Rules
Common rules are known as "unified rules" either governed by location or sanctioning body.
Each round is three-minutes for men's professional boxing, two-minutes for women's, with a minute between each round.
Most times, only a referee or doctor can stop a fight. Boxers' corners are also able to "throw in the towel."
Most locations have a "no-standing eight-count" rule, where the referee halts the action if he feels a boxer is hurt, administering the appropriate count to allow the boxer time to recover.
"Saved by the bell" refers to when a boxer is being given a count that is interrupted by the end of the round. Most times, boxers can only be saved by the bell in the final round.
There are certain infractions for which a boxer might be penalized, including but not limited to:
- Backhanding
- Biting
- Headbutting
- Kidney punch
- Low blow: a punch that connects below the opponent's belt line
- Rabbit punching: a blow to the back of the opponent's head
- Slapping
- Thumbing: using the thumb of the glove to gauge at an opponent's eye. This was more common in the past, as the thumb is now sewn to the glove.
- Turning an opponent, or turning one's back to the opponent
- Using any extremity (feet, knees, elbows, etc.) other than the front part of the glove