Basic Boxing Vocabulary

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How much do you know about the sweet science?

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Accidental Butt

When the heads of both fighters just so happen to collide during the course of a fight. No one is ruled responsible in such a case.

Alphabet Groups

Term used to describe the numerous boxing organizations (WBA, IBF, WBC, WBO…) that govern the sport.

Bleeder

A fighter who is vulnerable to cuts.

Bob and Weave

When a fighter moves his upper body in an up-and-down motion, making him more difficult to time correctly.

Bolo Punch

A showy, sweeping punch that looks like a little like an uppercut. More of a showboating tactic.

Bout

Another word for a boxing match.

Brawler

An aggressive fighter who likes to fight on the inside.

Break

The moment when the fighters are separating from a clinch.

Buckle

When fighter’s legs give way, as in “that punched buckled him.”

Canvas

The floor in a boxing ring.

Card

The list of fights happening in a single boxing event.

Caught Cold

Term used to describe a fighter knocked out early in the fight who was not mentally prepared or warmed up properly.

Chief Second

The head trainer in charge of a fighter’s corner.

Clinch

When fighters hold each other.

Combination

A seamless sequence of consecutive punches.

Contender

A fighter in a position to perhaps challenge for a championship.

Corkscrew Punch

A punch thrown in a twisting motion, which often causes cuts.

Cornerman

One of several people who work in a fighter’s corner during a fight.

Counterpunch

Punch thrown in response to another fighter’s attack.

Covering Up

Defensive tactic where a fighter goes into a shell to thwart his opponent’s offensive.

Cross

Power punch thrown straight with the rear hand.

Cutman

Cornerman responsible for tending to swelling and cuts.

Dive

When a fighter purposely loses.

Eight Count

After a fighter is knocked down, the referee must complete a count of eight even if the opponent rises before that.

Enswell

Piece of cold metal that is pressed on swelling to prevent the eyes from closing.

Faded

Term used to describe a fighter past his peak powers.

Feint

When a fighter acts like he’s going to punch but does not in order to get his opponent to react.

Flash knockdown

When a fighter is briefly knocked down, more as a result of a surprise or happenstance than being seriously hurt.

Fringe Contender

Low-rated contender on the cusp of the world rankings.

Gate

Total amount of money generated from ticket sales.

Gatekeeper

Term used to describe a fighter who is not a threat to be champion, but opponents can establish themselves as a legitimate contender by beating him.

Get Off

A fighter’s ability to get his offense untracked.

Glass Jaw

A trait of a fighter with questionable punch-resistance.

Go the Distance

Lasting for the complete scheduled duration of a fight.

Go to the Body

A strategy that centers on trying to deplete an opponents’ resolve by repeatedly punching to the body and not so much the head.

Go to the Cards

When the judges decide who won a fight that either went the distance or was stopped prematurely.

Governing Body

An organization that sanctions fights.

Haymaker

A wild punch intended to knock out the opponent.

Infighting

Close-range boxing.

Journeyman

A skilled fighter, while not necessarily a winning one. Used as opponents and to test up and coming boxers. They lack meaningful connections and take fights on short notice.

Kidney Punch

Illegal body punch thrown to the rear area of an opponent’s body.

Liver Shot

Legal punch when a left hook connects with the lower right side of an opponent’s body with devastating affect.

Low Blow

Punch deemed by the referee to be below the legal level.

Main Event

The most important fight on a card.

Mauler

An inside fighter who tries to prevail by smothering his opponents.

Majority Decision

When two judges agree a certain fighter won, while the third judge scores it as a draw.

Mouse

An isolated and protruding swelling on a fighter’s face.

Neutral Corner

One of two unoccupied corners in the ring and where fighters are sent after they knock down their opponents.

No-Decision

When a fight has no win-lose-draw result, usually from an early-rounds cut or an extenuating circumstance that does not allow a fight to finish.

On the Ropes

Term used to describe a fighter in a dangerous situation trapped with his back against the ropes in a boxing ring.

Orthodox

Describes a right-handed fighter.

Outside Fighter

Boxer that prefers operating from long-range.

Palooka

Term used to describe an aging, losing, or uncelebrated boxer.

Parry

Changing the trajectory of an opponent’s punch using the gloves to slap away the shot.

Paw

To meekly poke a jab out.

Play Possum

To act hurt in an effort to get an opponent to over-commit.

Plodder

A slow-footed fighter with no agility.

Point Deduction

When a foul or series of fouls warrant a one-point penalty, the equivalent of losing a round.

Pound-for-Pound

Term created to rank fighters based on excellence and not weight.

Puncher’s Chance

When an under-skilled, but hard-hitting fighter must rely solely on his punching power to win a fight.

Purse

The money a fighter earns for a given fight.

Queer Street

State of a fighter who does not have full control of his faculties after taking punishment.

Rabbit Punch

An illegal punch to the back of the head.

Ring Generalship

When a fighter is controlling and dictating the fight. When one fighter is imposing his will on the fight more than his opponent.

Ringside

A position that is close to the ring.

Roll with the Punches

When an opponent bends and twists with the punch, minimizing its impact.

Rope-a-Dope

Allowing an opponent to go on the offensive while covering up on the ropes and waiting for him to tire.

Roughhousing

When an opponent fights in an overly physical and unruly way.

Rubber Match

When opponents fight for a third time, each having won one bout apiece.

Sanctioning Body

A group that organizes world title bouts.

Saved by the Bell

When a round ends, saving a hurt fighter that was on the verge of being knocked out.

Second

A cornerman.

Shopworn

A fighter who is slowing down after a long career.

Slip

To move the head slightly to avoid a punch.

Southpaw

A left-handed fighter.

Spar

Boxing for practice.

Split Draw

When two judges disagree on who won a fight, while the third judge has it a draw.

Stablemate

Fighters who train at the same gym or under the banner of the same promoter.

Stick and Move

Technique when a fighter moves around the ring fighting only at long range.

Stylist

A fighter who relies on skills rather than brawn.

Sucker Punch

A punch thrown at a distracted or otherwise unprepared opponent.

Titlist

Fighter who holds one of the many available “world” title belts, but is not recognized as the true or linear champion.

Technical Decision

When a bout is terminated prematurely due to a cut or some other circumstance sending the bout to the scorecards.

Technical Draw

When a bout is ended prematurely and the scoring is even.

Technical Knockout

When a fighter is taking too much punishment and the referee stops the bout without completing a ten-count.

Throw in the Towel

When the chief second in a fighter’s corner wants to stop the fight, he throws a towel into the ring.

Toe-to-Toe

When both fighters stand in front of each other and engage.

Trialhorse

Capable but largely unsuccessful opponent used to gauge if other fighters are ready to make a jump in class.

Undercard

Series of fights that take place before the main event.

Upstart

A new fighter with potential.

Walkout Bout

A low-caliber fight at the end of a fight card.

Whiskers

Chin. Used to describe a fighter’s durability