Boxing is a combat sport focused on fighting using only the fists, typically within a defined ring, where competitors use a combination of footwork, defence, and punching techniques to land effective blows on their opponent. The sport is built around the principles of speed, power, endurance, and tactical positioning, with bouts usually divided into rounds. Compared to martial arts like judo or Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which involve grappling and submissions, or martial arts like kickboxing or Muay Thai, which integrate strikes with the hands and feet, boxing relies purely on punches—jab, cross, hook, and uppercut.

Boxing is one of the oldest and most widely practiced combat sports in the world, with roots tracing back to ancient civilisations. The earliest depictions of boxing date back to the Sumerians around 3,000 BCE, and the sport was formalised in ancient Greece around 688 BCE, where it became part of the Olympic Games. However, the modern version of boxing as we know it today began to take shape in the 18th century in Britain. In the early days, boxing was often a brutal, unregulated affair, but as the 19th century progressed, the introduction of rules, such as the Marquess of Queensberry Rules (1867), began to standardise the sport and make it safer. These rules established key elements such as the use of gloves and three-minute rounds.

Boxing competitions are held in various weight divisions, ranging from light flyweight to heavyweight, ensuring that competitors face opponents of similar size and strength. A typical match consists of three-minute rounds (with a one-minute rest period in between), and the winner is determined either by knockout (KO), technical knockout (TKO), or decision. Knockouts occur when one fighter delivers a blow that incapacitates the other, either momentarily or permanently. If no knockout occurs, the judges score the fight based on criteria like effective punches, control, and ring generalship.