What Are The Marquis Of Queensbury Rules
by adminJohn Shotto Douglas, the Ninth Marquis of Queensbury sponsored John Graham Chambers, of the British Amateur Athletic Club, to write twelve rules regarding boxing.
Published in 1867, they superseded the earlier London Prize Ring rules written in 1838 and revised in 1853. If the Queensbury Rules don’t cover a certain question, the Prize Ring Rules are to be used.
The first rule states that the boxing ring will be of approximately 24 feet. The second forbids “wrestling or hugging”. The eleventh rule forbids shoes or boots with springs. The rest of the rules cover the fighting match.
The boxing match can be as many as twelve rounds, with three minute rest periods between each round. The referee is the official who decides if a fighter may continue the bout. The referee has the last word in any dispute.
A boxer not regaining both feet within a count of ten seconds or hanging off the ropes without toes touching the canvas are considered “down”.
The gloves should be new and “of the best quality”. If the glove “bursts” or has other problems, it must be replaced.
Even after nearly 250 years, the Queensbury rules have stood the test of time and are still valid today.