Boxing words · Beginner
The words you will hear in your first match, grouped the way you meet them.
B · Beginner · 44 words · Step 1 of 2Basic setup terms
Bout
A single boxing contest between two boxers. At World Boxing competitions a bout is three rounds with a one-minute rest between rounds.
Also called: match, fight
Corner
The area at each ring post where a boxer's team, the seconds, works with them between rounds.
Also called: seconds
See also: Ring
Round
A timed part of a bout. At World Boxing competitions a round is three minutes for elite and under-19 boxers and two minutes for under-17s, with one minute's rest between rounds. Professional bouts are longer and set by the sanctioning body.
See also: Bout, Sanctioning body
Referee
The official inside the ring who controls the bout, enforces the rules, cautions or warns boxers, counts knockdowns and can stop the bout. The referee does not score.
Judges
The officials outside the ring who score the bout. At World Boxing competitions five judges score every bout independently, and the referee does not score. Professional bouts usually have three judges.
Weight class
Boxers are grouped into categories by body weight so that bouts are fair. Men and women compete in their own weight and age categories. At World Boxing competitions a boxer who misses the weight loses the bout by walkover.
Also called: weight category
See also: Bout, Age categories, Walkover
Single elimination
The usual format of World Boxing competitions: boxers progress through preliminary rounds, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final, and a loss ends a boxer's competition. Other formats can be set in an event's rules.
Scoring and winning terms
Knockout
A win when the referee counts to ten over a boxer who was knocked down. The end-of-round gong does not save the boxer.
Also called: KO
See also: Referee
Technical knockout
The referee stops the bout because a boxer is outclassed, is taking excessive punishment, is unfit to continue, or does not resume boxing after an eight count. World Boxing calls it RSC, referee stops contest. The ringside doctor can advise the referee to stop a bout.
Also called: TKO, RSC
See also: Bout, Referee, Ringside doctor, Eight count, RSC-I
Decision
When a bout goes the full distance, the judges' scorecards decide the winner. At World Boxing competitions the decision is unanimous or split among five judges.
Unanimous decision
All judges choose the same winner. With five judges, that is five out of five.
See also: Judges
The ruleWhat is a split decision in boxing?Split decision
The judges disagree. With five judges at World Boxing competitions, it is declared when three judges pick one boxer and the other two pick the opponent or a draw, or when four pick one boxer and the fifth picks the opponent or a draw.
See also: Judges
Draw
In professional boxing, the judges' scores are level and no winner is declared. At World Boxing competitions a bout is not left as a draw: a judge with level scores must name a winner.
10-point must system
The standard scoring method. In each round the judge gives the winner 10 points and the loser 9 or fewer, and no round can be scored a draw. Under World Boxing rules a close round is 10-9, a clear winner 10-8, and total dominance 10-7, which is the lowest score allowed.
Knockdown
A boxer is knocked down by a scoring blow if they touch the floor with anything other than their feet, are lying on or outside the ropes, or are hurt by a hard blow and need a standing eight count. The referee says Stop and counts: to eight if the boxer is fit to continue, to ten if not.
See also: Referee, Scoring blow, Eight count, Standing eight count
Scoring blow
A punch that counts. It must connect cleanly with the target area, have the weight of the body or shoulder behind it, land on the knuckle surface of the glove, break no rule and be clearly seen by the judge. The target area is the front and sides of the head and the torso above the belt.
Punch types
Jab
A quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand (the hand closest to the opponent), often used to gauge distance and set up other punches.
See also: Cross
Cross
A powerful straight punch thrown with the rear hand, crossing the body.
Also called: straight
Hook
A punch thrown in a circular motion, targeting the side of the opponent's head or body.
Uppercut
A punch thrown upward, usually aimed at the opponent's chin, often effective at close range.
See also: Range
Combination
A quick sequence of multiple punches thrown one after another.
Also called: combo
Body shot
Any punch aimed at the opponent's torso instead of the head, often used to wear down their stamina.
Defensive and technical terms
Guard
The defensive hand position boxers keep up to protect their face and body.
Block
Using the arms or gloves to absorb/stop an incoming punch before it lands cleanly.
Slip
Moving the head slightly to the side to dodge an incoming punch without stepping away.
Duck
Bending the knees/lowering the body to avoid a punch aimed at the head.
Clinch
When boxers hold on to each other at close range. The referee orders Break and the boxers must step back. Holding and hitting, and wrestling or throwing in a clinch, are fouls.
Footwork
How a boxer moves around the ring, crucial for both attacking and avoiding punches.
See also: Ring
Southpaw
A boxer who fights in a "reversed" stance, leading with their right hand/foot instead of the traditional left-handed (orthodox) stance.
See also: Orthodox
Orthodox
The traditional boxing stance, where a right-handed boxer leads with their left hand/foot.
Fouls and rule violations
Low blow
A punch below the belt, which is a foul. A boxer who is hit low and does not recover within one minute 30 seconds loses the bout by RSC-I.
Holding
Illegally grabbing an opponent to prevent them from punching freely.
Rabbit punch
A punch to the back of the opponent's head or neck. Hitting the back, especially of the neck or head, is a foul.
The ruleWhat is illegal in boxing?Standing eight count
After a hard blow a boxer who has not fallen but is hurt gets a standing eight count from the referee. At World Boxing competitions it counts as a knockdown, and the rules set a maximum of three eight counts in a round and four in a bout.
See also: Bout, Referee, Knockdown, Eight count
The ruleWhat happens when a boxer is knocked down?Disqualification
A boxer is removed from the bout, and the opponent wins, for a serious foul or for failing to obey the referee. The third warning in a bout is an automatic disqualification.
Miscellaneous terms
Sparring
Practice fighting (usually with protective gear) used for training, not scored competitively.
Undercard
The earlier, less prominent fights on the same event before the main event.
See also: Main event