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Boxers qualify for the Olympic Games through regional tournaments and only amateur boxers may compete during Olympic and Pan-American Games. Boxing matches last for up to four rounds of two minutes each, and athletes are required to wear gloves, boots, mouth pieces, athletic supporters and head guards for physical protection.
Matches are randomly selected, without ranking consideration. Fights take place in a simple elimination tournament, but, unlike the majority of Olympic events, both semi-final runners-up receive a bronze medal. Two methods are used to determine the winner: one is by counting the number of punches, assessed by judges, and the other is by knockout, when one of the boxers is knocked down and cannot continue the match.
Boxing is divided into 11 divisions, based on the athlete’s weight: light flyweight (up to 48 kilograms), flyweight (from 48 to 51 kilograms), bantamweight (from 51 to 54 kilograms), featherweight (from 54 to 57 kilograms), lightweight (from 57 to 60 kilograms), light welterweight (from 60 to 64 kilograms), welterweight (from 64 to 69 kilograms), middleweight (from 69 to 75 kilograms), light heavyweight (from 75 to 81 kilograms), heavyweight (from 81 to 91 kilograms) and super heavyweight (above 91 kilograms).
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