A Primer on the Rules of Amateur Boxing

Amateur boxing is most known as the form for Olympic boxing but is also popular in amateur circuits and at the collegiate level. Two key differences are that the matches are shorter and headgear is worn balancing the scales between power and technique. As a result, the focus in amateur boxing is to score points (through clean punches). Penalties such as excessive clinching deduct points from the tally.

Matches are typically four rounds of two minutes as seen in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games and the Amateur Boxing Association.

There are 11 weight classes in Olympic boxing starting at light flyweight (106 lbs) and ending with super heavyweight (over 201 pounds). The differences in weights between classes increases as the classes become heavier. For example, flyweight ranges between 106 and 112 pounds while heavyweight is between 178 and 201 pounds.

Scoring in the Olympics is done electronically. Usually a panel of five judges are given a button for each boxer. When a judge observes a clean punch (above the belly button) he or she pushes the attacking boxer’s button. If three out of five judges simultaneously award points to one side, that boxer is awarded a single point. Barring a knockout or other premature end to the fight, the boxer with the highest point total wins the match. If at any point one boxer is ahead by 20 points before the fourth round, the referee will end the match due to outscoring. Judges use a white stripe on the boxers’ gloves and the space above a boxer’s belt to determine whether a blow was landed and if it is a legal location.

There are four basic punches that can be thrown: the jab, hook, cross, and uppercut. The jab is a quick straight punch to the head with the lead hand. The hook is also thrown with the lead hand but is more powerful and has some lateral movement as the elbow is slightly bent. The cross is similar to the hook but is thrown with the back hand. Lastly, the uppercut, which is a upward punch thrown with either hand, has potential for major damage.

In the United States, amateur boxing is sanctioned by the Amateur Athletic Union, Golden Gloves Association of America, and USA Boxing. USA Boxing holds a national tournament to pick their national Olympic team.