 Scoring
Olympic-style boxing is faster than the professional game, and
the rules are vastly different as well.The scoring system in
amateur boxing awards a point to the fighter who can connect
with a punch and move away before his opponent can do the
same. All legal blows are scored equally. Pushing an opponent
or pinning him against the ropes with the shoulder or forearm
are both allowed in professional boxing, but in Olympic boxing
they are punished. Infractions may result in point deductions
and, in extreme cases, disqualification. Punches that count
have to be delivered by the white part of the glove covering
the knuckles. To be scored, a blow must be clean, fair, and
judged substantial.
Competition
Olympic boxing matches, or bouts, consist of five 2-minute
rounds. Five judges sitting ringside score the bout using a
computer with a program that electronically tabulates each
boxer's scoring punches. A judge must press either a red or
a blue button on his keyboard when the "red" or "blue" fighter
throws what the judge considers to be a scoring punch. Three of five judges
must press either the red or blue button within one second (starting when
any one judge presses his button) for a point to register for a boxer.
Tie scores are rare, but they do occur; in
such cases, the highest and lowest scores are
dropped. In the unlikely event the score is
still tied, each of the five judges votes for
a winner by pressing the red or blue button
on his keyboard. The boxer chosen by at least
three of the five judges wins.
Winning by points is the most common way to
win a match, but not the only way. A boxer
can forfeit the match by "throwing in
the towel" or can be prohibited from continuing
if the referee considers him outclassed or
not "giving 100 percent."
A match is stopped if one of the boxers is
knocked down and 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. If a boxer
remains "down" to a full count of
ten, the bout ends by a knockout.
News, History,
and Fast Facts
More sports
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.
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