In mid-19th-century Britain, prizefighting was a bloody, rough-and-tumble sport popular with society’s lower classes. Hoping to improve the sport’s social standing, a young boxing enthusiast named John Graham Chambers drew up a new set of bout regulations. To give the new rules added legitimacy, Chambers enlisted the support of John Sholto Douglas, the 8th marquess of Queensberry, who published them in 1867. These regulations, which included the mandatory use of padded gloves and time limits on rounds, came to be known as the Marquess of Queensberry Rules. Modern boxing is based in large part on these 12 rules.

Original Boxing Rules

The Marquess of Queensberry Rules

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1. To be a fair stand-up boxing match, in a 24-foot 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 minute’s time between rounds.

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4. If either man fall through weakness or otherwise, he must get up unassisted, ten 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 till the three minutes have expired. If one man fails to come to the scratch in the ten seconds allowed, it shall be in the power of the referee to give his award in favour 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.

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Boxing