Boxing Rules History

Broughton's Rules

The first printed rules of boxing were published by English champion Jack Broughton (also known as John Broughton), on 16 August 1743, at his Amphitheatre in Tottenham Court Road.

In 1741 Broughton had beaten a Yorkshireman named George Stevenson, who died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the fight. Broughton was so upset by what happened that he vowed never to fight again.

Later, however, he relented, but not before deciding to produce a code of rules to make the sport safer. 'Broughton's rules', as they were known, applied to the bare-knuckle Prize Ring and can be read in full below.

1. That a square of a yard be chalked in the middle of the stage; and on every fresh set-to after a fall, or being parted from the rails, each second is to bring his man to the side of the square, and place him opposite to the other; and till they are fairly set-to at the lines, it shall not be lawful for one to strike at the other.
2. That, in order to prevent any disputes, the time a man lies after a fall, if the second does not bring his man to the side of the square, within the space of half a minute, he shall be deemed a beaten man.
3. That in every main battle, no person whatever shall be upon the stage, except the principals and their seconds; the same rule to be observed in bye-battles, except that in the latter, Mr. Broughton is allowed to be upon the stage to keep decorum, and to assist gentlemen in getting to their places; provided always, he does not interfere in the battle: and whoever pretends to infringe these rules, to be turned immediately out of the house. Everybody is to quit the stage as soon as the champions are stripped, before the set-to.
4. That no champion be deemed beaten, unless he fails coming up to the line in the limited time: or that his own Second declares him beaten. No second is to be allowed to ask his man's adversary any questions, or advise him to give out.
5. That, in bye-battles, the winning man to have two-thirds of the money given, which shall be publicly divided upon the stage, notwithstanding any private agreements to the contrary.
6. That to prevent disputes, in every main battle, the principals shall, on coming on the stage, choose from among the gentlemen present two umpires, who shall absolutely decide all disputes that may arise about the battle; and if the two umpires cannot agree, the said umpires to choose a third, who is to determine it.
7. That no person is to hit his adversary when he is down, or seize him by the ham, the breeches, or any part below the waist; a man on his knees to be reckoned down.

London Prize Ring Rules

Broughton's rules were universally used until 1838, when the British Pugilists' Protective Association introduced the London Prize Ring Rules or the New Rules of Prize-fighting.

A 'scratch' replaced Broughton's 'square of a yard' chalked in the middle of the stage. Kicking, gouging and head-butting were outlawed, but wrestling was permitted. A round ended when one of the boxers was floored, but if a fighter went down deliberately, without being hit or thrown, he was disqualified. A 30-second rest was allowed between each round, plus a further eight seconds for the fighters to 'come up to scratch'. The fight ended when one of the men failed to come up to scratch in time.

The London Prize Ring Rules were revised in 1853 and 1866, then replaced by the Marquess of Queensbury Rules.

Queensbury Rules (1866)

The Marquis of Queensbury Rules were devised by the Marquis of Queensbury, Lord Lonsdale and Arthur Chambers, who later became lightweight champion of the world.

The Marquis, a great supporter of boxing, considered fighting under London Prize Ring Rules to be rather brutal, and drafted his own rules to eliminate needless brutality and to give scientific boxers a chance.

The Queensbury rules were originally intended for amateur boxing, but they were revised and adapted for pro boxing, with the input of journalists from the famous sporting papers, Referee and Sporting Life. The Queensbury Rules were the first to mention boxing with gloves and the rules of modern boxing are based on them.

1. To be a fair stand-up boxing match in a 24-foot ring, or as near that size as practicable.
2. No wrestling or hugging allowed.
3. The rounds to be of three minutes' duration, and one minute's time between rounds.
4. If either man falls through weakness or otherwise, he must get up unassisted, 10 seconds to be allowed him to do so, the other man meanwhile to return to his corner, and when the fallen man is on his legs the round is to be resumed, and continued till the three minutes have expired. If one man fails to come to the scratch in the 10 seconds allowed, it shall be in the power of the referee to give his award in favour of the other man.
5. A man hanging on the ropes in a helpless state, with his toes off the ground, shall be considered down.
6. No seconds or any other person to be allowed in the ring during the rounds.
7. Should the contest be stopped by any unavoidable interference, the referee to name the time and place as soon as possible for finishing the contest; so that the match must be won and lost, unless the backers of both men agree to draw the stakes.
8. The gloves to be fair-sized boxing gloves of the best quality and new.
9. Should a glove burst, or come off, it must be replaced to the referee's satisfaction.
10. A man on one knee is considered down, and if struck is entitled to the stakes.
11. No shoes or boots with spriggs allowed.
12. The contest in all other respects to be governed by revised rules of the London Prize Ring.

National Sporting Club Rules

In around 1890 the Pelican Club in London produced a set of rules based on the Queensbury Rules, which were adopted the following year by the National Sporting Club (NSC), a body which governed British boxing until the formation of the British Boxing Board of Control (BBB of C). Formed in 1929, the BBB of C in turn took on the NSC's rules and revised them in 1947.

Under NSC rules all contestants wore gloves, fights were limited to 20 rounds in length, a five-point round-by-round scoring system was used, and stricter safety measures were followed. The NSC revised its rules in 1909 and 1923. Here is the final set of rules used by the NSC: