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Boxing is governed by dozens of rulebooks that do not agree. We read the primary ones and laid the disagreements out side by side, with the citations kept. It is not chaos. But it is, in places, genuinely daft.
There is no single rulebook for boxing. There are more than forty, and almost nobody reads them side by side. So the sport looks more fractured than it is, and the same simple question gets a different answer depending on which body you ask.
Below is that comparison, done honestly. Twenty-three questions every rulebook has to answer, each one laid out body by body, with the clause number kept so you can check us. Where they agree, we say so plainly. Where they part company, we show exactly how far. And where it is a little absurd that the sport cannot settle something this basic, we say that too.
Twenty-three questions the rulebooks all have to answer. Green means they broadly agree, amber means they agree with local wrinkles, red means the sport is genuinely split. Tap any row to jump to the side-by-side detail.
| Rule area | Agreement | Where they part company |
|---|---|---|
| Head guards: who wears one | Genuinely split | Anywhere from senior-men-only to everyone in guards; elite women the live split. |
| Age classes and fair matching | Broadly agree | Shared 19-40/17-18/15-16/13-14 spine; differ on exact age, weight and bout windows. |
| Rounds, round length and rest | Broadly agree | Universal 3 rounds, 1-min rest, elite 3x3; only sub-adult lengths vary slightly. |
| How bouts are scored | Broadly agree | 10-point must system near-universal; differ only on panel size and review layers. |
| Knockdowns, the count and count limits | Broadly agree | Shared mandatory 8-count and 3/4 adult cap; differ on the women and children limits. |
| Gloves and kit | Agree, mostly | Common 10/12oz split at 64-65kg; IBA drops elite men to 8oz, Canada masters to 16oz. |
| Weigh-in timing and tolerance | Broadly agree | Same-day is shared, but the gap before boxing runs from 1 hour to 24. |
| Rest after a knockout or concussion | Broadly agree | Shared 30-day floor and one-year ceiling; differ on the blackout tier and imaging. |
| Who competes in the women's category | Genuinely split | Two categories shared; the pathway runs from chromosome test to gender-identity committee. |
| Appeals against a result | Broadly agree | Result is final everywhere; IBA alone adds a limited official-driven review. |
| Fouls, warnings and disqualification | Agree, mostly | Shared caution-warning-DQ ladder; WBC Amateur alone caps at two warnings, not three. |
| Anti-doping and integrity | Broadly agree | WADA Code shared throughout; bodies differ on how far the integrity apparatus reaches. |
| Who is in charge on the night | Agree, mostly | One national board (UK) versus fifty state commissions (US), with belts ruled from New Jersey, Puerto Rico and Lausanne. |
| How a pro fight is scored | Broadly agree | Ten-point must and three judges nearly everywhere; Britain lets the referee score alone, the WBO allows two judges. |
| Round length and championship distance | Broadly agree | Three-minute rounds and a twelve-round title max almost everywhere; California keeps a legacy fifteen-round option. |
| Knockdowns and the count | Agree, mostly | Mandatory eight-count everywhere; the WBA alone keeps an automatic three-knockdown knockout. |
| Weigh-in timing and rehydration | Agree, mostly | Weigh-in windows run from 16 to 36 hours; the IV ban and a fight-morning re-weigh appear in only a couple of books. |
| Fouls and technical decisions | Agree, mostly | A four-round cutoff for technical decisions is shared; the WBA and IBF alone rule that a low blow can never end a fight. |
| Gloves, wraps and the corner | Broadly agree | The 8oz/10oz split and off-the-knuckle wraps are shared; bodies differ on gauze length and whether glove brands must match. |
| Medical clearance and post-knockout rest | Agree, mostly | Mandatory post-KO rest everywhere, but the floor runs from 28 to 60 days, and the WBA bars fighters over 36. |
| Anti-doping and drug testing | Broadly agree | WADA list and strict liability are universal; the difference is whether a body mandates testing or merely 'encourages' it. |
| Women's professional rounds | Agree, mostly | Two-minute rounds are common, but the number runs 9, 10, 11 or 12, and Britain defaults women to men's three-minute rounds. |
| Weight classes and titles | Broadly agree | A shared 17-division ladder and champion-favouring making-weight rule; bodies differ mainly on division names. |
These are the areas with real disagreement, the two truly contested points first. Every line is distilled from the body's own rulebook, with the clause number kept so you can check it. Same sport, same year, different answers.
Same sport, same year, and the bodies cannot agree who has to wear a head guard, least of all for elite women.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| England Boxing | All ages and senior women in guards; only senior men bare-headed.8.3.1, 8.3.2, 2.7.4 |
| IBA | Elite men and elite women both bare-headed; all younger ages in guards.46.1, 46.2, 46.8.1 |
| World Boxing | Elite men bare-headed; elite women and all under-19s in guards.13.3.1-13.3.3, 13.3.7, 13.3.10 |
| WBC Amateur | Everyone in guards, including elite men; pool guards issued, not personal.2.2.1-2.2.5, 5.1.11 |
| Boxing Canada | Everyone in guards, all classes including elite men and women.10.1-10.6 |
| AIBA (legacy) | Elite men bare-headed; elite women and all juniors in guards.Medical Handbook 1.6 |
The bodies agree on two sex-separated categories and little else, ranging from a chromosome test to a gender-identity committee.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| England Boxing | Birth-sex declaration, no test; transgender provision openly interim.3.5.1, 3.6.1, 3.9 |
| IBA | Sex by chromosomes; XX/XY tested, adverse result a permanent ban.Definitions, 4.3, 5.10 |
| World Boxing | One-time SRY genetic test for all over-18s; birth-sex categories only.Sex Eligibility Policy 3.1, 4.1.7, 6.2; Medical Handbook 5.1.6; WB Rules 5.1.6 |
| WBC Amateur | Only a non-pregnancy gate surfaced; defers to national federations.7.4, 20.6.1 |
| Boxing Canada | Gender-identity model; medical-exemption committee and hormone thresholds.Transgender Policy 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.2, 3.4 |
Most bodies split gloves 10oz and 12oz around 64-65kg, but IBA drops elite men to 8oz and Canada puts masters in 16oz.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| England Boxing | 10oz to 65kg, 12oz above; only six approved brands, Sting for finals.8.2.1, 8.2.2, 8.2.3, 8.2.6 |
| IBA | Standard 10/12oz, but IBA elite men drop to 8oz up to welterweight.45.6, 45.7, 45.8, 46.8.1 |
| World Boxing | All women and U17 men on 10oz; heavier men 12oz; gloves colour-coded.13.1.5-13.1.8, 13.2.1-13.2.3 |
| WBC Amateur | 10oz to 64kg, 12oz above; red mouthguards banned; pool kit issued.4.2.2-4.2.4, 2.2.1-2.2.5, distinctive |
| Boxing Canada | 10/12oz by class, masters 16oz; groin protector compulsory for men.7.1-7.6, 8.1.1-8.1.3, 9.1.1-9.1.3, 1.4.1-1.4.8, 10.6.1, 11.1-11.2 |
The bodies share a caution-warning-disqualification ladder; the only real split is whether it takes two warnings or three.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| England Boxing | Caution, warning costs a point, third warning is disqualification.12.1.1, 12.3.2, 10.5.3, 12.2.2, 10.4.3 |
| World Boxing | Caution or warning at referee discretion; third warning disqualifies.8.5.1-8.5.35, 8.11.1, 8.11.2, 8.11.4, 8.3.15 |
| IBA | Warning costs a point; third disqualifies; a cut from a headbutt is instant DQ.21.1, 23.2, 23.3, 23.4, 22.1-22.4 |
| WBC Amateur | Caps warnings at two; a third in any round is immediate disqualification.15.1, 15.2, 15.3.1-15.3.18, 10.9.5, 4.2.2-4.2.4 |
| Boxing Canada | No ladder of its own; inherits World Boxing's caution and warning system.built on World Boxing rules (see doc scope, 1.x) |
Everyone agrees one referee runs the ring. Above him it splits: one national board, fifty state commissions, or a belt ruled from New Jersey, Puerto Rico or a court in Lausanne.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| BBBofC | One national Board licenses and governs everything across Britain.3.5.1 / 3.5.2 / 3.3 / 3.50 |
| ABC Unified | No national body; each US state commission has final say and can override the rules. |
| California | The state commission is final, and is barred by law from awarding belts itself.s.18602.1 / s.18768 / Rule 357 / Rule 302 |
| WBA | Final disputes go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport; medical guidelines only advisory.C.35 / E.20 / E.22 / F.18-F.19 / By-Laws 8.03-8.04 |
| IBF | Any lawsuit must be filed in New Jersey, wherever in the world the fight is held.Referee 2 / Rule 16-17 / Weigh-in 2 |
| WBO | Governed by Puerto Rico law; hands boxer safety to local promoters and committees.By-Laws Ch. V, VI |
Everyone counts to ten and gives a mandatory eight-count. Only the WBA still ends a fight automatically after three knockdowns in a round; everyone else leaves it to the referee.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| ABC Unified | Mandatory eight-count; no standing-eight, no three-knockdown rule; the bell never saves a downed boxer. |
| WBC | Mandatory eight-count; no standing-eight and no automatic three-knockdown stoppage.Rule 12 |
| WBA | Three knockdowns in one round is an automatic knockout.E.10 / E.11 / E.12 / E.13 |
| IBF / USBA | Three knockdowns do not end it; the referee judges whether they were indecisive.Knockdown and Knockouts 1-6 |
| BBBofC | Even after beating the count, a boxer waits a full eight seconds before boxing on.3.32 / 3.32.1 / 3.33 |
The weigh-in happens anywhere from a full day to sixteen hours before the bell, the IV-drip ban lives in only two rulebooks, and only the IBF weighs fighters again on fight morning.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| BBBofC | Weigh-in 24 to 36 hours before; one hour to shed weight; no IV rule stated.3.2.2 / 3.2.4 |
| WBC | Weigh-in 24 to 30 hours before; two hours to make weight; IV rehydration banned outright.Weigh-In section; Rule 7 |
| WBA | Weigh-in anywhere from 16 to 36 hours before; no IV ban stated.E.5, E.6, E.8 |
| IBF / USBA | Two weigh-ins: the day before, then fight morning with a roughly ten-pound cap.Rule 1, 1.B, 1.A.1 |
| California | Weighed within 30 hours; using an IV drip bars you from competing.Rule 297 / s.18706 |
Most books give a boxer hit low five minutes to recover. The WBA and IBF say the groin cup is protection enough, so a low blow cannot end their fights at all.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| BBBofC | Five minutes to recover from a low blow; an intentional bout-ending foul means disqualification.3.38 / 3.42 / Intentional Fouls 1-2 |
| ABC Unified | Accidental foul before round four is a No Decision; after four, a technical decision on the cards. |
| WBC | Uses 'before round five' as the cutoff; five-minute low-blow recovery.Rule 14(a) / 14(b) / 15 |
| WBA | A low blow cannot stop the bout; the cup is deemed enough protection.E.17 |
| IBF / USBA | A low blow cannot end it; a boxer who quits claiming one simply loses.Illegal Blows and Fouls 1-4 |
Everyone forces a rest after a knockout, then names a different number: 28 days here, 30 there, 60 at the WBA, and Britain leaves it to whichever doctor is working that night.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| BBBofC | 28 or 45-plus days off after a stoppage, set by the medical officer; annual MRI to be licensed.5.8 / 5.9 / 8.1 |
| California | At least 30 days off after a knockout; annual neurological exam and brain imaging.Rule 352 / 307-309 |
| WBA | At least 60 days off after a knockout; no pro career at all past age 36.Appendix A Art 7 / E.22 / G.9 |
| WBC | Post-fight suspension left to the local commission; IV rehydration banned.Rule 3 / 7 / 17 |
| WBO | No fixed rest in its own text; clearance comes from the boxer's own physician.Sec. 19(f)-(h) |
A women's world-title fight is ten rounds of two minutes, or twelve of two, or nine to eleven of two, or the men's full three minutes, depending only on which belt is on the line.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| WBA | Women's world titles: 9 to 11 rounds of 2 minutes.E.2 / G.5 |
| WBO | Women's world titles: 10 or 12 rounds of 2 minutes.Female Championship Bouts Rule 1 |
| ABC | No women's bout over 10 rounds; each round is 2 minutes.Sections 1.2 / 1.3 |
| BBBofC | Defaults to the men's 3-minute rounds; 10 x 2 minutes only by agreement.3.7 |
It is easy to read the tables above and conclude the sport is chaos. It is not. Of the twenty-three areas, 13 are already broadly aligned across every book we read, from the ten-point must system to the mandatory count to anti-doping. Here they are, laid out the same way. The rows look repetitive on purpose: that repetition is the sport quietly agreeing with itself.
This is the whole argument for an open baseline: if the sport already agrees on almost everything, a new or reforming federation should not have to reinvent it from a blank page. It should be able to start from the consensus and spend its energy on the genuinely hard calls.
The bodies broadly agree on age bands and never matching a child against an adult; they differ mainly in how they write the matching windows.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| England Boxing | Year of birth; children within 12 months and 2kg, teens within 24 months.2.1.1, 2.3.1, 2.3.2, 2.3.4, 2.5.2, 2.6.6, 2.7.8, 5.7.1(b) |
| World Boxing | Bands by calendar year (Elite 19-40 down to U15); matching driven by weight.2.1.1-2.1.6, 1.1.5-1.1.7 |
| IBA | Year-of-birth bands; matched by weight class and zero-tolerance weigh-in.2.1.2-2.1.5, 3.1-3.4, Definitions |
| WBC Amateur | Seven brackets from age 6; novice meets experienced only within five bouts.6.1.1, 6.2.6, 6.3.1-6.4.2 |
| Boxing Canada | Year-of-birth bands plus hard kg caps and 7/5-bout experience windows.1.1.1-1.1.7, 3.1-3.3, 4.1-4.4, 6.1.1-6.1.4 |
On the shape of a bout the bodies genuinely agree: three rounds, a one-minute rest, and shorter rounds for younger boxers.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| England Boxing | 3 rounds, 1-min rest; length steps from 3x1 min up to elite 3x3.2.3.3, 2.5, 2.6.5, 2.7.5, 2.7.7 |
| World Boxing | 3 rounds, 1-min rest; 3x3 for elite and U19, 3x2 for U17.1.1.5-1.1.7, 2.1.1-2.1.6 |
| IBA | 3 rounds, 1-min rest; elite/youth 3x3, juniors 3x2, school-age 3x90s.3.1-3.4 |
| WBC Amateur | 3 rounds, 1-min rest; scales from 3x1 min to elite 3x3.6.2.1-6.2.5 |
| Boxing Canada | 3 rounds, 1-min rest; full age ladder plus novice and masters step-downs.3.1-3.2, 3.3.1-3.3.3, 6.1.4, 2.5.1-2.5.7 |
On scoring the bodies broadly agree: the 10-point must system, no even rounds, and decisions final.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| England Boxing | 10-point must, every round has a winner; warnings cost a point; no appeal.9.1.4, 9.1.5, 9.4.1, 9.4.2, 10.5.3, 10.10.1 |
| IBA | 10-point must, 5 judges; adds a live bout review that can adjust results.18.2, 18.3, 18.4, 18.12, 23.2, 20.2, R&J 4.1-4.2 |
| World Boxing | 10-point must, 5 judges; three strictly ranked criteria; no appeal.7.1.2, 7.2.1, 7.3.1-7.3.3, 7.4.1-7.4.3, 8.11.2, 8.11.4, 9.10.1 |
| WBC Amateur | 10-point must, 3 or 5 judges; only clean knuckle punches score.11.1, 11.2.1-11.2.3, 11.7, 10.11.1-10.11.2, 12(i), 12(l) |
| Boxing Canada | Inherits the World Boxing framework; dev and Funbox bouts have no winner.2.4.5-2.4.8.1, 2.5.1-2.5.7, 7.6 |
On the count the bodies broadly agree: a mandatory eight-count and a hard cap on knockdowns before the bout is stopped.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| England Boxing | Mandatory 8-count; adults max 3 per round, 4 per bout; children tighter.11.1.2, 11.1.4, 11.2, 11.3.1 |
| IBA | Mandatory 8-count; 3 per round, 4 per bout; elite semi-conscious means stop, no count.24.2, 24.4, 24.6, 24.9, 24.1.4.1 |
| World Boxing | Mandatory 8-count; max 3 per round, 4 per bout; fouls excluded.8.6.2, 8.6.9, 8.7.1, 8.7.2, 7.3.1-7.3.3 |
| WBC Amateur | Protective count; women and youth 2 per round, 3 per bout; seniors 3 and 4.16.4, 16.9.1-16.9.3 |
| Boxing Canada | Follows World Boxing caps; dev bouts stopped at just 1 per round, 2 per bout.2.4.5-2.4.8.1 |
Everyone weighs in on the day, but the gap before boxing runs anywhere from one hour to six, with AIBA reaching back a full day.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| England Boxing | Weigh-in finishes 1 hour before boxing; separate sexes; young-boxer margins.7.1.3, 7.1.14, 7.1.9, 7.1.11 |
| IBA | About 3-hour gap; zero tolerance, one gram over means walkover.11.1-11.6, 19.11.2 |
| World Boxing | Weigh in daily; at least 3 hours before the first bout; min and max checked.5.6.3-5.6.6, 5.6.12 |
| WBC Amateur | Longer 5-6 hour gap; weight locked for the whole tournament.7.2.1, 7.3.1-7.3.2, 7.8-7.9, 7.12.2-7.12.3 |
| Boxing Canada | At least 3 hours before; same-sex official; coaches barred from the area.14.1.4 (mis-numbered '15.1') |
| AIBA (legacy) | Weigh-in up to 24 hours ahead, but never under 3 hours before the day's first bout.AIBA Medical Handbook 2020 (Weigh-in timing AOB); AIBA Coach Regulations 2019 |
The bodies broadly agree: at least 30 days off after a head knockout, escalating to a one-year ban for three in a year.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| England Boxing | 30 days after a head KO; graduated return; no competition before day 35.4.1.2, Annex B3, Annex B4 |
| IBA | 30 days plus graduated return; escalates to a one-year ban for three in 12 months.4.4.5.5 |
| World Boxing (Medical Handbook) | 30 days without blackout, 90 days with; imaging highly recommended.8.1, 8.2, 8.4, Protective Regulations |
| WBC Amateur | 4 weeks after one KO; neurologist contact within 24 hours, EEG for return.16.9.4, 16.9.5(b)-(f) |
| Boxing Canada | 30 days framed as a recommendation; 6-step return, physician clearance.Concussion Management Summary, Step 5a; rules 3.5 |
| AIBA (legacy) | 30 days, 3 months for a short blackout, 6 months for over a minute.8.5.2, 8.5.3, 8.5.4, 8.5.5, 8.3 |
The bodies broadly agree the result is final: a losing corner cannot appeal a decision once it is announced.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| England Boxing | No appeal; scores available in writing but the loser cannot challenge.10.10.1, 10.8.1 |
| World Boxing | No protest or appeal; bad judging policed behind the scenes, not by overturning.9.10.1 |
| WBC Amateur | Protests never accepted; commissioners cannot change the verdict.10.10, 12(i), 12(l) |
| IBA | Adds a live bout review at top events, but corners cannot protest judging.20.2, 20.8, 20.9 |
| Boxing Canada | Silent on result protests; gives an express appeal on eligibility decisions.7.2 d) |
The bodies broadly agree: anti-doping runs to the WADA Code and integrity rules guard against fixing and corruption.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| World Boxing | WADA Code via the independent testing agency; anti-match-fixing code too.Conditions of Participation Clauses 1, 2, 5; Competition Rules 9.10.1 |
| IBA | WADA Code plus heavy officials apparatus; integrity unit can refer for prosecution.R&J Regs 2023 Code of Conduct 1.5; Technical Officials Selection (Rule 25); IBA T&C Rules 18.3/39.4.3 |
| England Boxing | UK Anti-Doping by reference; a matrix stops experienced fighters posing as novices.Validity note (UKAD/WADA by reference); 1.1.2, 1.1.4, 1.2.1; 10.10.1 |
| Boxing Canada | Inherits WADA via World Boxing; testosterone bars an athlete from the women's category.Articles & Rules 2025 (layered on World Boxing); Transgender Policy 7.1(b); 3.5 |
| WBC Amateur | Frames integrity as amateur status: no pay, never faced a pro; no WADA text surfaced.Definitions; Rule 12(i), 12(l) |
| AIBA (legacy) | Historic WADA template; doping cases within the boxing body, older code cited.AIBA Coach Regs anti-doping section; AIBA Medical Handbook 2020 (9) |
On scoring they broadly agree: the ten-point must system, an even round is 10-10. The odd ones out are Britain, where the referee can score alone, and the WBO, where two judges can decide a world title.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| ABC Unified | Three judges, ten-point must; round winner gets 10, a knockdown usually 10-8. |
| WBC | Three judges; optional open scoring read out after rounds 4 and 8.Rule 2; Rule 24 |
| IBF / USBA | Three judges; cards collected and tallied after every round, not just at the end.General Rules and Regulations 3 / 4 |
| WBO | A world title can be decided on just two judges plus a scoring referee.Sec. 23(a), Sec. 23(e) |
| BBBofC | In an ordinary fight there are no judges at all; the referee is the sole scorer.3.29 / 3.31 / 3.44; 3.5.1 |
Near-total agreement: three-minute rounds, one-minute rest, twelve rounds for a world title. California alone still keeps a dusty fifteen-round option on the books.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| BBBofC | Three-minute rounds; titles always twelve rounds; may cut to two minutes under ten rounds.3.7 / 22.10 |
| WBC | A world title is twelve three-minute rounds.Rule 1 |
| IBF | Titles twelve rounds; regional USBA belts may run ten.5.A.1 / 5.F / 9.A |
| California | Twelve rounds maximum, but fifteen-round title bouts still allowed with written approval.s.18720 / s.18756 / Rule 241 |
The load-bearing rules match: 8oz gloves up to welterweight, 10oz above, tape kept off the knuckles, water-only corners. They quibble over gauze length and glove brands.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| BBBofC | 8oz to welterweight, 10oz above; both boxers must wear the same make and model.3.22, 3.23, 3.24, 3.26 |
| IBF / USBA | Glove split by exact poundage; three named cut agents; iron-based ones a disqualification.Weight of Gloves; Drugs and Stimulants 1-3 |
| WBO | Boxers may each wear a different glove brand; up to 12 yards of gauze per hand.Sec. 28(a)-(c), 29 |
| California | Up to 20 yards of bandage per hand; an opponent may waive watching the wrapping.Rule 318, 322, 323 |
Everyone adopts the WADA list and strict liability. The real split is quieter: the commissions actually test, while some belt bodies only 'encourage' it.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| BBBofC | Follows UK Anti-Doping rules; a winner who fails turns the bout into a No Contest.3.38 / 3.45.1 / 31 |
| IBF | Mandatory post-fight A/B sample to WADA standards; escalating bans of 1, 2 and permanent.Rule 18; Anti-Doping |
| California | WADA list, strict liability, testing any time in or out of competition.Rule 303; Rule 424-426 |
| WBA | Full WADA sanction schedule, but only 'encourages' testing and leans on the local commission.Appendix A, Article 13 |
| WBO | Recognises WADA findings and can vacate a title, but only 'encourages' local testing.Sec. 28(a); Sec. 1(b)(22) |
The division ladder and the champion-favouring 'miss weight, forfeit the belt' rule are near-identical everywhere. The bodies mostly argue about what to name the divisions.
| Rulebook | What it actually says |
|---|---|
| BBBofC | Standard ladder; runs national British titles, with the Lonsdale Belt won outright.3.23 / 22.2.2 / 22.28 |
| WBO | 17 men's divisions under its own 'Jr.' names; one belt per boxer per division.Sec. 3 / Sec. 5(a) |
| WBA | An overweight fighter who still fights forfeits 35 percent of the purse.E.9b / E.9c / E.9d |
| California | 17 classes; barred by statute from issuing any belt itself.Rule 298 / s.18728 / s.18768 |
Read the tables in one sitting and a pattern appears. The bodies argue about naming, procedure and a short list of real safety calls, and agree on almost everything that actually shapes a contest. The fragmentation is real, but it is mostly historical, not principled.
Which is the whole point of what comes next. If the sport already agrees on this much, a new or reforming federation should be able to start from the consensus, not a blank page, and spend its energy only on the genuinely hard calls. That is the opt-in baseline.
Every position is taken from the body's own published rulebook or medical handbook and carries its clause reference. These are plain-English distillations, not legal advice; the official rulebook always governs a real bout. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.