OLYMPIC BOXING RULES AND SCORING: HOW JUDGES DECIDE WINNERS AT PARIS 2024
The 2024 Paris Olympics are underway and today marks the start of the boxing events.
Almost as old as human civilization itself, the sport was part of the ancient Olympic Games, first making an appearance in 688 BC, and has been a permanent fixture in the modern Olympic calendar since 1920.
As one of the 21st century's most popular and widespread pastimes, boxing is expected to captivate Olympic audiences once again, with 13 events and 39 medals up for grabs in Paris. That said, boxing at the Games is a little different to boxing on the professional circuit.
Here, Mirror Sport delves into these rules to provide all the necessary information for boxing fans and casual onlookers alike.
Fight structure and round length
Olympic boxing matches for both men and women comprise three rounds of three minutes each. Between each round, there is a one-minute break.
The reason for such low-round fights is to protect the athletes, many of whom will have to compete multiple times over the course of the Games.
Scoring structure
Prior to Rio 2016, the scoring system in Olympic boxing was similar to that of amateur boxing, which is based purely on the number of hits landed. But eight years ago, following a rule change allowing professional boxers to compete at the Games for the very first time, the 10-point-must system was adopted.
For those who don't know, the 10-point-must system, which is used in professional boxing, sees judges score each round individually on a 10-point scale, with the winner of the round receiving 10 points. But unlike pro boxing, Olympic boxing has five judges instead of three.
How is a winner determined?
These judges determine a winner at the end of every round based on hits landed, and award the individual 10 points. The loser of the round can be awarded anywhere between seven and nine points based on their performance.
After the bout ends, the judges' scorecards are totted up to determine a final winner, either by unanimous (if all five judges agree that the winner has taken two or more rounds) or by split decision. Victories can also be awarded via knockout, referee stoppage, disqualification or abandonment.
Tie break rules
If the total scores awarded by each judge, including any deduction, are equal at the end of the bout, the judge(s) with equal scores are requested to nominate which boxer is the winner of the bout in their opinion in the following cases:
- One judge has even scores, and the total scores of the other four judges are evenly split, or
- Two judges have even scores and the other three judges do not score unanimously, or
- Three or more judges have even scores
Fouls
If a boxer receives a referee's warning, he or she will be docked a point. If they receive three warnings during a single match they will be automatically disqualified.
Fouls are committed for infractions such as holding, improper hitting, wrestling and low blows.
Protective gear
All boxers at Paris 2024 are required to wear gumshields and professional hand wraps (bandages), though head guards are now only required for women, having been removed from the men's competition in 2016. The following glove regulations are also a requirement:
Men
- 10-ounce (284 grams) gloves must be used from 51kg to 63.5kg categories
- 12-ounce (340 grams) gloves must be used from 71kg to +92kg categories
Women
- 10-ounce gloves must be used in all events
Weight categories
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, there are a total of 13 events; seven for men and six for women. They're split into various weight categories, which are as follows:
Men
- 51kg
- 57kg
- 63.5kg
- 71kg
- 80kg
- 92kg
- +92kg
Women
- 50kg
- 54kg
- 57kg
- 60kg
- 66kg
- 75kg
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2024-07-27T06:14:09Z dg43tfdfdgfd