1. Bout/match duration

  1. Open Boxers
    1. In all Elite and Youth approved competitions, the bouts shall consist of three (3) rounds of three (3) minutes each with one (1) minute rest interval.
    2. In all Junior C male and female approved competitions, the bouts shall consist of three (3) rounds of two (2) minute each with a one (1) minute rest interval.
    3. In all Junior B male and female approved competitions, the bouts shall consist of three (3) rounds of one and a half (1.5) each with one (1) minute rest interval.
    4. In all Junior A and Fun Box male and female approved competitions, the bouts shall consist of three (3) rounds of one (1) minute each with a one (1) minute rest interval.
    5. During the interval between rounds, boxers must face the ring centre.
  2. Novice Boxers
    1. Novice Elite male or female (19 to 40 years old), the bouts shall consist of three (3) rounds of two (2) minutes each with a one (1) minute rest interval.
    2. Novice Youth male or female (17 to 18 years old), the bouts shall consist of three (3) rounds of two (2) minutes each with a one (1) minute rest interval.
    3. Novice Junior C male or female (15 to 16 years old), the bouts shall consist of three (3) rounds of two (2) minutes each with a one (1) minute rest interval.
    4. Novice Junior B male or female (13 to 14 years old), the bouts shall consist of three (3) rounds of one minute and a half (1.5) each with a one (1) minute rest interval.
    5. Novice Junior A male or female (11 to 12 years old), the bouts shall consist of three (3) rounds of one (1) minute each with a one (1) minute rest interval.
  3. Master Boxers
    1. For boxers who are 41 to 45 years old, the bouts shall consist of three (3) rounds of two (2) minutes each with a one (1) minute rest interval.
    2. For boxers who are 46 to 55 years old, the bouts shall consist of three (3) rounds of one minute and a half (1.5) each with a one (1) minute rest interval.
    3. For boxers who are 55 years old and over, the bouts shall consist of three (3) rounds of one (1) minute each with a one (1) minute rest interval.

2. Scoring methodology

  1. Scoring system
    1. An approved World Boxing Scoring System will be used in all Bouts and operated by the approved Scoring System operator.
    2. The approved Scoring System is based on the “Ten Point Must” System.
  2. Scoring criteria
    1. There are three (3) Scoring Criteria:
      1. Number of quality blows on target area.
      2. Domination of the Bout by technical and tactical superiority.
      3. Competitiveness.
    2. Quantity and quality of these blows should be considered as the most important factor.
    3. When the quantity of the blows is very close to equal, the quality of the blows may decide the winner of the round.
  3. Scoring allocation
    1. 10-9 – close round
      1. When both Boxers are evenly matched in most of the criteria.
      2. A close round may occur even with a standing Eight Count or a Knockdown.
    2. 10-8 – clear winner
      1. There is a clear winner due to the large difference in the number of quality blows scored.
      2. There is a clear winner with a smaller difference in the number of quality blows scored, and may also include a standing Eight Count or a Knockdown.
    3. 10-7 – total dominance
      1. One Boxer is completely dominant over the other Boxer in all criteria.
      2. There is a clear winner with a large difference in the number of quality blows scored and may also include a standing Eight Count or a Knockdown.
  4. End of each round
    1. In accordance with the “10-Point Must” system, each Judge independently judges the merits of the two (2) Boxers. Each Judge determines the winning Boxer of that round by awarding a score of ten (10) points and the losing Boxer by awarding nine (9) or fewer points.
    2. Seven (7) is the minimum score to the losing Boxer, depending on the judgment as to the degree to which the opponent lost the round.
    3. Every round must have a declared winner.
    4. There can be no 10-10 rounds.

3. Legal scoring techniques

  1. In order for a blow to be counted as a quality blow on target area, it has to meet the criteria below:
    1. The blow must connect in the correct area.
    2. The blow must have the weight of the body or shoulder behind the blow.
    3. The blow must connect with the knuckle surface of the glove.
    4. The blow must connect without infringing a rule.
    5. The blow must be cleanly connected.
    6. The Judge must have clear vision of the punch.
  2. Domination of the Bout by technical and tactical superiority may have the following attributes:
    1. A Boxer who is controlling the Bout with a combination of attack and defence.
    2. A Boxer who is the “Effective Aggressor”. A Boxer who is constantly attacking by going forward is not necessarily an “Effective Aggressor”.
    3. A Boxer who controls the Bout with a combination of attack and defence, and scores cleanly while defending against counter-punching.
    4. A Boxer who forces the action and sets the tempo of the Bout.
    5. A Boxer who causes their opponent to miss and makes the other Boxer vulnerable to counter punches.
    6. A Boxer who throws effective counter-blows and stands their opponent off.
    7. A Boxer who sets the positions in the ring and the pace of the action, such as lateral movement, for example.
    8. A Boxer who neutralises the style or type of their opponent: slugger vs boxer, southpaw vs orthodox, cuts off the ring, works opponent into a corner, etc.
    9. A Boxer who successfully avoids the clean hit of their opponent by blocking, slipping, weaving, parrying and good footwork.
  3. Competitiveness is determined by continuously showing initiative, a strong desire to compete and to win.

4. Legal scoring targets

  1. The target area is defined as the front and sides of the head and body above the belt. The belt is defined as a line from hip to hip which passes through the navel.

5. Illegal scoring techniques

  1. See Scoring fouls/penalties.

6. Illegal scoring targets

  1. See Scoring fouls/penalties.

7. Scoring fouls/penalties

  1. Fouls
    1. Hitting below the belt (low blow).
    2. Hitting with the head.
    3. Hitting with the shoulder.
    4. Hitting with the forearm or elbow.
    5. Hitting with an open glove.
    6. Hitting with the inside of the glove.
    7. Hitting with the wrist or side of the hand.
    8. Hitting the back of the opponent, especially on the back of the neck or head.
    9. Hitting the opponent with a kidney punch.
    10. Hitting the opponent with a pivot blow or backhand punch.
    11. Holding.
    12. Holding and hitting.
    13. Locking the opponent’s arm or head, or pushing an arm underneath the arm of the opponent.
    14. Tripping.
    15. Kicking.
    16. Butting.
    17. Strangling.
    18. Pulling.
    19. Biting.
    20. Spitting on the opponent or the Referee.
    21. Faking/simulating.
    22. Pushing
    23. Pushing the opponent’s face with an arm or an elbow.
    24. Pushing the opponent’s head back.
    25. Attacking while holding the ropes or making any unfair use of the ropes.
    26. Lying on, wrestling and throwing in the clinch.
    27. Attacking an opponent who is down or who is in the act of rising.
    28. Ducking below the belt of the opponent.
    29. Completely passive defence by means of double cover and intentionally falling, running or turning the back to avoid a blow.
    30. Speaking without the referee’s permission.
    31. Not stepping back when ordered to break.
    32. Attempting to strike the opponent immediately after the Referee has ordered “break” and before taking a step back.
    33. Assaulting or behaving in an aggressive manner towards a Referee at any time.
    34. Keeping the advanced hand straight in order to obstruct the opponent’s vision.
  2. Caution, Warning, Disqualification
    1. The Referee, at own discretion, can caution, warn or disqualify the boxer, who does not obey the instructions, who acts against the rules, who boxes in any unsportsmanlike manner or who commits fouls.
    2. A third warning in a Bout for a Boxer results in an automatic disqualification by the Referee.
    3. The Referee, who intends to give a warning to a Boxer will say “Stop” and demonstrate the infringement to the Boxer first and then to the Deputy Technical Delegate.
    4. If the Referee gives a warning to a Boxer, the Deputy Technical Delegate will record the warning and inform the Scoring System Operator who, in turn, will record the warning in the Scoring System. Each warning reduces the total score of the offending Boxer by one (1) point per Judge.
    5. The Referee gives a warning to the offending Boxer if the opponent receives a headbutt or any other serious illegal blow which does not cause an injury or a cut,
    6. The Referee may disqualify the offending Boxer, if the opponent receives a headbutt or any other serious illegal blow and this is deemed sufficiently serious to warrant a disqualification.
    7. The Referee disqualifies the offending Boxer, if the opponent receives a headbutt or any other illegal blow that causes an injury or a cut.
    8. If the Referee has any reason to believe that a foul has been committed that the Referee has not seen, the Referee may consult the ringside Judges.
    9. If the Referee discovers an irregularity in the Boxer’s handwraps or bandages after the Bout that, in the Referee’s opinion, gave an advantage to the Boxer, the referee disqualifies the Boxer immediately.

8. Result declarations

  1. Win on Points (WP)
    1. At the end of a Bout, each Judge determines a winner based on the Boxer’s total scores during the Bout. The winner is determined through the approved Scoring System by a unanimous or split decision.
    2. A unanimous decision by points is declared in case all five (5) Judges appoint the same winner.
    3. A split decision by points is declared:
      1. When three (3) Judges appoint one (1) Boxer as the winner and the other two (2) Judges either appoint the other Boxer as a winner or a draw; or
      2. Four (4) Judges appoint one (1) Boxer as the winner and the other Judge either appoints the other Boxer as a winner or a draw.
    4. If the total scores awarded by each Judge, including any deduction, are equal at the end of the Bout, the Judge(s) with equal scores is/are requested to break the tie and nominate which Boxer is the winner of the Bout in their opinion in the following cases:
      1. One (1) Judge has even scores, and the total scores of the other four (4) Judges are evenly split; or
      2. Two (2) Judges have even scores and the other three (3) Judges do not score unanimously; or
      3. Three (3) or more Judges have even scores.
    5. The Judges score the round for each Boxer up to the time of the termination of the Bout, and the Boxer who is ahead on points is declared the winner of the Bout on points. The round in which the Bout is stopped is scored, even if it is a partial round.
    6. The Winner on Points (WP) decision applies if an injury caused by an unintentional foul occurs during any round and as a result the contest is stopped by the Referee.
    7. The Winner on Points (WP) decision applies in case both Boxers are injured at the same time and as a result the contest is stopped by the Referee.
    8. The Winner on Points (WP) decision applies in case the Bout is terminated by the Referee due to a situation that is out of the Boxers or Referee’s control, such as the destruction of the ring, failure of the lighting supply, forces of nature or other similar unforeseen conditions, and only if the situation mentioned occurs after the end of the first round.
    9. The Winner on Points (WP) decision applies in case of a Double Knockout (DKO) during a final Bout of a competition.
    10. If a Bout is interrupted due to force majeure after the first round, the Bout will be terminated, and the scores considered final.
  2. Referee Stops Contest (RSC)
    1. If a Boxer, in the Referee’s opinion, is being outclassed or is receiving excessive punishment or hard blows, the Bout is stopped, and the opponent is declared the winner of the Bout by RSC.
    2. If a Boxer is standing and is unfit to continue and/or fails to resume boxing after an Eight Count, the opponent is declared the winner of the Bout by RSC.
    3. If a Boxer fails to resume boxing immediately after the rest period between rounds, the opponent is declared the winner of the Bout by RSC.
    4. If a Boxer who fell out of the ring as a result of a legal blow does not re-enter the ring after thirty (30) seconds, the opponent is declared the winner of the Bout by RSC.
    5. The Ringside Doctor has the option to advise the Referee to terminate a Bout if a Boxer, in the opinion of the Ringside Doctor, receives excessive punishment. The opponent is declared the winner of the Bout by RSC.
  3. Referee Stops Contest-Injury (RSC-I)
    1. If a Boxer, in the opinion of the Referee, is unfit to continue because of a sustained or increased injury from legal blows, the Bout is stopped, and the opponent is declared the winner of the Bout by RSC-I.
    2. If a Boxer, in the opinion of the Referee, is unfit to continue to compete because of an injury not sustained from blows, the Bout is stopped, and the opponent is declared the winner of the Bout by RSC-I.
    3. If a Boxer suffers a low blow and does not recover after one minute and 30 seconds (1 m 30 s), the opponent is declared the winner of the Bout by RSC-I.
  4. Abandonment (ABD)
    1. If a Boxer retires voluntarily or if the Second of the Boxer mounts the apron and throws the towel into the ring (except while the Referee is conducting a count), the opponent is declared the winner of the Bout by ABD.
    2. If a Boxer loses a contact lens during a round or Bout and does not accept to continue to box without the contact lens, the Referee terminates the Bout, and declares the opponent the winner of the Bout by ABD.
  5. Win by Disqualification (DSQ)
    1. If a Boxer is disqualified for any reason, the opponent is declared the winner of the Bout by DSQ.
    2. If the Referee, at the discretion, determines that an intentional foul caused an injury to a Boxer and that the fouled and injured Boxer cannot continue because of the injury sustained from this intentional foul, the offending Boxer is disqualified and the injured Boxer is declared the winner of the Bout by DSQ.
    3. The third warning in the Bout automatically disqualifies the Boxer, and the opponent is declared the winner of the Bout by DSQ.
    4. If both Boxers are disqualified, including walkovers, both Boxers lose the Bout by BDSQ.
    5. If both Boxers in the Bout are disqualified at any stage of the Competition before a semi-final, their opponent in the next round will win by walkover.
  6. Disqualification for Unsportsmanlike Behaviour (DQB)
    1. If a Boxer is disqualified for Unsportsmanlike Behaviour (such as assaulting or acting aggressively towards a Referee, Judge, Technical Delegate, Team Official, opponent or other), the opponent will be declared the winner of the Bout by DQB and the disqualified Boxer will be subject to sanctions determined by the World Boxing.
    2. The Referee declares a winner by DSQ and only the Technical Delegate will have the authority to adjust the result to DQB for any Unsportsmanlike Behaviour.
    3. If both Boxers are disqualified for Unsportsmanlike Behaviour, neither Boxer will be eligible for a medal.
  7. Win by Knockout (KO)
    1. If a Boxer is knocked down, fails to stand and resume boxing before that Boxer is counted to ten (10), the opponent will be declared the winner of the Bout by KO.
    2. In the case of an emergency and the Referee suspending the count and/or summoning the Ringside Doctor to the ring before the Boxer is counted to ten (10), the opponent will be declared the winner of the Bout by KO.
    3. After the Referee has said “Ten” (“10”), the Bout ends and must be decided as KO. The Referee may stop the count at any point if in the Referee deems that the Boxer is in immediate need of medical attention, and the decision will be KO.
    4. In the case a Double Knockout (DKO) occurs, both Boxers will lose the Bout by DKO.
    5. If a DKO occurs during a final, the decision of Winner on Points (WP) of these rules will apply.
  8. Win by Walkover (WO)
    1. If a Boxer is present in the ring fully attired and ready to box, and the opposing Boxer fails to appear in the ring after being announced and a maximum period of one (1) minute has elapsed after the bell has been sounded, the Referee will declare the present Boxer to be the winner by WO.
    2. If a Boxer fails the Medical Examination or Daily Weigh-In, the opponent will win by WO. The Boxers of the respective Bout will not be called onto the Field of Play and the Bout result will be officially announced.
    3. If a Boxer who won by DSQ is declared unfit to compete in the next round of the same Competition, then the opponent is declared the winner of the Bout by WO.
    4. If a Bout cannot take place because both Boxers cannot compete (BDSQ or DKO) at any stage of the Competition before the semi-finals, the opponent in the next round will win by walkover.

9. Athlete attire and required equipment

  1. Gloves
    1. Boxers must wear red or blue gloves, as per the respective boxer’s corner.
    2. In all competitions, gloves must be provided by the organizing committee and must be approved by the supervisors. Boxers will not be allowed to wear their own gloves.
  2. Specifications
    1. For all Elite AOB and Youth Men competitions:
      1. Ten (10) oz.. gloves must be used from the Light Flyweight (49 kg) category to the Light Welterweight (64 kg) category;
      2. Twelve (12) oz. gloves must be used from the Welterweight (69 kg) category to the Super Heavyweight (over 91 kg) category.
    2. For all other AOB competitions:
      1. Ten (10) oz. gloves must be used.
    3. For all Master competitions:
      1. USA Boxing approved sixteen (16) oz. gloves must be used.
  3. Hand Wraps
    1. Domestically, hand wraps shall be used. The single bandage is not to exceed 2.5 meters or (8 feet 4 inches) in length and 5 cm (or 2 inches) in width.
  4. Headguards
    1. For an Elite male open boxer, headgear will be mandatory for all sanctioned competitions in Canada with the exception of National Championships. During provincial championships, headgear will be mandatory until the final, where boxers will have the option. If boxers disagree during the final, headgear will prevail.
    2. For all other Boxing Canada competition, Confederation competition and National competition, boxers must use headguards approved by a recognized safety standards organization or boxing authority.
    3. All boxers in the Master divisions must wear USA Boxing approved Masters Headguards.
  5. Competition Uniform
    1. Boxers must wear uniforms predominantly of the colour corresponding to their respective corner (red or blue), unless otherwise specified in Event Rules.
    2. Boxers must wear a vest and shorts or a skirt. The length of the shorts or the skirt must not be shorter than mid-thigh, must not cover the knee and must not be worn above the belt line.
    3. The belt line is an imaginary line from the navel to the top of the hips, and must not cover the navel. The belt line must be clearly identified by a contrasting colour to the short/skirt and vest and must be 5–10 cm wide.
  6. Shoes and Socks
    1. A Boxer must wear athletic footwear such as shoes or light boots without spikes or heels.
    2. If a Boxer wears socks, the socks cannot cover the knee.
  7. Gumshield
    1. A Boxer must wear a gumshield during every Bout.
    2. No red or partially red-coloured gumshield may be worn.
    3. The gumshield has to fit exactly and comfortably.
  8. Groin and Breast Protectors
    1. Men Boxers must wear a groin protector during a Bout.
    2. Women Boxers may use a groin protector during a Bout.
    3. If a woman Boxer wears a breast protector, it must not have any metal parts except for the fastening site at the back of the Boxer. The breast protector must follow the natural contours of the breasts and must not provide additional protection to the surrounding areas. It must not cover any target area of the body, including the sternum.
  9. An official will inspect the equipment of all contestants prior to competition to ensure that the contestant’s equipment meets minimum standards and is in good repair.