Bouts take place over four rounds of two minutes each. Boxers score points for every punch they land successfully on their opponent’s head or upper body.
If a boxer is knocked to the ground and fails to get up within a count of 10 from the referee, the bout is over. Bouts can also be won or lost due to retirement or disqualification. A referee can also decide to stop the fight at any point if they think a boxer is unfit to continue.
The event is run in a single elimination format. The women start with a draw of 16 or at the quarter-final stage, depending on the category.
The winners of the two semi-finals compete for the gold medal. The losers of the semi-finals are each awarded a bronze.
A referee is in the ring with the two boxers. The wellbeing of the boxer is the primary concern of the referee, who also ensures that all hits are legal, provides the count when a boxer is down, and has the power to stop the fight at any time.
Officials
Five judges sit at the side of the Boxing ring. They watch the bout and individually award points for what they judge to be successful hits.
For a complete set of rules, please refer to the website of the International Boxing Association (AIBA), the governing body for the sport.
