A good boxer can blend in speed, endurance, strength, and defense tactics to outfight his opponent. Here's a fast summary of the basics of boxing as a sport.

Boxing is one of the boxing martial arts, where two people fight each other primarily with their fists. English-style boxing is a sport where the combatants are supervised by a referee, and the fight takes place over a series of rounds, with each round lasting for 3 minutes unless there is a knock out. Both boxers wear heavy gloves to protect their hands and also their opponent from getting cuts.

There are two categories of boxing: amateur and professional boxing. The best know amateur boxing takes place as part of the Olympic games and Commonwealth games. Amateur boxers wear head protection gear and the bouts are usually short usually comprising 3 rounds, with each round lasting for 3 minutes for men, while for women there are 4 rounds each lasting for 2 minutes. On the other hand, professional martial-arts boxers don't wear head protection and bouts can be up to 12 rounds.

Rules

There are several rules in boxing. First, if a boxer is knocked down at any round and touches the canvas floor with any part of his or her body apart from the feet, as a result of opponent's punch and not by slipping or pushing; the referee starts to count till the boxer stands up again. If the referee counts to ten then the knocked-down boxer is ruled as knocked out whether still conscious or not, and the other boxer is declared the winner. This win is called a knockout win (KO). A technical knockout win is when the referee or a fight doctor rules that an injured boxer is unable to continue fighting due to injury or is unable to defend him or herself well.

Also boxers aren't supposed to hit below the belt, hold, trip, spit or bite their opponents. Boxers are also not allowed to kick, head butt or hit each other with other parts of the arm other than the knuckles of a closed fist. Holding the ropes for support when punching or holding an opponent while punching is also prohibited. If a boxer violates these rules, he or she may be ruled to have fouled. The referee can issue warnings, deduct points, or even disqualify the offending boxer.

Approach Strategies

Boxers use different strategies when approaching their opponents.

1. As an out-fighter: In this style the boxers master their defense and offense by maintaining a distance between him and his opponent, comes in to hit and backs off again. Most out-fighters tend to win by point decisions and they fight with rapid, long range punches.

2. The swarmer: The fighter tries to stay close to an opponent, unleashing a fury of punishment. Generally, swarmers are very aggressive and ruthless delivering good punches and taking good hits. Most swarmers are have flexible footwork and have a phenomenal speed.

3. Boxer punch: Used by sturdier boxers, they fight at close range combining technique and power, often with ability to knock out their opponents with a single strike. They employ speed and mobility tactics against their opponents wearing out the opponents and then striking a knockout punch.

4. The slugger: A slugger depends on power punches to knock the opponents out. Most sluggers are generally bigger and slower and have good chins. They are not afraid to take in a few hits, but when they throw a punch, it usually leaves overwhelming damage.

Defense Strategies

1. Slip defense is when a boxer slightly rotates his or her body so that an incoming punch passes without harm, next to the head.

2. Blocking is where a boxer uses his or her shoulders, hands or arms to defend himself against opponent's attack.

3. Ducking is a style where the boxer drops down with the back straight in the intention that the thrown punch misses entirely.

4. Bob and weave is a boxing style in which a boxer moves the head sideways and beneath an incoming punch.

The Punches

Boxers also use different punches. The four basic punches include: uppercut, jab, cross, and hook. An uppercut punch is a vertical, rising punch, thrown with the rear hand. From the defending position, the elbow is drawn back with the knuckles pointing forward and the elbow bent. From this position the rear hand is thrown upwards in a rising curve towards the opponent. A jab punch is a quick punch which is thrown with the lead hand from the defense position. The punch throw is usually accompanied by clockwise rotation of the torso and hips, whereas the fist rotates at 90 degrees. A hook punch is a semi circular punch, which is thrown with the lead hand to the side of the opponents head. A cross punch on the other hand, is a powerful, straight punch thrown with the rear hand.