Amateur boxing is widely practised in India with the likes of Shiva Thapa being the world number 1 in his category ,also names like MC Marykom the 5 times world champion have influenced many in the Peninsular country. But a new imenity is introduced in the country as Pro boxing featuring olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh and names like Jitender Kumar and Akhil Kumar who have brought interests amongst the Indians for pro boxing. Many people get confused with Amateur & Pro boxing differences , so we try to resolve them for you.
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The main differences are in the Rules as well as in the Objectives of the two sports, with different safety standards and records. Because of this distinction, unlike in other sports, athletes as well as referees and judges of professional boxing are not permitted to participate in amateur and Olympic boxing events. The following are a few examples of the differences between amateur and professional boxing. It is recognized that while the rules for amateur boxing are the same all over the world, rules for professional boxing can vary significantly, and in a few countries or states may have now equalled or even exceeded safety standards of amateur boxing in some instances.
| ASPECT | AMATEUR | PROFESSIONAL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rules | Are geared to protect the health and safety of the athlete. Uniform in all 190 AIBA affiliated countries. | Rules vary from country to country, sometimes even within one country. | |
| Rounds | Junior A Male & Female: 3 – 1 minute Rounds, Junior B Male & Female: 3 – 1.5 minute Rounds, Junior C Male & Female: 3 – 2 minute Rounds, Youth & Senior Male: 3 – 3 minute Rounds, Youth & Senior Female: 4 – 2minute Rounds |
From 4 rounds of 3 minutes up to 12 rounds of 3 minutes each. Two- minute rounds for females. | |
| Gloves | 10 oz. for competitions, specially designed to cushion the impact. White area denotes striking surface. Must have AIBA approved label. | 6, 8, and 10 oz. gloves,depending on jurisdiction. | |
| Headguards | Compulsory for all competitions since 1971 in Canada, since 1984 world-wide. | Prohibited. | |
| Singlets (Tops) | Mandatory for males and females. | Prohibited for males. | |
| Vaseline, Grease | Prohibited. | Allowed. | |
| Standing Eight-Count | Given to a boxer in difficulty. After 3 eight-counts in a round or 4 in total, the bout is stopped. | Usually does not exist. | |
| Duties of Referee | First priority is to protect the boxers, and to enforce the rules in the ring. The referee does not keep score. | To enforce the prevailing rules. In some jurisdictions, the referee keeps score. In recent years, actions of referees to stop the fight when a boxer is injured or helpless have been exemplary. | |
| Injuries | The bout is stopped when there is much bleeding, or cuts, swelling around the eye. | The bout is not stopped unless the injured boxer is unable to continue (TKO). | |
| RSC – Outclassed | If a boxer is overmatched, and has difficulty defending against a far superior opponent, the referee stops the contest. | No such rule. | |
| Novice Class | Boxers who have competed in 10 events or less are in the Novice class, and can compete only against other Novices. | No such rule. | |
| Fouls | There are 21 fouls (forbidden, unfair or dangerous tactics) which lead to warnings and point penalties if committed. Disqualification after 3 warnings. | Some tactics considered fouls in amateur boxing are permitted in professional boxing. | |
| Objectives | To win on points by landing more correct scoring blows on the opponent’s target area. Knock-downs do not result in extra points. Knock-outs are accidental, and not an objective. | For point decisions, agressiveness, knock-downs, injuring (“marking”) the opponent, can also count. KO’s are an objective, as a high knock-out record can lead to higher earnings. | |
| Terms
|
Coach Boxer Bout |
Trainer Fighter Fight |
In short Amateur boxing is fought for the pride of any nation and athletes are not paid for any match , whereas pro Boxers are paid to compete and its not meant for any representation of the nation.
