Boxing is a combat sport in which two opponents have to punch each other on a ring according to various rules.

Several combat sports have picked up the word boxing even though these sports are different. Thus, we can mention kickboxing allowing attacks with fists and legs, savate (or French boxing) which is played with pants and shoes, and full contact karate which only allows to hit the opponent above the belt.

The most famous one is definitely English boxing, in which the two opponents wear gloves and have to punch each other on the face or on the upper body. Boxing rules slightly change between amateurs and professionals.
In a professional boxing match, each round lasts 3 minutes, with one minute rest between each round. During this rest period boxers can receive treatment, drink water and receive advice by his trainer.
The winner is the one who manages to knock his opponent out, or the one who receives the best marks by the jury (composed with three members) at the end of the 12 rounds.

Boxers are classified according to weight categories from flyweight to super heavyweight (+200,6 lbs) and featherweight, bantamweight etc...
The main varieties of punches of this sport are the jab, which consists in a straight punch with the leading hand, the hook, which is a circular punch, the uppercut, which is a vertical rising punch and so on...

Here are some notable records : Mike Tyson became the youngest world champion of the history when he was 20 years old and 4 months ; Joe Louis kept undefeated during 11 years and 8 months from 1937 to 1949 ; Rocky Marciano is the only boxer for any category who remained undefeated during his whole carrier (49 combats without any defeat) ; and the longest fight ever lasted 7h19 (110 rounds) in 1893, and the shortest fight lasted 4 seconds !