The History Of Queensberry Rules

As I’m sure you all know boxing matches are fought under Queensberry Rules, but what is the history of these rules that changed our sport. So in this post I will be looking at the history of Queesberry Rules.

The rules were originally drafted in 1865 but they were not first published until two years later in 1867. They were named after the 9th Marquess of Queensberry John Doulas. However the rules where written by a Welsh sportsman called John Graham Chambers, they where the first rules that made it mandatory for all boxers to wear gloves. Before these rules fights where governed under London Prize Ring Rules which meant that all boxing match’s where bare knuckle, eventually Queensberry Rules would replace The London Prize Ring Rules, although The London Prize Ring Rules continued to be used for many years. These rules where the first rules that showed boxers that you don’t just have to win and that no holds barred is no way to fight the only way to win is to follow the rules.

The rules themselves are fairly straightforward they are the following:

1. It must be a fair match in a 24 foot ring (7.3152 meters), however a smaller ring can be used if this is not practical.

2. No wrestling moves are allowed.

3. All rounds must be 3 minutes long with a 1 minute rest in between.

4. If a boxer goes down he must get up without help before the referee reaches the count of 10 and the boxer standing must stand in the neutral corner.

5. If a boxer is hanging on to the ropes because they can’t stand up by themselves, it will be counted as a knockdown.

6. Nobody but the boxers and referee can be in the ring during a round.

7. If a fight has to be stopped due to any outside interference the referee must name a place and time to finish the fight unless both boxers agree to call the fight a draw.

8. Gloves must be a fair size and be new or of very good quality.

9. If a glove breaks or comes off it is the referee’s responsibility to replace it.

10. If a boxer goes down to one knee it will be counted as a knockdown, unless it is not caused by a punch.

11. No footwear with spikes can be worn.

Although today’s boxing match’s still use a version of these rules but today’s boxing matches are governed by the Association of Boxing Commissions.

Boxing is not the only sport to use these rules in 1994 Ric Flair and Lord Steven Regal wrestled in a 5 match series using a version of these rules however grappling, pins and submissions where allowed. Flair won the 5 match series 2-1-2.

I hope you found this interesting and please comment below and let me know your thoughts.