Key facts

Venue: ExCeL
Dates: Saturday 28 July – Sunday 12 August
Medal events: 13
Athletes: 286 (250 men, 36 women)

Boxing featured at the original Olympic Games in the 7th century BC, when opponents fought with strips of leather wrapped around their fists. The sport’s regulations were codified in 1867 as the Marquess of Queensberry Rules, named in honour of the nobleman who endorsed them. The essence of these rules is still in place today, governing this perennially exciting and dramatic Olympic sport.

The basics

In the Olympic Games, men’s bouts take place over three three-minute rounds, with women’s bouts held over four rounds of two minutes each. Boxers score points for every punch they land successfully on their opponent’s head or upper body.

At London 2012, all Boxing events will be run in a knockout format. The winners of the two semi-finals in each weight category will fight for the gold medal, with the losers of the two semi-finals each awarded a bronze.

Olympic Boxing, past and present

Since the first Olympic Boxing competition in 1904, many of the sport’s biggest names have come to prominence at the Games: Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali; 1960), George Foreman (1968) and Oscar de la Hoya (1992) have all won Olympic gold in the past.

At London 2012, the Boxing competition will be held at ExCeL, a multi-purpose events venue that will also host a number of other Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Jargon Buster

• Hook: A short, sideways-thrown punch delivered with a bent elbow.
• Jab: An arm’s-length, straight-thrown punch.
• Standing eight count: A precautionary count during which the referee allows a boxer time to recover from a heavy blow or series of blows.
• Throw in the towel: The traditional way for a boxer’s assistant to concede defeat for his boxer before the end of the contest.

See the London 2012 Olympic Games competition schedule

Get involved

Boxing is a great way to get fit and learn a new set of skills. Find your nearest club or gym through your home nation’s federation, accessible through the British Amateur Boxing Association’s website, or through Active Places. The worldwide governing body, the International Boxing Association, also has lots of information about the sport.

See also