Boxing Glossary

From AIBA to WBO, learn boxing's lingo

  • AIBA - The Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (International Boxing Association)
  • Apron - The part of the boxing ring canvas outside of the ropes
  • Below the belt - A punch that lands below the waistline
  • Bleeder - A boxer who has a tendency to cut and bleed
  • Break - The command a referee uses to indicate boxers should separate if they're clinching or holding
  • Body shot - A punch delivered to the opponent's body
  • Bout - A boxing competition that consists of several rounds, up to a maximum of 12
  • Butt - When two boxers clash heads, either intentionally or by accident
  • Caution - A warning from the referee not to foul
  • Canvas - The floor of the boxing ring
  • Chief second - The head corner man
  • Clinch or Hold - When a boxer holds on to his or her opponent
  • Combination - When a boxer throws more than one punch
  • Corner - Where the boxers rest in between rounds
  • Cornerman - People who work with a boxer; usually a cut man and a trainer
  • Counterpunch - When a boxer throws a punch after the opponent punches first
  • Cross - A punch that comes from shoulder level and is usually aimed at the head
  • Cup - A padded protective device to shield the groin area
  • Cut man - A corner man whose job it is to stop cuts from bleeding
  • Decision - A result given after the scorecards are tabulated
  • Feint - A deception to trick the opponent into thinking a certain punch is about to be thrown
  • Flurry - When a boxer throws several punches at a time
  • Foul - A breach of the rules
  • Judge - A person who scores a boxing match
  • No Contest - When the bout is declared to be over with no decision rendered
  • Disqualification (DQ) - To be declared the loser because of fouling
  • Head gear - A protective device that covers most of the head, except the face
  • Heavy bag - A training device that hangs from the roof, used to develop power punches
  • Hook - A short power-punch that starts from the shoulder with the elbow bent; the fist travels from the side toward the center
  • IBF - The International Boxing Federation (pro boxing organization)
  • IBO - The International Boxing Organization (pro boxing organization)
  • Infighting - When boxers fight at close quarters without being able to fully extend their arms when punching
  • Jab - A quick, straight, snapping punch thrown from the shoulder; can be used as an offensive or a defensive weapon
  • Kidney punch - An illegal blow to the kidney
  • Knockdown - When any part of a boxer's body other than the feet hit the canvas. A knockdown can also be called when any part of the body is outside the ropes or when a boxer hangs onto the ropes helplessly after being hit
  • KO - A knockout: when a boxer fails to reach his or her feet by the count of 10
  • Low blow - A punch below the belt line
  • Majority decision - If two judges score a bout for a boxer and the third scores it even, the bout is awarded to the boxer by a majority decision. If two judges have the bout even, then the decision is called a majority draw
  • Match - A boxing competition consisting of several rounds
  • Mouthpiece - A protective device worn by boxers to shield their teeth, gums and mouth
  • NABF - The North American Boxing Federation (pro boxing organization)
  • Neutral corner - A corner of the ring that isn't assigned to either boxer
  • On the ropes - When a boxer is trapped on the ringside ropes by his or her opponent
  • Rabbit punch - An illegal punch to the back of the head
  • Rankings - A list of boxers ordered according to their skill and record
  • RSC - Referee stops contest; a term usually used in amateur boxing
  • Reach - The distance measured from fingertip to fingertip with arms extended to the side. You can also measure a boxer's reach from the armpit to fingertips
  • Referee - The third person in the ring who supervises the match
  • Reign - A boxer's length of time as a champion
  • Ropes - These are placed on all four sides of the ring
  • Round - A period of specific time in which the boxers compete. Pro rounds are three minutes long, and amateur rounds are mainly two minutes long (however, some may be three minutes)
  • Saved by the bell - When a boxer is knocked down, but the bell rings before the count of 10 can be reached. In some bouts, there is no saving by the bell - the count will continue
  • Scorecards - The cards on which the judge's official scores are kept
  • Skipping rope - A training method used by boxers for speed and footwork
  • Southpaw - A boxer whose dominant hand is the left hand
  • Sparring - A training session where boxers fight against each other with the use of head gear
  • Speed bag - A training bag that is used to improve punching speed and coordination
  • Split decision - When two judges score a bout for one boxer and the other judge scores it for the other boxer
  • Standing eight count - When the referee judges that a boxer has been significantly hurt, he or she may render a count of eight before allowing the boxer to continue
  • Tale of the tape - This is a combination of a boxer's reach, weight and other physical measurements, such as the fist, forearm, biceps, calf, waist or chest
  • Technical draw - When a bout is stopped because of an accidental foul before four rounds are completed
  • Three-knockdown rule - A rule that states a fight must be stopped if a boxer is knocked down three times in the same round
  • Throw in the towel - When a corner man throws a towel into the ring to stop the bout. This usually happens when the corner man's boxer is in trouble. However, the referee can choose to ignore the towel
  • Title - A championship belt or crown
  • Title defense - When a champion defends his or her championship title
  • TKO - Technical knockout; when the referee stops the bout because a boxer is in trouble
  • Turnbuckle - The padded section of the ring ropes in each corner of the ring
  • Unanimous decision - When all of the judges score the bout for the same boxer
  • Uppercut - A punch thrown upward, usually at close quarters
  • Weigh-in - The event before a bout where both boxers must weigh in to make sure they're not overweight
  • Wrap - A thin cloth material used to wrap a boxer's hands before the gloves are put on
  • WBA - The World Boxing Association - (pro boxing organization)
  • WBC - The World Boxing Commission (pro boxing organization)
  • WBO - The World Boxing Organization (pro boxing organization)
Comments
Write A Comment
Add your comments:
Please confirm
your humanity:
Enter the code (case sensitive)
Read Comments