Boxing

Boxing is a sport of great skill and physical toughness. Two combatants endeavour to punch one another to score points from the judges or referee, while avoiding being hit themselves. Almost all area of the head and body above the waist are designated scoring areas. Contests are won on points or by knockout. There is a major disparity between the amateur and professional ranks in boxing. Leading professional fighters are among the biggest earners in the world.

Fighter profile

Boxers require upper body strength particulary a strong punch – and a high resilience to being hit (a “good chin”). Boxing is a really tough aerobic workout so fighters need to display a fanatical training ethic and great stamina. Speed agility, and quick reflexes are beneficial, particulary for those fighting at lower weight levels.

Need2Know

Modern boxing was first codified in 1867 by a set of 12 rules written by John Graham Chambers and endorsed by the 9th Marquis of Queensberry.

Amateur boxing differs in various ways from the professional arm of the sport.

The Ring

The name Boxing “ring” is an atavism that dates from when contests were fought in a roughly drawn circle on the ground. A modern boxing ring is set on a raised platform. It is square, with posts at each corner to which four parallel rows of ropes are attached with turnbuckle. Each side of a standard ring is 4.88-7.32 (16-25ft) between the ropes, with another 60cm (2ft) outside known as the apron. The platform is 90-120cm (3-4ft) from the ground with posts rising around 1.5m (5ft).

Fighting Gear

Boxers wear shorts, boxing shoes, and padded gloves which come in two sizes – 227g (8oz) and 283 (10oz) depending on the weight of the boxer. Mouth guards are compulsory and groin guards optional in professional boxing. In amateur bouts fighters additionally wear headguards and vests and have larger, softer gloves. This is the only equipment fighters wear and use in the ring, but in training boxers additionally use free weights, punchbags, skipping ropes, speed balls, and other items to hone themselves into fighting shape.

Groin Guard

Protects fighters, groins from injuries resulting from illegal low blows.

Mouth Guards

Plastic gumshields guard the top teeth from being knocked out.

Gloves

Gloves are specially padded to protect only the wearer.

Head Guard

Worn for amateur contests and professional sparring only, they offer protection but limit peripheral vision.
Ring Craft

Basic boxing training centres around physical fitness, speed of movement, and throwing jabs, and footwork. Good punches can only be thrown from a solid base. The techniques of throwing different punches is taught later. Top boxers work with their trainers for weeks at a time leading up to chamionship fights working on their overall conditioning and on a fighting style tailored to their upcoming opponent. They will practice key punches and spar with fighters of a similar build and fighting style to their opponent in an attempt to gain some advantage.

10 Pin Bowling

Bowlers roll a heavy ball along a smooth lane and try to knock down as many of the 10 pins as possible. Points are awarded for the number of pins demolished. Bonuses are given for a "strike" when every pin is knocked over in one attempt.

Player Profile

The only essential is the ability to learn, though endless practice, the techniques of ball control. Age is no barrier: American Dick Weber was 72 when he won the 2002 professional Bowlers Association title.

Equipment and Protection

Come as you are - The only clothing required is that it allows easy movement of the arms and legs.

Sure Footing - The shoe on the leading foot has a rubber sole to give traction: that on the back foot has a leather soleto permit sliding.

Bowling Ball - Balls are traditionally plain black, but many now are finished in any colour and sometimes have patterned designs.

Need2Know

The game emerged in the United States in the 1920s. The first British alleys opened in London in 1960.

One of the most prestigious competitions is the annual Weber Cup. Team Europe compete against Team USA in the equivalent of golfs Ryder Cup.

Pins and Balls

Pins and Balls were once made simply of wood, but the former are now synthetic or plastic - coated wood, while the latter are made of plastic, urethane, epoxy or a combination of these materials. For recreational 10 - Pin bowling, balls come in various weights to suit the strength of the player

The Ball - A full size competition ball weights 7.25kg (16Ib). Its surface is entirely smooth apart from grip holes for a thumb, middle finger, and ring finger.

The Pins - The pins are all uniform height and shoulder be 11.4cm wide at the belly. They each weigh 1.47 - 1.64kg (3Ib 4oz - 3Ib 10oz)

Life in the Fast Lane

The bowling lane is made of 39 planks of polyurethane or wood. On either side of it are semicircular gutters to collect off-target balls. Most public bowling alleys have retractable guard rails that can be lowered into place on the lane-side of the gutters: these are normally brought down to assist players who lack the strength to control the balls. Contestants must release the ball before reaching the foul line, and having bowled, they must not overstep onto the lane.

After every turn, the balls are automatically returned to the approach area along a raised, sloping trackway mounted on the rightand side of the lane.

Lane Law

In competitive 10 - Pin, each player has 10 frames, each of which consist of two attempts to knock down as many pins as possible. One point is scored for every pin that is knocked down. Contestants who demolish all 10 pins at the first attempt are awarded a strike, for which they earn a bonus of whatever they score in the following frame. So the points scored for the two balls after the strikeare counted twice. If the player knocks down all 10 pins in two attempts, he or she is awarded a spare, the bonus for which is double the number of points scored with the first ball of the following frame. If there is still at least one pin standing sfter the second attempt, it is called an open frame