Olympics program, Boxing (1976)

Olympic boxing

Amateur boxing, although spawned in the same waters as the professional game, is a fish of another variety.

There are many intricacies to Olympic Games and amateur boxing which bear explanation.

First of all, Olympic Games bouts are only three rounds long – each round lasting three minutes with a 60-second interval in between.

The major change is in scoring. While most professional bouts are scored by a referee and two judges or three judges, Olympic Games bouts are monitored by five judges. While the referee officiates, he does not mark a scorecard.

Points are assessed strictly on a 20-point system, similar to the five-point must system popular in North America.

The regulations of the Association internationale de boxe amateur (AIBA) – the International Amateur Boxing Association – State:

“Twenty points may be given. At the end of each round the better (more skillful) boxer shall receive twenty points and his opponent proportionately less. When the boxers are equal in merit, each shall receive twenty points.”

Another major difference between professional and amateur boxing is that there is no such thing as a draw in Olympic Games bouts.

The regulations state that if at the end of contents a judge finds the boxers tied in points, he shall award the decision to the boxer:

1. who has done most of the attacking or who has shown the better style, or if equal in that respect;
2. who has shown the better defence (blocking, parrying, ducking, sidestepping, etc.).

Another major difference in amateur scoring is that no points are awarded for knock-downs.

Points generally are awarded for hits which connect on the front or side of the head or body above the belt without being blocked by an opponent.

However, if the judges feel the hits did not connect with enough authority, they are not counted. Thus a solid punch must land unhindered to score a point.

Hits do not count for points if struck by a boxer while infringing the rules such as with the side, heel, inside of the glove or with the open glove.

Blows which land on an opponent’s arms also do not count as clean hits, and therefore, points.

The competitor who does not obey the instructions of the referee, acts against the boxing rules, boxes in any unsportsmanlike manner, or commits fouls, can at the discretion of the referee be cautioned, warned or disqualifies without warning. Only three warnings may be given to the same boxer in any contest. The third warning brings automatic disqualification.