BOXING DICTIONARY

The sport of boxing has its own, unique language. It's full of terminology that is so
strong that much of it has become a part of every day lingo. Browse through our
glossary of terms to see how many words and phrases you know and use.

Accidental Butt: It is ruled an accidental butt when two fighter’s heads collide and the
referee determines that neither fighter intentionally head-butted the other. Typically both
fighters are warned to be careful, but no fighter is penalized.

Alphabet Groups: This is a negative term used to describe the numerous sanctioning

bodies of boxing; the WBC, WBA, WBO, etc.

Amateur Boxing:  Competitive boxing matches where neither participant is paid and
most fighters are beginning to learn their craft.

Be First: When your coach tells you to "be first", he or she is wanting you to throw your
punches before your opponent. In other terms, he/she wants you to be aggressive.

Below the Belt: A punch that strays low, below the waistband of a boxer’s trunks.

Bleeder: A boxer who gets cut easily.

Blow-by-Blow: A detailed description used by broadcasters to describe the action as it

unfolds in the ring.

Bob and Weave: Side to side and rolling movements that are used as defense to avoid
punches.  Heavyweight Joe Frazier is a classic example of someone who used the “bob
and weave” defense to perfection.

Bolo Punch: Typically used to distract an opponent, it is a punch that is thrown in a

circular motion and is a hook combined with an uppercut. “Bolo” means machete in the
Filipino language. Macario Flores was the first fighter to have reportedly use the punch,
but it became more popular and is more commonly associated with Kid
Gavilan and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Bout: A word used to describe a boxing match.

Brawler: This is a type of fighter who likes to exchange punches and relies on being
aggressive and fighting on the inside.

Break: This is a command used by a boxing referee to stop the action and separate the
fighters.
Canvas: Although these days the ring flooring can also be vinyl, boxing rings were
traditionally made from canvas and were called that. This is now a general term used to
reference the floor of the boxing ring.

Card: This is the line-up of bouts or fights that are scheduled at any given boxing event.

Caught Cold: This is a term used to describe a boxer who gets hurt in the opening
rounds or stopped early in the fight because he or she was not mentally or physically
prepared or warmed-up.

Challenger: A boxer who is scheduled to face a champion or the favored fighter.

Champion: The fighter who holds the title.

Check Hook: This counter-hook is designed to counter the attack of an aggressive

fighter and consists of pivoting on your lead leg while throwing a hook to catch your
forward-charging opponent.

Chief Second: This is the coach or trainer who is in charge of the corner.

Clinch: A term used to describe when two fighters grab onto or hold each other to
prevent an exchange or to slow the action. One fighter may also use this tactic when he
is hurt, to prevent absorbing additional punishment.

Combination: This is any series of punches thrown in succession, one right after the
other, with no break in between.

Contender: This is a qualified opponent who has worked his way up the ranks in order
to challenge for the world title.

Corkscrew Punch: This is a punch thrown in an overhand, arching motion that twists

on impact and is intended to cause a cut.

Cornerman: A coach, cutman or person responsible for tending to a fighter between

rounds.

Counterpunch: This is any punch that is thrown in return or comes back as a response

to an offensive move.

Cover-Up: This is a defensive move employed by a fighter to avoid getting hit. He or

she simply hides beneath and behind their gloves to avoid direct contact from an
offensive attack.

Cross: A power punch thrown with the rear hand and travels across the fighter’s body.
Cutman: The individual in the corner who is responsible for controlling any cuts,
abrasions, or swelling that could negatively impact a fighter’s ability to perform or
continue to fight.

Dive: This is when one fighter purposely goes down for the count or pretends to be
knocked out.

Duck: Dropping your weight down and under a punch to avoid being hit by it.

Eight Count:  When one fighter is knocked down or in trouble of being stopped, a

referee can administer a count of eight to give the fighter time to recover or so that he
can better assess the situation.

Enswell: This is an official name for a piece of metal or hard compress used to reduce
swelling on a boxer’s face.

Faded: Usually refers to a fighter who runs out of gas in the later rounds or who, overall
in terms of his boxing career, is no longer performing at his best.

Feint: Faking or feinting a punch is used to make an opponent unnecessarily react, or

to gauge his response so that it throws him off his game or makes him commit to a false
move.

Flash Knockdown: This typically describes a quick knockdown or brief trip to the

canvas where the fighter that goes down was only temporarily caught off-guard or
rocked, but suffered no significant damage.

Fringe Contender: This usually refers to a lesser-known or low-ranking fighter who is

about to break into the higher rankings, but doesn’t typically pose much of a threat.

Gate: This is the amount of money generated on-site from the sale of tickets.

Gatekeeper:  Term used to describe a fighter who is not a threat to be champion, but

opponents can establish themselves as a legitimate contender by beating him.

Get Off:  This refers to a fighter’s ability to “let his hands go” or throw uninhibited to
mount an effective offensive attack.

Glass Jaw: A negative term used to describe a fighter who can’t take a punch, who
gets knocked out easily or has a questionable chin.

Go the Distance: To fight to the final bell or the duration of an entire fight.

Go to the Body:  An offensive strategy focused on attacking the mid-section or

abdominal region, as opposed to concentrating on the head as a fighter’s target.
Go to the Cards: An occurrence where neither fighter is knocked out or stopped. The
decision, as to who won the fight, is made by assigned judges who have scored each
round as the bout has progressed.

Governing Body: The organization who dictates the rules of each bout and sanctions
or approves fights.

Haymaker: A desperation punch thrown with full force and with the intent to knock an
opponent out.

Head Butt: When two fighter’s heads collide or come together. This occasionally
happens by accident or is sometimes employed as a blatant foul.

Hook:  This punch is thrown with the lead or front hand and is delivered in a semi-
circular pattern. The hook is executed by leading with your front hand, bringing your
elbow up and rotating the front side of your body (in a similar motion as slamming a
door). It is meant to reach beyond your opponent’s guard and make contact with the
side of his head or chin.

Infighting: This is also called “inside fighting” or exchanging punches at close-range.

Jab: The jab is a punch that is thrown with your front hand and delivered straight at your
opponent. It should be the centerpiece of any boxing offense.

Journeyman: This is a term that means a fighter who is always “in the game,” but not
typically in title contention. A journeyman is used by up-and-coming fighters to test their
skills and, in many cases, gain a recognizable win over a “name” on their record.
Journeymen are constantly on their own journey (never arriving) and part of a future
champion’s journey to notoriety.

Kidney Punch: This is an illegal blow thrown at an opponent’s lower back, usually while
in a clinch or as a counterpunch.

Lead Right: A lead right is delivered in place of a lead jab, but is harder to execute
because it has to travel across the distance of a fighters body to land, so it has to be
thrown quickly and catch an opponent off-guard.

Lineal Champion:  This is when a fighter wins the title from the fighter who won the title
and it has been passed down through a direct line of champions. It is, in essence, “the
man who beat the man.”

Low Blow: This is any punch that is thrown or strays below the waistband of a boxer’s
trunks. It can also be an imaginary line at the base of the midsection where the referee
deemed illegal.

Main Event: The most recognizable or main fight on a card.

Mauler: Most often this is used to describe a fighter who likes to fight wildly on the
inside and use roughhouse tactics to nullify their opponent’s effectiveness.

Majority Decision: (awarded by the majority of the judges) When two of the three
judges score it for one fighter, while the third judge scores it a draw.

Majority Draw: When two of the three judges score the fight as a draw, while the third
judge scores it for one of the fighters.

Mouse: A bump or isolated area of swelling on a fighter’s face.

Neutral Corner: Each of the two fighters are assigned a red or blue corner. Two white
corners of the ring are remaining and are considered “neutral territory.” Neither fighter’s
cornermen are stationed there so it’s where a fighter is sent if he knocks his or her
opponent down. They remain there while a count is administered by the referee.

No-Decision: When it has been pre-determined by both fighters that a particular fight

will not go on their records, for a variety of reasons, or when a fight is prematurely
ended due to an unintentional head butt or cut, it can be ruled a no-contest or no
decision.

On the Ropes: Whether purposely, as a defensive technique, or he is forced to fight

from this position by a more aggressive opponent, a fighter who lays against the ring
ropes is considered “on the ropes.”

Orthodox: A right-handed fighter or one who leads with a left jab and uses his back, or
right hand, as his cross.

Outside Fighter: Boxers who prefer to fight from the outside, typically behind a long
jab, from long-range are considered outside fighters.

Overhand:  A punch that is delivered in an arching motion, traveling downward on the

opponent.

Palooka: This is an old boxing term used to describe a fighter who is uneducated, who
is lacking in ability and/or who is generally clumsy.

Parry: This is when you not only block an incoming punch, but actually re-direct it away
from your body or the intended target.

Paw: When you don’t fully commit to a punch and throw it without any real intent to
land, but more like you are testing the waters, this is referred to as “pawing.”

Peek-A-Boo: This style of fighting was attributed to legendary trainer Cus D’Amato and
involved placing your hands high in front of your face, providing a lot of angles to
confuse your opponent and moving your upper torso rapidly from side to side. Mike
Tyson was famous for employing this type of style.

Play Possum: This is when a fighter acts like he is hurt or tired in an attempt to lure his
opponent in and carelessly leave himself open, while attempting to take advantage of
the “vulnerable” fighter.

Plodder: A heavy-footed, slow fighter who consistently moves forward is considered “a

plodder.”

Point Deduction: A point is taken away from a fighter when a blatant foul or rule
infraction occurs. It can also happen after several warnings have been issued, such as
in a case of unintentional, but repeated low blows.

Pound-for-Pound: This term is used to describe a fighter’s skill level regardless of

weight category.  It originated with and is commonly used to describe Sugar Ray
Robinson, whose skill and overall ring generalship would translate into and transcend
any weight division.

Pull: A defensive move where a fighter leans away from or pulls back from to avoid
being hit.

Pull Your Punches: When a punch is not delivered at full force, but held back. Fighters
sparring each other may pull their punches to keep the intensity light. Some fighters
may do it in a competitive match to trick their opponent into a feeling of safety before
they surprise them by throwing with full power.

Puncher’s Chance: A term used to describe the type of fighter, who although may be
outclassed, still possesses the kind of knock out power to end a fight with one punch.
He could clearly not outbox his opponent, but would always have a chance to win based
on his power.

Purse: The amount of money a boxer earns or is being paid to fight.

Rabbit Punch: This is any punch that is delivered to the back of another fighter's
head. It is an illegal blow, due to being highly dangerous. It is called that because of its
similarity to the way that hunters used to kill rabbits.

Ring Generalship: This is the manner in which a fighter controls the action in the ring
and understands his position. It is the way he is able to impose his will on his opponent
and strategically outmaneuver him.

Ringside: A position in the front row or right next to the boxing ring is considered
“ringside.”
Roll with the Punches: The ability to move with a punch to reduce its impact or turn in
that same direction so that it doesn’t land cleanly.

Rope-a-Dope: When you maintain a defensive posture on the ropes in an attempt to

outlast or tire your opponent. It is most recognized and was actually given that name by
Muhammad Ali when he employed the technique to defeat George Foreman.

Roughhousing: When an opponent uses “questionable” offensive tactics, is highly

physical and aggressive, it is considered to be “roughhouse tactics.”

Rubber Match: When two fighters have fought twice, each having won one of the
previous matches, this one deciding who will win best of three, it is called a rubber
match.

Sanctioning Body: An organization that regulates and approves fights. Sanctioning

bodies dictate the rules and guidelines that any bout is fought under.

Saved by the Bell: If a fighter is knocked down and seemingly cannot get up by the
time the round ends, he is considered to have been “saved by the bell.”

Second: One of a fighter’s cornermen.

Shifting: An offensive technique where you change your lead foot, shifting your weight
to gain more power. You are basically changing from orthodox to southpaw as you
deliver a punch.

Shoe Shine: A series of flashy punches in quick succession that look impressive but do
little damage.

Shopworn: This refers to a fighter who has taken too much punishment or suffered too
much wear and tear on his body over the course of his career.

Shoulder Roll: This is a defensive move where a fighter leaves his front arm low and
drapes it across his midsection so that when his opponent throws a punch he can use
his shoulder to block or roll with it. This is so the defensive fighter is able to counter
back with either hand because neither was used for blocking. For a right-handed fighter,
it also automatically shifts his weight to his back foot and sets him up for a hard counter
right cross. Although Floyd Mayweather has become known for this, many great fighters
like Jersey Joe Walcott were masters of this defensive technique.

Slip: When you move your head to avoid getting hit.

Southpaw: Slang for a left-handed fighter or someone who is left hand dominant.

Spar: This is used for training and preparation in the gym. It should be much less
intense than an actual fight, incorporating greater padded gloves and headgear.
Stablemate: When two fighters train in the same gym and fight for the same manager
or promoter, they are oftentimes called stablemates.

Spit Bucket: The bucket or container a corner uses to carry their supplies, but is
primarily used between rounds for the fighter to spit excess water into so that he doesn’t
swallow too much during the course of a bout.

Split Decision: (split between the two fighters) When two of the three judges score the
bout for one fighter and one judge scores it for the other.

Split Decision Draw: When one judge scores the bout for one fighter, the next judge
scores it for the other and the third judge scores it a draw.

Stick and Move: This is an offensive style of fighting that incorporates a great deal of
movement, punching and moving constantly.

Stylist:  A fighter who uses skill and technique more than power is considered “a
stylist.”

Sucker Punch: A punch thrown at an unsuspecting victim or after the bell has sounded.

Technical Decision: When a fight is stopped early due to a cut, disqualification, or any

situation when the bout is stopped and the scorecards are tallied.

Technical Draw: When a bout is stopped early and the scores are even.

Technical Knockout: A technical knockout, or TKO, is the ending of a fight, determined

by the referee, before it has gone the predetermined distance on the grounds of one
contestant's inability to continue, the opponent being declared the winner.

Throw in the Towel: When a fighter’s corner tosses a towel into the ring in order to
stop the fight. It is usually due to their fighter taking too much punishment and is
symbolic of surrendering.

Toe-to-Toe: When two fighters don’t back down, stand directly in front of each other
and exchange punches.

Trial Horse: This refers to a fighter who is used as a test for an up-and-coming fighter
to gauge his ability or readiness to step-up in class. A “trial horse” is usually a tough,
durable fighter who will fight back, but poses no real threat to win.

Unanimous Decision: When all three judges agree and score the bout for one fighter.

Undercard: These are the fights that lead up to the main event.

Uppercut: A punch thrown in an upward fashion, up the middle of a fighter’s guard,
intended to make impact on the point of his chin. It is delivered from a crouched
position, with your hands up and, as you twist your upper torso, you extend your hand
out and up slightly to make contact. This can be thrown with either hand.

Upstart: A beginning fighter who shows potential.

Walkout Bout: Oftentimes, these are fights scheduled as “filler” and when the main
bouts end early, they are tacked on at the end of the card to make the fight card last
longer.

White Collar Boxing: When business professionals, or men and women who have
white collar professions, train and box on an amateur level. Most have had little or no
previous boxing experience.