What Are the Rules of Women's Amateur Boxing?

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) rules govern international matches including the women's boxing for the World Championships and, beginning in 2012, the Olympic Games. The AIBA and USA Boxing, the national governing body for amateur boxing in the United States, provide a few additional guidelines specific for female boxing. For both organizations, the technical rules related to boxing that apply to men also apply to the women amateur boxers.

  1. Weight Classes

    • The USA Boxing weight classes for women are the same as those for men over sixteen years and thirty-five or younger for the Master Division. There are ten weight categories for women over the age of 35 in the AIBA, with an additional Elite Class for women aged 17 - 34, and another for 14 -17 year old girls.

      AIBA's defines the 10 Categories for Women Boxers as of 2010 as:
      Flyweight - 45 kg - 48 kg. (99.2 -- 105.8 lbs.)
      Bantamweight - 51 kg. (112.4 lbs.)
      Featherweight - 54 kg. (119 lbs.)
      Lightweight - 57 kg. (125.6 lbs. )
      Light Welterweight - 60 kg. (132.2 lbs.)
      Welterweight - 64 kg. (141 lbs.)
      Middleweight - 69 kg. (152.1 lbs.)
      Light heavyweight - 75 kg. (165.3 lbs.)
      Heavyweight - 81 kg .(178.5 lbs.)
      Super Heavyweight - 81+ kg. (over 178.5 lbs.)

    Duration and Rounds

    • The AIBA rules (Rule 8) state that for Women Elite and Youth Girls Competitions, the bouts shall consist of four (4) rounds of two (2) minutes each. In the early days of women's boxing, many organizations greatly limited the rounds and durations of the fights. Some organizations such as the AIBA, continue to restrict the length of the bouts for safety concerns.

    Clean Faces

    • Both organizations require bare faced boxers. The AIBA specifies no facial piercings or other adornments, while the USA Boxing rules specifically require that hair is not to extend five inches below the headgear. And that long hair shall be secured with banding devices and not hair pins or barrettes.

    Bodily Protection

    • Women must wear breast and groin protection while boxing, in addition to the mouthguards that must remain in place during a bout. Glove sizes must be appropriate to the size of the female boxer and be properly fitted. USA Boxing also requires that the same safety gear worn in a bout is worn during practice and sparring matches.
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    Women's Health

    • Both organizations do not allow women who are pregnant to participate in a match. Every female boxer must provide evidence that she is not pregnant. A pregnancy test or other medical certification is required at each medical check prior to a match. USA Boxing further limits participation of women with any of the following medical conditions:painful pelvic diseases, abnormal vaginal bleeding, recent secondary amenorrhea of undetermined cause, recent breast bleeding, recently discovered breast masses and other breast dysfunctions.