You Should Know 07.05.09: Queensbury Rules of Boxing

Posted by John Curry on 07.05.2009

This week 411 looks at why You Should Know the modern rules of boxing, also known as the Queensbury Rules of Boxing.


Follow the rules, sir!

As we discussed in the last edition of You Should Know: The London Prizefight Rules, it is imperative that as fans and scholars of the "sweet science" we should be aware of the foundation of the rules that govern our sport. As a man builds a house he first starts with the foundation (The London Prizefight Rules) then builds the frame (The Revised London Prizefight Rules), once he has the frame complete it is time to build the finished product. In this case the finished product is the Queensbury Rules, also known as the Marquess De Queensbury Rules.

The Queensbury Rules created to force fighters to win by a set of rules rather than by sheer no holds barred brute force that tended to accompany fights prior to this set of rules. The foundation of Queensbury Rules can be traced back to John Graham Chambers in 1865. Chambers, who was an accomplished athlete in his own right, helped found several rules for championship tournaments in various sports including billiards, rowing, wrestling and other sports. Although Chambers began work on the rules of pugilism in 1865, it would not be until 1867 that he would actually publish the "Marquess of Queensbury Rules"

The rules are referred to as the "Marquess of Queensbury Rules" due to the fact that 9th Marquess of Queensbury, John Douglass, publicly endorsed the rules and codes. Douglass is credited for helping eliminate the class limitations that amateurs endured with the founding of the Amateur Athletic Club which now goes by the name of Amateur Athletic Association of England. While the rules themselves were written by Chambers, they were published under the label of the Amateur Athletic Club, which was then publicly endorsed and distributed with the permission of John Douglass. As result of this, the rules are commonly referred to as "Marquess of Queensbury Rules."

The rules themselves borrowed heavily from the Revised London Prizefighting Rules but addressed the necessity for gloves, specified round lengths, and match lengths. Prior to this a fighter could wear whatever they chose as gloves if they chose to wear anything at all. This was not exactly the safest way to conduct a "civil and orderly" exhibition. The rules also established the actual specifications for the ring size and the amount of rounds a match would entail.

These rules are the 12 basic rules of "Marquess of Queensbury" Rules:

1. To be a fair stand-up boxing match in a 24-foot (7.3 m) ring, or as near that size as practicable.

2. No wrestling or hugging allowed.

3. The rounds to be of three minutes duration, and one minutes time between rounds.

4. If either man falls through weakness or otherwise, he must get up unassisted, 10 seconds to be allowed him to do so, the other man meanwhile to return to his corner, and when the fallen man is on his legs the round is to be resumed and continued until the three minutes have expired. If one man fails to come to the scratch in the 10 seconds allowed, it shall be in the power of the referee to give his award in favor of the other man.

5. A man hanging on the ropes in a helpless state, with his toes off the ground, shall be considered down.

6. No seconds or any other person to be allowed in the ring during the rounds.

7. Should the contest be stopped by any unavoidable interference, the referee to name the time and place as soon as possible for finishing the contest; so that the match must be won and lost, unless the backers of both men agree to draw the stakes.

8. The gloves to be fair-sized boxing gloves of the best quality and new.

9. Should a glove burst, or come off, it must be replaced to the referee's satisfaction.

10. A man on one knee is considered down and if struck is entitled to the stakes.

11. No shoes or boots with springs allowed.

12. The contest in all other respects to be governed by revised rules of the London Prize Ring.

And that is why you should know: The Queensbury Rules. So next time you feel like showing off your pugilistic power with your friends or adversaries break out this little gem for them and you will definitely put them in their place. Next time on the You Should Know we will take a look at the history of the boxing glove.