Expert: Melanie Ley - 2/22/2008

Question
good day!
im Roeland from Holland and i have a question about boxing. I love to box myself, but my parents wont let me join any gyms because they dont like "fighting". so i always practice boxing on my own in my bedroom with my self-made punch bag. because of that i know little about the rules and there is one thing im dying to know. is it against the rules to jump,  run or shout at your opponent. when your fighting, intimidation plays a big role. but the boxers always just stand in the ring look at each other and sometimes they give a punch here or there. but you never see a boxer jump around in the ring while he screams at his opponent... it all look so static, but these guys are highly trained so i wonder why they dont intimidate with jumping and shouting, are there rules for those actions?
thanks in advance ;-)
Greets Roeland

Answer
Yes, it is against the rules to jump, scream, shout or run at your opponent in Olympic-style amateur boxing.  It's unfortunate that Holland is not a member of the Amateur Boxing Association or I would refer you to them for specific rules.  The goal in amateur boxing is to outpoint your opponent, not intimidate or harass.  You don't get points for those kind of tactics.