If you’ve ever wanted to know more about boxing, you’ve come to the right place. Our Boxing FAQs cover all the key topics, from weight divisions and world champions to scoring and must-see boxing films. Be sure to check out our boxing glossary too for some jargon-busting help!

What are the boxing weight divisions?

Boxers are split into classes depending on their weight to ensure a fair fight and safety. These are: Minimumweight - 105lb/48kg Light flyweight - 108lb/49kg Flyweight - 112lb/51kg Super flyweight - 115lb/52kg Bantamweight - 118lb/53.5kg Super bantamweight - 122lb/55kg Featherweight - 126lb/57kg Super featherweight - 130lb/59kg Lightweight - 135lb/61kg Super lightweight - 140lb/63.5kg Welterweight - 147lb/67kg Super welterweight - 154lb/70kg Middleweight - 160lb/72.5kg Super middleweight - 168lb/76kg Light heavyweight - 175lb/79kg Cruiserweight - 200lb/91kg Heavyweight - unlimited"

How many rounds are there in boxing?

The amount of rounds in a boxing fight can depend on the situation and the experience of the fighter. Professional boxing fights can last for a maximum of 12 rounds and all world title fights will feature all 12 rounds. Title fights at national level will typically last 10 rounds, with each round lasting three minutes in men’s boxing and two in women’s.

Who is the heavyweight boxing champion of the world?

There are currently two fighters recognised as the heavyweight champion of the world - they are Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. Fury is British and has fought off challengers like Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte and Wladimir Klitschko in the past to retain the WBC and The Ring titles, while the Ukrainian Usyk defeated Anthony Joshua in 2021 to take the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles, having made the step up from cruiserweight.

Legendary boxers

Some of the most famous boxers in history are:

• Joe Louis

One of the most influential fighters of all time, American Joe Louis transcended sport and politics, fighting through WW2 and becoming the first African-American to become a national hero. He also holds the record for the longest reign as world champion by any boxer, being heavyweight champ from 1937 to 1949.

• Muhammad Ali

Probably the most famous name in boxing, Muhammad Ali takes the word legend to the next level. Simply nicknamed ‘The Greatest’, Ali initially competed as Cassius Clay, his birth name, and was a leading figure in the American civil rights movement and for those against the Vietnam War. In the ring, he won 56 out of 61 fights and had famous fights against Joe Frazier and George Foreman. Ali was also known for his trash-talking and media interviews.

• Sugar Ray Robinson

A winner of 173 professional bouts, Sugar Ray Robinson began fighting at 19 in 1940 and, at one time, went on an incredible 91-fight unbeaten run. He was also renowned for his flashy lifestyle and is widely seen as the first sportsman to have an ‘entourage’. His amatuer record, meanwhile, is sometimes disputed, but widely recorded as 85 wins and 0 losses.

• Mike Tyson

Known for his intimidating and aggressive style both inside and outside of the ring, Mike Tyson is one of the biggest names in sport. The youngest boxer to ever win a heavyweight title, Tyson was also the first heavyweight to win the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, before also becoming the lineal champion. Since retiring, Tyson has appeared in films and TV, elevating his fame to new heights.

• Floyd Mayweather

Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, so-called as a result of his countless lucrative pay-per-view fights, has won 15 major world championships during his career across several weight divisions and has been rated as the best, or one of the best, pound-for-pound boxers ever by several organisations. Known for his tactical, defensive game, Mayweather has a perfect professional record, winning all 50 of his fights.

• Lennox Lewis

The last heavyweight to hold the undisputed championship, Lennis Lewis is one of the greatest British boxers ever, and is a three-time world champion. Known for two famous fights against Evander Holyfield and defeating Mike Tyson in what was the most-anticipated fights in the history of the sport, Lewis had previously fought under the Canadian flag in athletics championships.

• Manny Pacquiao

The ‘PacMan’ Manny Pacquiao is the only eight division world champion in the history of the sport and has won 12 world titles. He is also the only boxer to hold world championships over four separate decades and is one the highest-paid sportsmen ever. Away from the ring, Pacquiao has become a Senator of the Philippines and has dabbled in both basketball and music.

• Oscar de le Hoya

Competing between 1992 and 2008, Oscar de la Hoya won a total of 11 world titles over six weight divisions and is ranked as the 12th-best pound-for-pound fighter ever by BoxRec. He was the highest-grossing pay-per-view fighter of all time until Mayweather and Pacquiao came along, both of whom defeated de la Hoya toward the end of his career.

How do judges score boxing?

If a fight is not ended by a knockout, the judges’ scores will determine the result. There are three ringside judges who are separate and cannot confer. The judges score each round, rewarding 10 to the victor of the round and a lesser score to the other fighter (most rounds are scored 10-9). An even round will be scored 10-10. The factors which determine a judge’s decision over a round include, but are not limited to: clean punching, effective aggressiveness, ring generalship and defense. Additionally, knockdowns during a round will result in the knocked-down fighter automatically losing a point per knockdown. At the end of the fight, the judges scores are totted up and the winner is crowned.

What are the different ways to win at boxing?

Knockout (KO), Technical Knockout (TKO), Unanimous Decision (UD), Split Decision (SD), Majority Decision (MD), Technical Decision (TD), Opponent Retired (RTD) and Opponent Disqualified (DQ).

Different types of boxing gloves?

• Bag Gloves: Designed purely for heavy striking of punching bags.
• Bag Mitts: Add protection to a fighter’s hands while punching a bag, allowing for a fully-closed fist punch.
• Sparring Gloves: Typically heavier than competition gloves to avoid unnecessary injuries, these are used during practice bouts to protect both fighters.
• Competition Gloves: These gloves are worn during competitive fights to protect both fighters. They are designed to fit in strict regulations with less padding. Often have a white ‘scoring area’ to allow judges to spot proper punches. Typically available in 8oz, 10oz and 12oz sizes.
• Lace Up Gloves: Professional fighters typically wear lace-up gloves for pro bouts, as well as pre-fight training.

What's the difference between boxing and UFC?

There are big differences between the sports of boxing and MMA (UFC), with the biggest being that in boxing you can only punch and all punches must be above the belt, whereas in UFC, kicking, wrestling and lots of other attacks are permitted. The second big difference is the fight’s location, boxing takes place in a ‘ring’, a square-shaped area with ropes at the sides, while UFC fights go down in an octagon-shaped cage which the fighters can use to their advantage. The rounds are different in each sport too, with a boxing world title fight featuring 12 three-minute rounds and a UFC fight using five five-minute rounds. The differences continue into the equipment too, mainly the gloves. Boxing gloves are larger and padded, while UFC gloves are smaller and more flexible to allow for wrestling and grappling. Shop our fight sport gloves right here.

What are some of the best boxing films?

With so much dramatic action, it is little wonder that the sport of boxing is the subject of countless films and TV programmes, offering compelling narratives and heart-racing fight scenes. We’ve collated some of our favourite boxing films for you to enjoy.

• The Rocky franchise - Sylvester Stallone’s defining role as Rocky Balboa is probably the most iconic boxing character of all time. After the success of the original film, Rocky, five sequels were made depicting Rocky’s incredible career in professional boxing. Who could forget the fights with Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang and Ivan Drago? Additionally, the series spawned Creed (2015) and Creed II (2018) where a retired Rocky trains Apollo Creed’s son, Donnie.
• Raging Bull (1980) - Directed by Martin Scorcese, Raging Bull is a biographical film about the life of legendary New York fighter, Jake LaMotta, played by Robert De Niro at the height of his career. The story shows how LaMotta’s self-destructive personality destroys his private life, while Joe Pesci stars as his brother who helps the protagonist fight his demons. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won two (Best Actor for De Niro and Best Editing).
• The Fighter (2010) - Starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and Amy Adams, The Fighter is a biopic based on the life of pro boxer Micky Ward and his half-brother, Dicky Eklund. The story charts how Micky’s career takes a downward turn and he removes Dicky as his trainer, before a world title shot gives the duo a chance at redemption. The film was a commercial and critical success, earning two Academy Awards and seven nominations.
• Jungleland (2020) - Jack O’Connell and Charlie Hunnam star as brothers Walter and Stanley Kaminski who take part in underground boxing matches to earn a living, but they soon get into trouble with a local crime boss and must take part in a bare-knuckle boxing tournament to survive. Director Max Winkler and the two star actors have earned high critical praise for their roles in the film.
• The Hurricane (1999) - This film charts the life of Rubin ‘The Hurricane’ Carter after his boxing career, which was cut short due to a wrongful arrest and conviction for triple murder in 1966. Denzel Washington plays the titular character, recounting his arrest, difficult life in prison and eventual release after the conviction was overturned. Washington’s performance earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.