Glossary

Heavyweight

Rules

The highest weight class in professional boxing, with no upper weight limit. It starts above 200 lbs (90.7 kg), or above 224 lbs (101.6 kg) for the WBC, which added a bridgerweight division in 2020.

Rules Guide
Boxing Rules: Scoring, Fouls & Weight Classes

How this fits with the rest of the rules — the 10-point must system, fouls and penalties, and every weight class.

More Rules Terms

Accidental Foul

An unintentional illegal action such as a headbutt or low blow. If a fight is stopped early due to an accidental foul, scorecards go to the judges if enough rounds have been completed.

Amateur Boxing

Olympic-style boxing, run internationally by World Boxing (which took over from the expelled IBA) and nationally by federations such as USA Boxing. Elite bouts are 3 rounds of 3 minutes, women and youth boxers wear headguards, and scoring emphasizes clean punching.

Bantamweight

A weight class with a limit of 118 lbs (53.5 kg) in professional boxing.

Below the Belt

Any punch landing below the navel/beltline. It is an illegal strike that results in a warning, point deduction, or disqualification.

Break

A command from the referee to separate fighters from a clinch. Both fighters must step back and stop punching immediately.

Cruiserweight

A weight class with a limit of 200 lbs (90.7 kg) in professional boxing, sitting between light heavyweight and heavyweight.

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