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How many rounds in boxing? Explaining round totals in amateur, Olympic, and professional boxing

how many rounds in boxing
Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Many casual fight fans are often curious about how many rounds in boxing there are at the amateur, Olympic, and professional levels of the sport. Well, this space will answer all of the above and some other common inquiries when it comes to rounds in the highest levels of the sweet science.

What is a boxing round?

A round in boxing — or even mixed martial arts and kick boxing — is the period of time that two combatants have to score points toward a judges decision or to incapacitate their opponent to a level where they are unable to continue and that fighter is awarded the victory.

How long are rounds in boxing?

Unlike MMA rounds that last for five minutes, boxing has always preferred the route of fighters competing for three minutes at a time. However, what makes boxing far more different than cage fighting, which usually lasts for three frames, boxing can often have as many as 12 rounds.

How many rounds in Olympic boxing?

how many rounds in boxing
Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

Olympic boxing is one of the highest levels of the sport and can often be the launching point for many legendary fighters’ rise to prominence. However, since pugilists will have to compete several times during the event, they are only allowed to take part in three round fights.

How many rounds in amateur boxing?

Amateur boxing and Olympic boxing are very similar since combatants are not considered professionals at those stages. Furthermore, athletes often fight with regularity so they can not take part in long bouts each time, so just like the global event that takes place every four years, amateur boxers battle in scraps that only last three rounds.

How many rounds in boxing for WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO?

how many rounds in boxing
Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF are some of the top associations in the sport of boxing. The belts that iconic fighters like Tyson Fury, Canelo Alvarez, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, and Mike Tyson have held during their careers were for those bodies.

When it comes to fights for those associations the round amounts can vary. However, the common totals are often as low as eight rounds and as high as 12.

How many rounds did boxing use to have?

Many boxing fans are used to bouts being no longer than 12 rounds, and even that doesn’t happen as often as it used to. However, it was not long ago that fights were even longer. For decades, many title bouts in the sport went has high as 15 rounds.

That is where the term “the championship rounds” was derived from as it was how fights with belts on the line differed from regular matchups on a fighters resume.

Also Read: UFC tonight – Fight card, betting odds, and watch times for the UFC’s next event

How many rounds in bare-knuckle boxing?

Bare knuckle boxing has existed long before boxing became a globally recognized professional sport. However, after decades of falling into obscurity, the age old version of the sweet science has become popular again due to the success of promotions like Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

Yet, the gloveless version of the sport today differs from the common version as bouts in companies like BKFC only go five rounds and each frame lasts just two minutes.

How many rounds is women’s boxing?

While female boxers are just as skilled as their male counterparts, their bouts unfortunately differ from the gentlemen. While male bouts are usually 12, three minute rounds, the ladies matchups are set up to go no more than 10 rounds, with each frame no longer than two minutes.


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