RULES IN BRIEF boxers must wear boxing gloves blows may be struck only on the side or front above the waist with clenched fists. no hitting below the belt no holding, pressing an arm or elbowing in the face no forcing the opponent's head over the ropes no hitting with an open glove no hitting with the inside of the glove no hitting on the back of the head, neck or body where a boxer suffers three counts in the same round or four counts in the entire bout the fight will be stopped and the winner declared a boxer can win a fight in the first round if his opponent suffers a cut to the head, but a cut in a subsequent round will simply count towards the points tally at decision time boxers must shake hands before the bout starts and when the result is declared the age limits for Olympic boxing are a minimum age of 17 and a maximum age of 34 facial hair must be restricted to a small moustache; beards are banned a doctor must declare boxers fit before each bout three doctors watch each bout and can stop a fight on medical grounds passive defence constitutes a foul not stepping back when ordered to break is a foul speaking offensively to the referee is not allowed