Marquess of Queensberry Rules facts for kids
The Marquess of Queensberry Rules are a well-known set of rules for the sport of boxing. They were created in London in 1865 and made public in 1867. These rules are named after the 9th Marquess of Queensberry. He publicly supported them. However, a Welsh sportsman named John Graham Chambers from Llanelli actually wrote them.
The Queensberry Rules are the basis for modern boxing. They were the first rules to say that boxers must wear gloves. These rules eventually took over from the older London Prize Ring Rules. The Queensberry Rules are used in both professional and amateur boxing matches. Sometimes, people use the term "Queensberry Rules" to mean playing fair in any sport.
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History of the Rules
The boxing rules were written by John Graham Chambers, a Welshman. He drafted them in London in 1865. They were published in 1867 as "the Queensberry rules for the sport of boxing." Before this, boxing matches used the London Prize Ring Rules. Those rules were from 1838 and updated in 1853.
Bare-knuckle fights, without gloves, continued for many years under the old rules. But the Queensberry Rules slowly became the main rules for all boxing matches. These new rules taught boxers that winning fairly was important. They showed that fighting without any rules was not the right way.
One of the first boxers to fight under the Queensberry Rules was Jem Mace. He was a former English heavyweight champion. He won a fight against Bill Davis in Virginia City, Nevada, using these rules in 1876. By 1889, the Queensberry Rules were also used in the United States and Canada.
Original Queensberry Rules
Here are the main points of the original rules:
- The fight must be a fair stand-up boxing match. It should take place in a ring about 24 feet wide.
- No wrestling is allowed.
- Each round lasts three minutes. There is a one-minute break between rounds.
- If a boxer falls, they must get up by themselves. They have 10 seconds to do this. The other boxer must go to their corner. If the fallen boxer does not get up in 10 seconds, the referee can declare the other boxer the winner.
- A boxer hanging on the ropes, unable to stand, is considered down.
- No coaches or other people are allowed in the ring during the rounds.
- If the fight is stopped for a reason that can't be avoided, the referee will decide when and where to finish it. The match must have a winner, unless both sides agree to a draw.
- Boxers must wear good quality, new boxing gloves of a fair size.
- If a glove breaks or comes off, it must be replaced to the referee's satisfaction.
- A boxer on one knee is considered down. If they are hit while down, they win the match.
- No shoes with spikes or sharp nails are allowed.
- All other parts of the fight follow the revised London Prize Ring Rules.
Modern Boxing Rules
Today's boxing rules are based on the Queensberry Rules. Here are some of the modern rules used by the North American Association of Boxing Commissions:
How a Boxing Match Works
A boxing match has rounds that last three minutes each. The fight ends after a set number of rounds, usually up to 12. If no one wins before then, judges decide the winner. After each round, except the last, boxers go to their corners for one minute. Their coaches can give them advice and help. A referee controls the fight inside the ring. The referee makes sure the fight is safe and fair. They count when a boxer is knocked down and watch for fouls.
Winning by Knockout (KO)
A boxer is "knocked down" if any part of their body, other than their feet, touches the ring floor. This must happen because of a punch from their opponent, not just a slip. When a boxer is knocked down, the referee starts counting to 10. If the boxer gets up and can continue before the count reaches 10, the fight goes on. If the referee counts to 10, the fight ends. The standing boxer wins by "knockout" (KO). This happens even if the knocked-down boxer did not lose consciousness.
Winning by Technical Knockout (TKO)
A "technical knockout" (TKO) happens if a boxer cannot safely continue the fight. The referee or fight doctor can stop the match due to injuries. Or, a boxer might not be able to defend themselves well. A TKO also happens if a boxer refuses to continue after the break between rounds. If a boxer is knocked down three times in one round, the fight ends right away. The opponent wins by TKO. A TKO counts as a knockout on a boxer's record.
Winning by Decision
Three judges sit outside the ring to score the fight. They give points to boxers based on punches landed, defense, and knockdowns. They also consider things like how accurate the punches are. The judges do not talk to each other during the fight. Sometimes, their decisions can be debated.
If the fight goes all the way to the end of the planned rounds, the judges' scores decide the winner. The result can be a unanimous decision (all judges agree), a majority decision (most judges agree), a split decision (judges disagree but one boxer has more votes), or a draw.
Standing Eight Count
Sometimes, a "standing eight count" rule is used. This rule allows the referee to stop the fight and count to eight. This happens if the referee thinks a boxer is in danger, even if they haven't fallen. After counting, the referee checks the boxer. They decide if the boxer is fit to keep fighting. For scoring, a standing eight count is treated like a knockdown.
Violations and Fouls
Breaking boxing rules is called a "foul." The referee can give warnings or take away points from a boxer. For serious fouls, the referee can disqualify a boxer, which means they lose the fight. If a boxer intentionally fouls and causes an injury that stops the fight, they are usually disqualified. If a boxer gets an accidental low-blow, they might get up to five minutes to recover. If they can't continue, they might be ruled knocked out. If an accidental foul causes an injury that ends the fight, it might be called a "no contest." Or, if enough rounds have passed (usually four or more), the fight might go to the judges' decision.
Other Important Rules
Boxers are not allowed to hit below the belt. They cannot hold, trip, push, bite, or spit on their opponent. They also cannot wrestle. Boxers wear shorts with a raised waistband to protect the groin area. They cannot kick, head-butt, or hit with any part of the arm except the knuckles of a closed fist. Hitting the back, the back of the head or neck (called a "rabbit-punch"), or the kidneys is also against the rules. Boxers cannot hold the ropes for support while punching. They cannot hold an opponent while punching. They also cannot duck below the opponent's belt.
If boxers get into a "clinch" (holding each other to pause the fight), the referee will break it. Each boxer must take a full step back before punching again. Or, the referee might tell them to "punch out" of the clinch. When one boxer is knocked down, the other boxer must stop fighting right away. They must go to the farthest neutral corner of the ring. They stay there until the referee either calls a knockout or tells them to continue. After a knockdown, the referee must count to eight seconds before the fight can start again.
See also
- 10 Point System
