Two fighters in opposite corners who look to outlast the other over a scheduled distance. 

However, to ensure the sport is safe and fair for competitors, there are a set of rules which fighters must be abide by. 

What are the rules of professional boxing? 

• In professional boxing, fights can take place over up to 12 three minute rounds, with a one minute rest between each round.
• The only method of attack is punching with a clenched fist, punches below the belt or the back of the opponent's head and neck are not allowed. 
• The ring ropes cannot be used for leverage. 
• An opponent cannot be hit when they are down.
• If a boxer is hit with a low blow, they can be given up to five minutes to recover.

How to win a professional boxing match? 

There are three ways in which a professional boxing match can be won. 

Method 1: Knockout

A boxed is knocked out if they are floored by their opponent and is unable to get up within 10 seconds. 

Method 2: Technical knockout

This is achieved by the boxer showing an unwillingness to continue, or the referee, corner team or medical staff pulling the fighter out of the contest before the end of the scheduled distance. 

Method 3: Judges' scorecards

During professional boxing bouts, there are often three judges ringside which award scores to the fighter they feel has won each individual round.

If the match cannot be decided by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification, then it comes down to which fighter got the highest score on the judges' scorecards.

If all three officials agree on who won the fight, it's classed as a unanimous decision. 

A split decision is declared if two judges score the fight in a boxer's favour. 

Can a boxing professional boxing match end in a draw? 

If one judge has Boxer A ahead, one judge has Boxer B ahead and the third has scored it as a draw, the overall result is a draw (also known as a 'split draw').

If all three judges had it dead even, that is also a draw (a 'unanimous draw').

There is also a majority draw if two of the three judges have a fight even but the third judge had Boxer A ahead, such a slender edge is not enough for Boxer A to be declared the winner. 

Can boxers be disqualified during a fight? 

Disqualifications can occur in boxing if one or both fighters have fouled an opponent or broken the rules. 

The disqualified boxer will automatically lose the contest, but if both fighters are disqualified, then the bout is declared a no contest. 

The majority of disqualifications occur for repeated intentional fouls such as headbutting, low blows and biting. 

Often the referee will give a verbal warning to a fighter if they see a violation of the rules before applying the disqualification. 

Can professional boxing match be drawn? 

As previously mentioned, a draw is likely to occur if no clear winner can be found on the judges' scorecards.

However, if a fight has to be stopped because a fighter is unable to continue from an accidental injury within four rounds, this is labelled a 'technical draw'.

If the fight has gone past four rounds, the outcome will be decided by the judges' scorecards at the time of the stoppage.