hitting below the belt, using the head, or striking after the bell are
prohibited and can lead to point deductions or disqualification. This strict enforcement exaggerates the clean,
technical aspect of boxing, in contrast to the chaotic nature of real, unregulated combat.
These rules are designed to create a fair and standardized competition, but they do exaggerate certain skills
(like endurance and technical precision) while limiting others (like all-around combat skills).
 4. Boxing equipment
• Gloves − This is the most important piece of
equipment for boxers. It’s used to protect the
wrists and hands of the boxers, as well as to
protect the face of the opponent from
incoming blows.
• Mouthpiece − It has to be worn in order to
protect the mouth and teeth, as well as to
absorb some of the force of the blows to the
head.
• Headgear − It’s mandatory only for amateur
boxers to protect their head
• Protective cups are to be worn on every competitive level,
to shield the groin area.
• Boxing professionals have to wear loose-fitting trunks and
soft-soled shoes across all the levels of the game.
• Sleeveless jersey at amateur level, boxers are required to
wear a sleeveless jersey of a different color than the
waistband of the trunks.
 6. Boxing ring and setup
• Because there is no universally accepted world ruling body for professional
boxing, each country has its own set of rules, and in the United States there are
different rules in different states. Generally bouts take place in a “ring” that is
18 to 22 feet (5.5 to 6.7 metres) square and surrounded by four strands of rope.
Professional bouts may be scheduled to last from 4 to 12 rounds of three
minutes’ duration, though two-minute rounds are commonly used in women’s
bouts and in some bouts held in Great Britain. Since the late 1920s,
professional championship bouts traditionally lasted 15 rounds, but by the late
1980s the WBC, WBA, and IBF championships were all being scheduled for 12
rounds.
• A referee is stationed inside the ring with the boxers and regulates the bout. In
some jurisdictions the referee scores the contest along with two judges outside
the ring. In most jurisdictions, however, the referee does not participate in the
judging, and three ringside officials score the bout. The officials award points to
each boxer for each round, and a boxer must win on two of the three scorecards
to earn a decision victory. In Olympic bouts five judges score the fight
electronically by pushing a button whenever a punch is believed to have landed
on a boxer. No punch is registered as a hit unless at least three judges press
their buttons within a second of each other. Padded gloves, ranging from 8 to 10
ounces (227 to 283 grams) in weight, are worn by the boxers.
7. List of boxing organisation
List of boxing organisation in chronological order by the year of their WBA Asia – 2014
WBA Oceania
Federación Latinoamericana de Comisiones de Boxeo Profesional (WBA Fedelatin)
Federación Bolivariana de Boxeo (WBA Fedebol)
Federación Centroamericana de Boxeo (WBA Fedecentro)
Federación del Caribe de Boxeo (WBA Fedecaribe)
North American Boxing Association (NABA) – 1997
Pan Asian Boxing Association – (1995–2018) / (2018-Now)
Eurasian Boxing Parliament – 2015
Asian Boxing Council – 1985
African Boxing Union - 1973establishment. The four major sanctioning bodies are in bold.
 8. Famous boxers in history
• Muhammad Ali
• American boxer
• Also known as: Cassius Marcellus Clay
• Muhammad Ali
• Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali, 1974
• News • Nellore police arrests auto-driver accused in minor girl rape
case • Nov. 6, 2024, 1:52 PM ET (The Hindu)
• Muhammad Ali (born January 17, 1942, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.—died
June 3, 2016, Scottsdale, Arizona) was an American professional boxer
and social activist. Ali was the first fighter to win the world heavyweight
championship on three separate occasions; he successfully defended
this title 19 times.
• Original name: Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.
• Born: January 17, 1942, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
• Died: June 3, 2016, Scottsdale, Arizona
• Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., grew up in the American South in a time of
segregated public facilities. His father, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr.,
supported a wife and two sons by painting billboards and signs. His
mother, Odessa Grady Clay, worked as a household domestic.
• Michael Gerard Tyson (born June 30, 1966) is an American
professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2005, and is
scheduled to compete once again in 2024. Nicknamed “Iron
Mike” and “Kid Dynamite” in his early career, and later known
as “the Baddest Man on the Planet”, Tyson is regarded as one
of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. He reigned as
the undisputed world heavyweight champion from 1987 to
1990. Tyson won his first 19 professional fights by knockout,
12 of them in the first round. Claiming his first belt at 20 years,
4 months, and 22 days old, Tyson holds the record as the
youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title. He was the first
heavyweight boxer to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC and
IBF titles, as well as the only heavyweight to unify them in
succession. The following year, Tyson became the lineal
champion when he knocked out Michael Spinks in 91 seconds
of the first round. In 1990, Tyson was knocked out by underdog
Buster Douglas in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
• Roberto Carlos Durán Samaniego (born June
16, 1951) is a Panamanian former professional
boxer who competed from 1968 to 2001. He
held world championships in four weight
classes: Lightweight, welterweight, light
middleweight and middleweight. Duran also
reigned as the undisputed and lineal lightweight
champion and the lineal welterweight
champion. He is also the second boxer to have
competed over a span of five decades, the first
being Jack Johnson. Durán was known as a
versatile, technical brawler and pressure
fighter, which earned him the nickname “Manos
de Piedra” (“Hands of Stone”) for his formidable
punching power and excellent defense.
 9. Safety and health concerns
1. Training Safety Measures
Sparring Regulations: Controlled sparring sessions with headgear and supervision to minimize the risk of
injuries during practice.
Proper Conditioning: Strength and conditioning training to prepare the body for impact and reduce the
likelihood of injuries.
2. Limiting Dangerous Techniques
No Hits to the Back of the Head: Punches to the back of the head (“rabbit punches”) and below the belt are
illegal due to their high risk of serious injury.
Standing 8-Count: The referee can pause the fight and give a standing 8-count if a boxer looks dazed,
allowing time to assess their condition.
3. Post-Fight Medical Evaluation
Immediate Check-Ups: Boxers undergo a medical evaluation after the fight to check for any signs of
concussion or injury.
Suspensions: Boxers who suffer a knockout or severe injury may be placed under medical suspension,
barring them from training or competing until they are medically cleared.
4. Long-Term Health Monitoring
Record-Keeping: Boxing organizations keep detailed medical records of fighters to track any recurring
injuries or conditions.
Thank you