Olympic boxing

Olympic boxing

Boxing (or boxing) is the sport best known in the West for its long history and traditions, which have their roots in our own culture.

Boxers face each other in a ring and fight with closed fists and boxing gloves.

Unlike other combat disciplines, boxing is also an Olympic sport and is strictly regulated in Switzerland by Swiss Boxing.

Internationally, all amateur activities are regulated by the AIBA (Amateur International Boxing Association), the only official organisation recognised worldwide.

As far as professional activity is concerned, the talk is different, as several other acronyms have recently emerged alongside the two oldest and most respected, the WBC (World Boxing Council) and WBA (World Boxing Association). This results in a larger number of samples and titles (IBA, IBF, IBO, WBO, WBU, etc.).

History

Boxing is one of the oldest known fighting disciplines. In prehistoric graffiti dating back to the third millennium BC, the figures of people fighting with closed fists can be recognised. The first competitive challenges in human history are witnessed in the hymns and legends of the civilisations of Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt. Some quotations can also be found in the Homeric poems.

Obviously, fights back then were fierce and brutal duels and often ended with serious injuries or even the death of one of the contenders. It was the Greeks who began to protect their hands with a type of 'glove', initially consisting of simple strips of leather wrapped around their wrists and ankles, in an attempt to avoid excessive damage to their hands and the faces of the contestants. Later, the leather strips were replaced by wicker, which was used to make baskets, with iron rivets or made of sharply treated leather (the so-called Roman "baskets").

Legs were also used in ancient Greek boxing, while the sole use of fists was typical of Roman and Etruscan boxing. There were no weight classes and the sessions had no fixed duration, i.e. they continued until one of the two challengers surrendered.

In the Middle Ages, this discipline experienced a period of profound decline. It was not until the 18th century, mainly thanks to the English, that boxing began to develop the first techniques and rules that turned this form of combat into a real sport and not just a bloody clash. in 1743, the English boxer Jack Broughton defined the first rules for boxing in the book "London Prize Ring Rules" and meetings have been organised according to these principles ever since.

In 1865, John Sholto Douglas, together with the athlete John Graham Chambers, wrote the "Rules of the Marquess of Queensberry", the code of scientific boxing, which contains the most important basics of boxing as it is still practised today: the obligation to use boxing gloves, round, knock out (KO), weight classes.

In the early twentieth century, other weight classes were established and, in order to limit the duration of the sessions, it was stipulated that the maximum number of hits in the rounds valid for European and world titles had to be 15, and 12 for national titles. By limiting the duration of the meeting, the need arose to establish criteria for winning on points, the problem was solved with the establishment of competition judges. Modern boxing was born.

Amateurs and professionals

Amateur boxers are categorised according to age, ability and experience: Pupils, cadets, juniors, youths, elite. The amateur boxer fights in a specific outfit, which differs from the professional in the mandatory use of a protective helmet and clothing of the colour corresponding to his own corner.

Professional boxers form a separate category, completely separated from amateurs. It is absolutely forbidden not only to have an amateur fight with a professional, but also to have them train or perform together.

According to the official definition, boxers are those in possession of suitable physical and technical requirements established by the federation and who carry out a sporting activity in the form of a self-employed activity within the meaning of Art. 3(2) of Law 91/81, which establishes contracts for one or more meetings with organising companies.

Weight classes

Weight classes differ according to age, gender, association, amateur or professional.

Authorised techniques in boxing

Direct punches, hooks, stands. All rounds must be carried with the front of the glove. The valid target is the front and side of the head and torso above the belt.

Only punches delivered with a closed fist are permitted in a boxing match. Any use of another part of the body (e.g. the foot, palm, etc.) is not recognised as a counter and must be considered a foul by the referee and lead to a warning, deduction of points or, in the worst case, disqualification.

A regular punch is one that lands on the front of the head, the neck, the entire body up to the imaginary belt line at the belly button or on the arms. Hits below the belt are prohibited, they are considered a foul and result in a point deduction. In addition, hits to the arms or the glove are not counted by the judges as such a punch is considered blocked. You often see boxers clinging to each other. There can be various reasons for this. For example, a boxer who is at an unfavourable distance from his opponent must clinch so that the referee separates the opponents and asks them to take a step back to create distance again. In most cases, however, exhausted or battered boxers take a break in this way. Clamping is an offence, but due to its frequency, it is sometimes tolerated by the referees. However, in order to ensure a smooth flow of the fight, a referee must issue warnings and thus deduct points above a certain level.

A fight is normally fought in three rounds of three minutes each, with a one-minute break between each round. The scoring system is based on a "ten point must system". At the end of each round, each judge determines the winning boxer of that round. Each judge independently assesses both boxers using the AIBA scoring system based on the following criteria. Number and quality of strikes; dominance; technical and tactical superiority.

Duration of fights

The duration of boxing matches can vary greatly depending on the level of the athletes, the importance of the fight and also the association: It ranges from 3 rounds of 2 minutes each for beginners to 3 rounds of 3 minutes each for amateurs to 12 or 15 rounds for a professional world title. The interval between two rounds is always 1 minute.

Protection used in the fight

The wearing of a head guard (except for elite boxers), mouth guard, groin guard (men), chest protector (women) and a sleeveless top is mandatory in amateur boxing matches. The colour of the top must be clearly differentiated from the trousers so that the belt line is clearly visible.

The weight of the gloves varies depending on the class and category of the boxer:

- Amateurs: 10 OZ (284g). They must have a Velcro fastener.

- Men's professionals: 8 OZ (227g) for weight classes up to and including Welter; 10 OZ (284g) for weight classes from Super Welterweight to Heavyweight. Traditional laces are used for fastening.

- Women: 10 OZ gloves are always used in all weight classes.