Spotlight Sport

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Gateway to the Summer Games - Spotlight Sports

Boxing
To be an Olympic boxer, an athlete must be between the ages of 17 and 32. Competitions are held in 12 weight divisions ranging from light flyweight (to 106 lbs., 51 kg) to super heavyweight (over 201 lbs., 91 kg).


		Scoring \| Competition News, History, Fast Facts All About Athletes \| More Sports

Scoring
Olympic-style boxing is vastly different than professional boxing. The scoring system in Olympic boxing awards one point to the fighter when he can connect with a punch and move away before his opponent can do the same. To count, a punch has to be delivered by the white part of the glove, which covers the knuckles. All legal blows are scored equally. Moves like pushing or pinning an opponent against the ropes, which are allowed in professional boxing, are not permitted in Olympic boxing.

Competition
Olympic boxing matches, or "bouts," consist of three three-minute rounds. Five judges score the bout individually. In the case of a tie, judges drop the highest and lowest scores. If the score is still tied, a five-member jury chooses the winner based on a combination of skill and style.

Winning by points is the most common way to win, but it is not the only way. A boxer can forfeit the match or can be prohibited from continuing if the referee considers him outclassed. A match can also be stopped if one boxer receives an eight-count three times in one round or four times in a bout. A boxer is considered "down" if he touches the floor with anything other than his feet, or if he is even partially outside the ropes as a result of a punch.

News, History, and Fast Facts

For complete information about playing, coaching, and watching boxing, visit the Copernicus Education Gateway's School Athletic Center: Boxing page.
To get a feel for how Olympic boxing works, tour the Australian Broadcasting Corporation site, where you'll find great explanations on how to follow the fights.
Do you know the difference between a "knockdown" and a "knockout?" The NBCOlympics.com All About Boxing page doesn't pull any surprise punches with illustrated definitions of the basics of the ring.
For the most detailed descriptions of boxing's Olympic history and a look at the rules of the ring, check out the official site of the USOC.
Sydney 2000 is an invaluable resource for keeping up with the news. This site also chronicles the rich history of the sport as an Olympic event and clarifies the rules.
Kids, go to the Sydney 2000 Kids site to investigate one of the world's most popular sports.
For more information on boxing's history as an Olympic event and the great fighters of the past, click on U.S.A. Boxing

All About Athletes

Which fighters have wicked jabs and left hooks? NBC Olympics.com keeps you informed of the strengths and weaknesses of the world's best amateur boxers.
Research all of the gold medal winners from each weight class and find out which pros were once Olympians on Hickok Sports.

More Sports

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General Sports Links
Olympians will compete in dozens of sports this summer. Even though Gateway to the Summer Games can't feature them all, you can learn about each and every one by visiting the sites listed below.

Griffin Publishing Group's Official Olympic Sports page
For information straight from the source, click on a sport to connect to its organization's official Web site.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation News
This site provides excellent information about Olympic sports and their rules. It also sizes up the best international competitors.
CBS Sportsline's Olympics 2000
Get top news stories and in-depth features about every sport.
CCN/SI
In addition to news on every sport, this site contains athlete diaries.
NBCOlympics.com
Select a sport to study or hear firsthand from an athlete who plays it.
Sydney 2000
The official site of the Sydney Olympics covers the events in detail.
Sydney 2000 Kids' Guide to Olympic Sports
Visit the Sportzone for sports-related information written especially for young students.
USOC
The United States Olympic Committee site includes the rules and history of events as well as athlete bios, diaries, and chats.
Sydney 2000 Fans
This unofficial site provides basic description of events and useful links to more information.

Portions of the above text were excerpted from Share the Olympic Dream--Volume II.
(c) 1995 by Griffin Publishing Group/United States Olympic Committee.

For information on purchasing Griffin materials, please visit the Griffin Publishing Group Web site at http://www.griffinpublishing.com.