How can a boxing match end?
B · Beginner · Scoring and how a bout is won · 3 of 7A bout can be won on points, by knockout, by the referee stopping the contest, by the opponent retiring, by the opponent's disqualification or by a walkover when the opponent does not box. Olympic-style boxing uses its own names and letters for these.
How it works
| Result | Letters | When |
|---|---|---|
| Win on points | WP | The judges' scores decide, at the end or when a bout is stopped for an accidental injury |
| Referee stops contest | RSC | A boxer is outclassed, is taking too much punishment or cannot carry on after a count |
| Referee stops contest, injury | RSC-I | A boxer cannot continue because of an injury |
| Abandonment | ABD | A boxer retires, or their corner throws in the towel |
| Disqualification | DSQ | A serious foul, or a third warning |
| Knockout | KO | A boxer is counted to ten |
| Walkover | WO | The opponent fails the weigh-in or medical, or does not appear in the ring |
- RSC is what professional boxing calls a technical knockout.
- If both boxers are knocked out together it is a double knockout and both lose, except in a final, where the points decide.
- If both are disqualified, both lose. In a final both receive silver medals.
- A boxer disqualified for unsporting behaviour, such as aggression towards an official, faces further sanctions.
Tricky cases
What is the difference between RSC and a knockout?
In a knockout the boxer is counted to ten. In an RSC the referee stops the bout without a full count because the boxer is outclassed, hurt or not fit to go on.
The corner threw in the towel. How is that recorded?
As abandonment. A towel may not be thrown while the referee is counting.
Can a boxer win without throwing a punch?
Yes, by walkover, if the opponent fails the weigh-in or medical or does not come to the ring within a minute of the bell.
Why the rule exists
A boxer's safety comes before the scorecards, so most of these results exist to end a bout early. Separate labels record why it ended.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Boxing rules | As above | WB 9 |
| Professional boxing | Uses "TKO", and bouts can end in a draw | C |
From the rule book
World Boxing Competition Rules, Rule 9. Approved November 2024. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Boxing Competition Rules (PDF).