Boxing Amateur

After scandal robbed Roy Jones Jr. of the Olympic Gold at Seoul in 1988, the International Olympic Committee decided that serious changes needed to be made to Olympic Boxing. Most boxing experts and fans agree the changes have only caused more controversy by making judging less reliable and have stripped boxing of its former glory.

1988 Olympic boxing scoring:

• 5 judges score bout
• The white part of the glove must land on front of head/torso for a point
• Each judge marked their score on a scorecard

1992 scoring after changes:

• 5 judges score bout
• The white part of the glove must land on front of head/torso for a point
• Each judge has 2 electronic buttons, one for each respective boxer
• 3 of 5 judges must press a respective boxer’s button within 1 second for him to receive a point

The last rule is not a misprint. When a fighter lands a qualifying blow 3 of 5 judges must press a button within 1 second of each other in order for him to receive a point. Button scoring threatens integrity of scores.

In the course of a bout judges may get the buttons mixed up, believe they are pushing a button hard enough when they’re not, or buttons as on a TV remote, keyboard or gaming controller can stick or malfunction.

Under this system flurries between fighters, ‘’infighting where no full force punches can land’’ (Boxing – Olympic Rules, Judging and Officials), in which more than one punch literally couldn’t be counted using the 1 second method the AIBA (International Boxing Association) relies on, are to be scored as a single point after the flurry ends. That point is to be given to whichever one of the boxers the judges feel got the better of the exchange; provided that three of the judges push one of the boxer’s respective buttons within 1 second of each other after that flurry ends.

This is very controversial. A flurry between fighters can be advantageous to both and can be difficult to score even when a judge has the time to evaluate the flurry and contemplate them subjectively; process that can take longer than a single second even by an experienced judge.

Seeking objectivity?

According to the International Olympic Committee the electronic scoring machine was introduced to make judges’ officiating more objective. Boxing is not an objective sport. Factors such as ring generalship (how well fighters control their opponent in the ring), technical efficiency, and accurate effective punching are subjective, key factors to being an effective boxer. In fact these factors are the very essence of boxing; what separates the sport of boxing from the act of fighting and what made Muhammed Ali, Leon Spinks, George Foreman and others Olympic Champions. Under the Olympic rules however, these aren’t even taken into account. And fighters receive no extra points for knocking their opponent down.

A major flaw in the 1 second scoring was made clear Tuesday night in Beijing when USA’s Rau’shee Warren, as NBC Boxing commentator Teddy Atlas pointed out, scored a point while reeling off balance and falling to the ground after a blow by South Korea’s Lee Ok-sung.

This is only one of a number of incidents at the 2008 Olympics thus far. There is a consensus amongst boxing experts; boxing at the Olympics has been ruined by the 1992 rule change. It will be interesting to see if the AIBA changes anything at the conclusion of the Beijing Games to bring legitimacy back to Olympic Boxing and restore its former glory.

The 2012 Olympics takes place in London, and will have a lot of work to do to live up to the extravaganza that took place in the Chinese Capital last year. Work is already under way in building the Olympic Village and making sure that all the necessary elements are in place to ensure that all the athletes, and the supporters who are watching from the stands, are made feel at home. London is a major city and is obviously well-suited to hosting the Olympic Games. More work needs to be done though, and will no doubt be done right up to the start of the games, which the top brass in the United Kingdom will hope can live up to previous years.

BOXING

Boxing was a major success at the Beijing Games with hosts China, the United Kingdom and Ireland benefiting greatly and winning a number of medals in the different weight divisions. In the United Kingdom, James De Gale won a gold medal at middleweight level, while bronze medals went to Tony Jeffries and David Price. China were extremely successful also, winning four medals – 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze. Gold medals went to Zou Shiming and Zhao Xiaoping, silver went to Zhang Zhilei and a bronze medal went to Hanati Silamu.

Perhaps the biggest success story though was related to Ireland, who came into the games with very little optimism around getting a medal. The country has been shrouded in Olympic controversy in recent times with Michelle Smith De Bruin’s four year ban in 1998 for tampering with a sample, and also the stripping of equestrian star Cian O’Connor’s medal after his horse failed a drugs test. Indeed, even in Beijing, horse rider Denis Lynch was disqualified for a drug-related incident. So, for the Boxers to come home with three medals was a terrific achievement. For the record, Paddy Barnes won bronze medals and Kenny Egan was extremely unfortunate not to get a gold, but he was more than happy to settle for a silver medal.

WOMEN’S BOXING

With so much good work being done for Irish Boxing by the likes of Billy Walsh, a former Buffer’s Alley hurler, then there is genuine cause for optimism with London 2012 very much on the horizon. They will also be hopeful that women’s boxing will be included on the itinerary in three years, largely due to the exploits of one Katie Taylor. The 22 year old, who attended St. Killian’s school in her native Bray, Co. Wicklow, has forged quite a reputation for herself, especially in the last four years. She started boxing, under the tutelage of her father Peter, at the age of 12 and would go on to be crowned European Amateur Champion in 2005. She would regain her crown in 2006, before going to taking the World Championship crown in 2007 and 2008. It is no wonder that the Irish Sporting Council is so eager to have women’s boxing included in the next Olympic games.

INCLUSION

With so many people across the world so eager to have it included in the competition, it simply wouldn’t make sense if it wasn’t included in three years time. When there is such a healthy competition at both European and World Championship level, it is clear that there would be much for an expectant audience to marvel in should we see it take place in London. Chances are that people won’t find out what the decision of the Olympic Council for another while but, in the meantime, the top-class Boxers like Taylor will have to continue doing what they do best until they know whether they can compete or not.

Only men’s competition. No women’s competition.

Boxers qualify for the Olympics through performances at regional tournaments in Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and Oceania. The number of boxers accepted from any region depends upon the strength of boxing in that region and varies between weight divisions.

The boxers are paired off at random for the Olympic Games, without regard to ranking. They fight in a single-elimination tournament, with the winner advancing to the next round and the loser dropping out of the competition. Winning boxers progress through the preliminary rounds to the quarterfinals and semifinals. The two semifinals winners fight for the gold and silver medals, while both losing semifinalists receive bronze medals.

Bouts consists of a total of four rounds. Each round is two minutes in length with a one-minute interval between each round. Contests are won by knockout or on points. A point is awarded for a scoring hit with marked part of the glove on the opponent’s head (side or front) or body (above the belt).

A panel of five judges decides which hits are scoring hits. Judges each have two buttons before them, one for each boxer, and they press the appropriate button when they believe a boxer delivers a scoring hit.

An electronic scoring system registers a point whenever three or more judges press the button for one boxer within a second of each other. No point is awarded for a hit unless three of the five judges agree.

When two boxers trade blows in a flurry of infighting, where no full-force punches can land, the judges wait until the end of the exchange and award a point to the boxer who got the better of it. At the end of the bout, when each judge’s points have been totaled, the boxer awarded the most points by a majority of the judges is declared the winner.

If two boxers end up with the same number of points, the judges decide a winner by assessing such factors as which of the two took the lead and showed better style.

If the judges determine those factors to be even, they turn to which competitor showed better defense. Punches to an opponent’s arms do not score points. Punches that are judged to have no force behind them do not score points.

When a boxer commits a foul, he faces a caution, a warning or, in extreme cases, disqualification. Two cautions for a particular offence mean an automatic warning, and three warnings of any kind mean disqualification.

Some of the more common fouls include hitting below the belt, holding, pressing an arm or elbow into the opponent’s face, forcing the opponent’s head over the ropes, hitting with an open glove, hitting with the inside of the glove and hitting the opponent on the back of the head, neck or body. Others include passive defense, not stepping back when ordered to break, speaking offensively to the referee and trying to hit the opponent immediately after the order to break.

During a bout, a boxer is considered down if, as a result of being hit, he touches the floor with any part of his body besides his feet. He also is down if he is even partly outside the ropes or hanging on them helplessly from being hit, or if he still is standing but is judged to be unable to continue.

When a boxer is down, the referee starts counting from one to 10 seconds. The count now is timed electronically, with a beep sounding for each number, but referees often still choose to call them out. The referee also is required to signal the count to the downed boxer by holding a hand in front of him and counting with his fingers. If the boxer is still down after the 10 seconds, the opponent wins on a knockout.

Even if a boxer gets back on his feet immediately, he is obliged to take a mandatory eight-count. After the eight seconds, the referee will give the command “Box” if he feels the match should continue. If the boxer gets to his feet but falls again without receiving another blow, the referee starts counting at eight.

A boxer who is down and being counted can be saved by the bell only in the final round of the final. In all other rounds and bouts, the count continues after the bell sounds.

If any boxer takes three counts in one round or four counts in the bout, the referee will stop the fight and declare the opposing boxer the winner.

If the referee has to stop a bout in the first round because a boxer has suffered a cut eye or a similar injury, the other boxer is declared the winner. If it happens in the second or third round, though, the judges’ point tallies up to that time determine the winner.

Three doctors sit at ringside and each has the authority to stop a bout if medical reasons appear to necessitate it

If both boxers go down at the same time, counting continues as long as one remains down. If both remain down at 10, the boxer with the most points is declared the winner.

Other ways a boxer may be declared the winner during a bout include the referee stopping the bout because the opponent is taking too much punishment, or the opponent being disqualified or withdrawing, perhaps because of injury. Also, the opponent’s seconds could decide he is suffering too much punishment and throw in the towel.

Boxers are required to shake hands before the first round and after the results have been declared.

The age limits for Olympic boxing are a minimum age of 17 and a maximum age of 34.

Boxers must be clean shaven or facial hair restricted to a small moustache no longer than the length of the upper lip. Beards are banned.

Before every bout, a medical examiner must declare the boxers fit.

Boxers must weigh in every day.

There are 11 weight divisions (with maximum weights) as follows:

• Light flyweight (48 kg)
• Flyweight (51kg)
• Bantamweight (54kg)
• Featherweight (57kg)
• Lightweight (60kg)
• Light welterweight (64kg)
• Welterweight (69kg)
• Middleweight (75kg)
• Light heavyweight (81kg)
• Heavyweight (91kg)
• Super heavyweight (more than 91kg)

Boxers must wear boxing gloves conforming to AIBA standards. Gloves weigh 10 ounces and feature a white strip to mark the main hitting area.

Competitors wear either red or blue.

Bouts are conducted in a square ring measuring 6.1 metres inside the ropes on each side. The floor of the ring consists of canvas stretched over a soft underlay, and it extends 45.72 centimetres outside the ropes.

Each side of the ring has four ropes running parallel to it. The lowest one runs 40.66cm above the ground, and the ropes are 30.48cm apart. The corners of the ring are distinguished by colors. The corners occupied by the boxers are coloured red and blue, and the other two corners, called “neutral” corners, are white.

Amateur boxing is practiced at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring (based on number of clean punches landed) rather than physical power. Bouts comprise four rounds of two minutes in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, and four rounds of two minutes in a national ABA (Amateur Boxing Association) bout, each with a one-minute interval between rounds..

Men’s senior bouts changed in format from four, two minute rounds to three, three minute rounds on January 1 2009.
Headgear is mandatory in amateur boxing

Competitors wear protective headgear and gloves with a white strip across the knuckle. A punch is considered a scoring punch only when the boxers connect with the white portion of the gloves. Each punch that lands on the head or torso is awarded a point. A referee monitors the fight to ensure that competitors use only legal blows (a belt worn over the torso represents the lower limit of punches – any boxer repeatedly landing “low blows” is disqualified). Referees also ensure that the boxers don’t use holding tactics to prevent the opponent from swinging (if this occurs, the referee separates the opponents and orders them to continue boxing. Repeated holding can result in a boxer being penalized, or ultimately, disqualified). Referees will stop the bout if a boxer is seriously injured, if one boxer is significantly dominating the other or if the score is severely imbalanced.[1] Bouts which end this way may be noted as “RSC” (referee stopped contest) with notations for an outclassed opponent (RSCO), outscored opponent (RSCOS), injury (RCSI) or head injury (RSCH).

History

Amateur boxing emerged as a sport during the mid-late 1800s, partly as a result of the moral controversies surrounding professional prize-fighting. Originally lampooned as an effort by upper and middle-class gentlemen to co-opt a traditionally working class sport, the safer, “scientific” style of boxing found favor in schools, universities and in the armed forces, although the champions still usually came from among the urban poor.

The Queensberry Amateur Championships continued from 1867 to 1885, and so, unlike their professional counterparts, amateur boxers did not deviate from using gloves once the Queensberry Rules had been published. In the United Kingdom, the Amateur Boxing Association (A.B.A.) was formed in 1880 when twelve clubs affiliated. It held its first championships the following year. Four weight classes were contested, Featherweight (9 stone), Lightweight (10 stone), Middleweight (11 stone, 4 pounds) and Heavyweight (no limit). (A stone is equal to 14 pounds.) By 1902, American boxers were contesting the titles in the A.B.A. Championships, which, therefore, took on an international complexion. By 1924, the A.B.A. had 105 clubs in affiliation.

Boxing first appeared at the Olympic Games in 1904 and, apart from the Games of 1912, has always been part of them. From 1972 through 2004, Cuba and the United States have won the most Gold Medals, 29 for Cuba and 21 for the U.S. Internationally, Olympic boxing spread steadily throughout the first half of the 20th century, but when the first international body, the Federation Internationale de Boxe Olympic (International Olympic Boxing Federation) was formed in Paris in 1920, there were only five member nations.

In 1946, however, when the International Amateur Boxing Association (A.I.B.A.) was formed in London, twenty-four nations from five continents were represented, and the A.I.B.A. has continued to be the official world federation of amateur boxing ever since. The first World Amateur Boxing Championships were staged in 1974.[2]

Computer scoring was introduced to the Olympics in 1992. Each of the five judges has a keypad with a red and a blue button. The judges must press a button for which ever corner they feel lands a scoring blow. Three out of the five judges must press the button for the same boxer within a one-second window in order for the point to score. A legal scoring blow is that which is landed cleanly with the white knuckle surface of the glove, within the scoring area (middle of the head, down the sides and between the hips through the belly button, and the boxer can’t be committing a foul (slapping, ducking head, wrestling, holding, etc). As long as the punches land within the scoring area, they are legal and that includes body punches, as well as those to the face. When computer scoring is used, and one opponent is leading by 20 points at any time before the fourth round, the referee is notified and the bout is stopped on an RSCOS – meaning the referee stopped the contest as the opponent was outscored.

Recent developments in sports technology for boxing[3] has introduced systems like the Automated Boxing Scoring System which uses instrumented boxing gear to send information back to a ring-side computer for the purposes of scoring. The system was developed to overcome the shortcomings of the computer scoring system, however the automated system has not been introduced as the official scoring system yet and could take some time to become accepted by boxing officials.

Rules And Regulation (United Kingdom)

Amateur boxing has an age limit that states that you must be at least 11 years of age to have bouts, but there is no training age limit.

Seniors 1. A Boxer becomes a Senior on his 17th birthday. When he reaches his 34th birthday, he will no longer be allowed to box, and his ME3 must be returned to his Association Registrar for cancellation.

Round Duration 2. Boxers will box 3 x 2 minute rounds and males may box 4 x 2 minute rounds or 3 x 3 minute rounds by agreement. Females may box 4 x 2 minute rounds by agreement. In Open Championships and Internationals, males will box 3 x 3 minute rounds and females 4 x 2 minute rounds. In every case there will be an interval of one minute between rounds.

3. A Senior Boxer may participate in a maximum of 18 contests per season excluding Championships and International matches.

Classification 4. There shall be three classes of Senior Boxers. The appropriate classification being: (a) Novice A Novice is a boxer who has not competed in any stage of an Open Senior Championship. A Novice Boxer must not compete against an Open Class Boxer other than in recognised Championship (b) Intermediate An Intermediate is a Boxer who has: (a) entered and competed in an Open Senior Championship but has not won a Regional Association Title, (b) won a Novice Class ‘B’ Title. (c) won a CYP Class C Title. (d) returned from professional boxing. (c) Open

An Open is a Boxer who has: (a) won an ABAE Senior Championship Regional Association Title. (b) boxed at Senior level for his Country. A Regional Association Executive Committee may upgrade a Boxer who in their opinion, is clearly above the prevailing standard for his current level of classification. Similarly, a boxer may be downgraded if his ability, in their opinion is below the standard prevailing in his current classification.

Juniors 1. A boxer is a junior from his 11th birthday (at which age he is eligible to hold an ME3), until his 17th birthday. 2. (a) Boxers under the age of 17 years MUST NOT concede more than 12 months in age, except where necessary for specific International Events. (b) Novice boxers aged 17 years can compete against boxers aged 16 years provided 43 there is no more than 12 months difference in age. (c) It is recommended that Junior boxers do not concede age, weight and experience in a contest. The final decision for any contest is the responsibility of the OIC. Rounds Duration 2. Unless the conditions for Championships or other authorised events prescribe otherwise the duration of bouts for Junior boxers will be as follows: Both boxers aged over 11 years and under 14 years – 3 x 1.5 minute rounds One boxer aged 13 and the other 14 years – 3 x 1.5 minute rounds Both boxers aged 14 years – 3 x 2 minute rounds One boxer aged 14 years and the other 15 years – 3 x 2 minutes rounds Both boxers aged 15 years or over – 3 x 2 minute rounds, or 4 x 2 minutes by agreement. 3 x 3 minute rounds by agreement (Male boxers only)

United States amateur boxing organizations

Amateur boxing can be considered any amateur fight at a local boxing gym, but there are several tournaments that take place to determine amateur champions.

There are several different amateur sanctioning bodies in the United States, including the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) of the United States, the Golden Gloves Association of America, and USA Boxing.

The Golden Gloves is an amateur boxing tournament that is fought at both the national level and the regional level. Although the Golden Gloves typically refers to the National Golden Gloves, it can also refer to the Intercity Golden Gloves, the Chicago Golden Gloves, the New York Golden Gloves, and other regional Golden Gloves tournaments. The winners of the regional tournaments fight in a national competition annually.

USA Boxing also sanctions a national tournament to determine who will compete on the United States National boxing team at the Olympic Games.

In preparing your boxers for a coming bout, be sure to get your men in the best physical condition, but cut down on their strenuous work about two days before the bout.  Two days before the bout, they should work about 8 – 10 fast rounds with no heavy sparring or heavy bag punching.  The day before the bout very little or loosening up type workout may be used, or no work at all need be done.

You should try to find out as much as you can about the opponents your men are about to meet, and try to work on special techniques or plans of attack that might prove especially effective against the coming opponents.  Your discussion of opponents with your men should tend to inspire confidence and not unduly alarm them.

Pre-fight food consumption should be limited to carbohydrates and liquids.  Avoid greasy and fatty foods as they slow digestion.  Ordinarily, a meal is completely digested and out of the stomach in four hours, but the usual tension before a bout tends to slow down this process, so the pre-bout meal should not be overly large. Foregoing the noon meal would not be a good idea because there may be some weakness if a man were to go all day without food.

It is a very important part a good coach’s job to see that his men are psychologically set for their bouts.  This job is one that must be adapted to each individual’s particular makeup.  A coach must do all he can to learn his boxers’ makeup and approach that will most effectively help then to best realize their potential.  Some men will need to be pushed hard and others need to be deflated a little to combat overconfidence or complacency.  It is up to the coach to determine which approach is called for with a particular man.  Get to know your men as well as you can.

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