Expert: Lian Shoemake - 5/2/2007

Question
I am trying to give a brief explanation of boxing to people that are not that into it. I am doing ok but get stuck on asking them to ake a final outcome. I want to give them examples but I keep on thinking of other ways fights could end. Do you know a place on-line I can get a list of the ways fights can end? I have the basics, o   Unanimous decision, split decision knockout, accidental head butt, TKO. What am I missing? Of course I can leave out fathers running in the ring and boxers using cell phones.

Answer
Hi Bill,
Thanks for the interesting question.

Let me run down all the possibilities I can think of:
1. Decision on points
a. unanimous   b. split   c. majority  d. draw

2. Knockout
3. Technical knockout
4. Technical Decision (when a bout is stopped because of injuries caused by an accidental headbutt after a certain number of rounds...boxer ahead on scorecards wins).
5. No contest (usually when a bout ends due to injuries caused by an accidental headbutt before a certain number of rounds has been completed... the threshold is 4 rounds in most jurisdictions).
6. Disqualification

That's all I can think of, Bill. Even a father running into the ring would probably result in a disqualification:)

I hope this helps!
Thanks again for writing.

Regards,
Lian