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There are few Olympic sports activities which have the historic custom that Olympic boxing has built over the years.  Great boxers similar to Oscar de la Hoya, George Foreman, and "The Greatest" himself, Muhammad Ali (then referred to as Cassius Clay) have fought and succeeded on the international stage on the Summer season Olympic Games.  These days, it lives on as one of many more fashionable, and typically controversial, Olympic sports.  Whether or not you'll be watching together with thirteen,000 other fans on the Worker's Indoor Enviornment, or watching from the comfort of your individual dwelling, let's prepare your self for boxing on the 2008 Beijing Olympics with this primary historical past and explanation of Olympic boxing.

Surprisingly, the first modern Olympics didn't embrace boxing as an Olympic sport.  The explanation?  It was considered too violent.  However, in 1904 boxing debuted at the St. Louis Olympic Games, albeit solely as an illustration sport.  In 1908, boxing was included as a medal sport in London, but was as soon as once more, not part of the Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden 4 years later.  Finally, within the 1920 Olympic Games, boxing returned to remain (there have been no 1916 Olympics).  

There has by no means been girls's boxing within the Olympic games, though in 2012 there will be for the primary time ever.  Somewhat appropriately, London will host those Summer season Olympics, since London was additionally host when boxing first appeared as a medal sport in 1908.

Olympic boxing is notable for several reasons.  For one, there are actually two bronze medals in Olympic boxing.  Every loser within the two semifinal bouts receives a bronze medal.  Additionally, the boxing event is a single elimination one, so there's little or no margin for error- really, there is none.

Among the guidelines and guidelines of Olympic boxing are totally different from the professional boxing ones that many fans are extra familiar with.  Olympic boxing separates rivals into twelve weight courses, starting from light flyweight (approximately 106 kilos) to tremendous heavyweight (over 200 kilos).  Additionally, all opponents are made to wear headgear, similar to amateur boxing in the United States.

Among the rules of Olympic boxing, significantly the scoring and judging system, have been controversial over the years.  In Olympic boxing, points are scored by hitting the opponent in the head or torso, as long as it is a authorized blow.  Judges don't score the bouts by round, giving ten points to the winner.  As a substitute, they use an digital scoring system to register what number of punches land.

When a punch lands, the judge presses a button, and if three of the 5 judges do so, a point is registered.  Judges must additionally hit the button inside one second of the others.  Nonetheless, if a flurry is exchanged, judges are told to attend until it is over, than give a point to whomever they feel obtained the higher of the exchange.  As you possibly can see, the judging is quirky, to say the least.

On the end of the combat, if the time is up and neither fighter has been defeated, points are added as much as resolve the winner.  If the combat is a draw, the judges vote primarily based upon who they felt fought the better fight.  However, there aren't any points awarded for a knockdown, so a punch that ends in a downed opponent isn't any extra valuable than a jab that lands, if a knockout doesn't result.  Similarly to in most boxing bouts, three knockdowns in a single round end in a technical knockout, although within the Olympic games, four knockdowns in a complete combat also give the identical result.

The combination of these somewhat unusual rules and judging tips have led to some controversial choices and frustration from fans and opponents alike.  Nonetheless, Olympic boxing has remained as one of many purest retailers for boxers to ply their trades, and likewise remains one of the greatest exams doable for the world's high novice pugilists.