Boxing rules, for watching
Start with how a match works. Then the rules you see every few minutes, then the ones that change results.
Checked 14 October 2026
Settling an argument? Search all 18 rules
- How is boxing scored?
- What counts as a scoring punch in boxing?
- How can a boxing match end?
- What is a split decision in boxing?
- What happens when a boxer is knocked down?
- When does the referee stop a boxing bout?
- What is illegal in boxing?
- How many warnings before a boxer is disqualified?
- What happens after a low blow in boxing?
- How many rounds are there in Olympic boxing?
- What are the weight classes in Olympic-style boxing?
- What does the referee do in a boxing ring?
- Who are the officials at a boxing bout?
- What can a boxer's corner do during a bout?
- What gloves do Olympic-style boxers wear?
- Do Olympic boxers wear headguards?
- What must a boxer wear in the ring?
- How big is a boxing ring?
Where these rules come from
| Tag | Document |
|---|---|
| WB plus rule | World Boxing, Competition Rules, approved November 2024: Rules 1 to 9 and 13 read in full; Rules 10 and 12 in part (officials, sanctions on seconds) |
| R | "Why the rule exists", or a point reasoned from the rule, not stated in it |
| C | Common usage or general knowledge, not a rule |