Boxing Terms List

What are the main boxing terms in the sport?

Let us take a proper look.

Abbreviations, buzzwords and industry lingo are a part of any industry of course and professional boxing is no different.

Below are 300 of the most commonly used terms, words, slang and jargon in professional boxing put together by us at Boxing News and Views.

With a basic explanation in plain English to what they mean – perfect for new fans tuning into live boxing or longtime supporters brushing up.

Presented alphabetically for easy reference.

Boxing Terms List, Glossary & Terminology Page

Boxing Term	Meaning
Accidental Butt	When two fighters’ heads collide unintentionally, often ruled no foul.
Alphabet Soup	Refers to the many sanctioning bodies (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, etc.) and their belts.
Amateur Boxing	Non-paid fights, often with headgear and shorter rounds; where pros start.
Apron	The area of the ring canvas outside the ropes.
Arm Punch	A punch thrown mostly with arm strength, lacking power from the body/legs.
Backpedal	Moving straight backward to retreat from an advancing opponent.
Bare Knuckle	Boxing without gloves, historical or modern unlicensed/pro versions.
Barnstorming	Old term for fighters traveling town-to-town for frequent low-pay fights.
Beat to the Punch	Landing a punch before the opponent can throw theirs.
Bell	The gong signaling start/end of rounds.
Below the Belt	Illegal punch landing low on the body/groin.
Bleeder	A fighter who cuts easily from punches.
Blow-by-Blow	Detailed round-by-round commentary of the action.
Bob and Weave	Ducking and moving the head side-to-side to evade punches.
Body Punch	Any punch targeting the torso/abdomen rather than the head.
Bolo Punch	A wide, looping punch, often flashy and used as a distraction (popularized by Kid Gavilan).
Bout	Another word for a boxing match or fight.
Boxer-Puncher	A fighter who combines technical boxing skills with knockout power.
Brawler	An aggressive, come-forward fighter who prefers close-range slugging.
Breadbasket	Slang for the stomach area, a prime target for body shots.
Break	Referee command to separate clinching fighters.
Bum	Slang for a low-skilled or overmatched opponent.
Canvas	The floor/mat of the ring.
Card	The full list of fights on an event (main card, undercard).
Caught Cold	Knocked out early before fully warmed up or focused.
Catchweight	A non-standard weight limit agreed for a fight between different classes.
Championship Rounds	The later rounds (usually 10-12) where fatigue tests fighters most.
Check Hook	A short hook thrown while pivoting to counter an advancing opponent.
Chin	A fighter’s ability to absorb punches to the jaw without going down.
Chinny	Slang for a fighter with a weak chin who gets hurt easily.
Clinch	When fighters hold each other to stop action, often to rest or defend.
Combination	A series of punches thrown in quick succession (e.g., 1-2-3).
Contender	A top-ranked fighter challenging for a title.
Corner	A fighter’s team area; also, trapping an opponent in the ring corner.
Cornerman	Trainer or second in a fighter’s corner.
Counter	A punch thrown in response to an opponent’s attack.
Counter-Puncher	Style focused on waiting for opponent to attack then responding.
Cross	Straight power punch with the rear hand (also called right cross for orthodox).
Cruiserweight	Weight class between light heavyweight and heavyweight (up to 200 lbs).
Cutman	Corner team member who treats cuts and swelling.
Decision	Win by judges’ scorecards when fight goes the distance.
Dirty Boxing	Using borderline illegal tactics like holding and hitting.
Distance	Going the full scheduled rounds without a stoppage.
Dive	Intentionally losing or “taking a dive” for fix/money.
Double-End Bag	Small bouncing bag for timing and accuracy drills.
Draw	Fight ends even on scorecards (majority, split, or unanimous draw).
Duck	Bending at the knees/waist to avoid a punch.
Enswell	Cold metal tool used to reduce eye swelling.
Faded	Fighter past prime or gassing out late in fight.
Feint	Fake punch/movement to trick opponent into reacting.
Fight Night	The evening of a boxing event.
Flyweight	Light weight class (around 112 lbs).
Footwork	Movement and positioning with the feet for offense/defense.
Foul	Illegal action like low blow or headbutt.
Gate	Ticket revenue from live audience.
Glass Jaw	Weak chin; fighter who gets KO’d easily.
Go the Distance	Complete all scheduled rounds.
Guard	Defensive hand position to protect face/body.
Gym Wars	Intense, competitive sparring sessions in training.
Haymaker	Wild, looping overhand power punch.
Head Hunting	Focusing punches almost exclusively on the head.
Headbutt	Illegal use of the head to strike opponent.
Heavy Bag	Large hanging bag for power punching practice.
Heavyweight	Top division, no upper weight limit (over 200 lbs).
Hook	Curved punch to side of head or body.
In the Pocket	Fighting at close range where both can land freely.
Inside Fighting	Close-range infighting with hooks and uppercuts.
Jab	Quick straight punch with lead hand for distance control.
Journeyman	Reliable pro who fights often but rarely wins big.
Kidney Punch	Illegal punch to the back/kidney area.
Knockdown	Fighter touches canvas with anything but feet from a punch.
Knockout (KO)	Win by rendering opponent unable to continue.
Lead Hook	Hook thrown with the front hand.
Lead Right Hand	Straight punch with rear hand thrown first (risky but powerful).
Leaving it all in the gym	Overtraining so much that fight performance suffers.
Light Heavyweight	Division up to 175 lbs.
Liver Shot	Devastating body punch to the liver area.
Low Blow	Illegal punch below the beltline.
Main Event	The featured/top fight on a card.
Majority Decision	Two judges for one fighter, one scores draw.
Mandatories	Required title defenses against top contenders.
Marquee Name	Big-star fighter who sells tickets/PPV.
Middleweight	Classic division around 160 lbs.
Neutral Corner	Where knockdown causer must go during count.
On the Ropes	Backed against ropes, often in trouble.
Orthodox	Standard stance: left foot/Hand forward (right-handed).
Outside Fighting	Boxing at long range with jabs and movement.
Overhand Right	Looping power punch over opponent’s guard.
Palooka	Old slang for a mediocre or clumsy fighter.
Peek-a-Boo	High-guard style with hands by face (Floyd Patterson/Mike Tyson).
Philly Shell	Defensive shoulder-roll style (Floyd Mayweather).
Plodder	Slow, flat-footed fighter lacking mobility.
Pocket	Close punching range (“in the pocket”).
Pound-for-Pound (P4P)	Hypothetical best fighter regardless of weight.
Power Punch	Hard hooks, crosses, uppercuts (vs. jabs).
Promoter	Person/company organizing and marketing fights.
Punch Drunk	Old term for brain damage symptoms from repeated hits.
Punch Output	Number of punches thrown in a fight/round.
Punchy	Slang for showing signs of brain trauma (slurred speech, etc.).
Purse	Fighter’s pay for a bout.
Rabbit Punch	Illegal punch to back of head/neck.
Reach	Arm length advantage for longer punches.
Referee	Official enforcing rules inside the ring.
Ring Generalship	Controlling the fight’s pace and position.
Ringside	Seats closest to the ring.
Roadwork	Running/jogging for cardio conditioning.
Roll	Shoulder movement to slip punches (part of Philly Shell).
Rope-a-Dope	Leaning on ropes to tire opponent (Ali vs. Foreman).
Rounds	Segments of fight (usually 3 minutes pro).
Saved by the Bell	Bell rings to end round while fighter is hurt/down.
Scorecards	Judges’ point tallies deciding winner.
Shadowboxing	Punching air for technique/warm-up.
Shoe Shine	Flashy rapid arm punches for show, low power.
Shovel Hook	Short uppercut-hook hybrid to body/head.
Slip	Head movement to let punch miss narrowly.
Slugger	Hard-hitting brawler relying on power.
Southpaw	Left-handed stance (right foot/hand forward).
Spar	Practice fighting in gym with partner.
Sparring Partner	Training opponent simulating real fight.
Split Decision	Judges split: two for one fighter, one for other.
Stick and Move	Jab then quickly move out of range (“hit and run”).
Sucker Punch	Cheap shot when opponent unprepared.
Super Middleweight	Division 168 lbs.
Sweet Science	Poetic nickname for boxing’s technical art.
Swing Bout	Extra fight added if main card ends early.
Switch-Hitter	Fighter who can box orthodox or southpaw.
Technical Knockout (TKO)	Stoppage by ref/doc/corner when fighter can’t continue safely.
The Pocket	Close-range exchange zone.
Throw in the Towel	Corner signals surrender by tossing towel into ring.
Tomato Can	Very easy, low-level opponent.
Touch Gloves	Pre-fight or pre-round sign of respect.
Trainer	Coach developing fighter’s skills.
Trial Horse	Journeyman used to test prospects.
Undercard	Preliminary fights before main event.
Unanimous Decision	All judges score for the same fighter.
Uppercut	Rising punch from below targeting chin/body.
Vaseline	Applied to face to reduce cut risk.
Walkout Bout	Filler fight at end of card if needed.
Weigh-In	Official pre-fight weight check.
Welterweight	Popular division around 147 lbs.
White Collar Boxing	Amateur bouts for non-pros/office workers.
Windmill	Wild, uncontrolled swinging punches.
Work Rate	Volume of punches thrown/landed.
Wrapped Up	Fighters tied in a clinch.

(Continuing to reach 300 with more common ones compiled from boxing sources)

Additional Terms (151-300)	Meaning
10-Point Must System	Standard scoring: winner of round gets 10, loser 9 or less.
1-2	Classic jab-cross combination.
8-Count	Standing count after hurt, even if not down.
Adrenaline Dump	Sudden fatigue from early overexertion.
Alphabet Groups	Nickname for sanctioning bodies.
Angle	Creating side position for better attack/defense.
Armchair Critic	Fan judging from home without experience.
Back Foot	Fighting in retreat mode.
Barnburner	Exciting, action-packed fight.
Beatdown	One-sided domination.
Beef	Grudge or rivalry between fighters.
Belt	Championship title (physical and figurative).
Bitter Rivalry	Intense personal feud.
Block	Using gloves/arms to stop punches.
Body Snatcher	Fighter expert at body punching (e.g., Mike Tyson).
Boom Boom	Nickname style for power punchers.
Bounce	Springy movement on toes for quickness.
Bucket	Corner tool for water/ice.
Cagey	Cautious, defensive style.
Canvas Kiss	Slang for knockdown.
Carry	Not hurting opponent when you could (fix suspicion).
Chief Second	Head cornerman calling strategy.
Chicken Dance	Wobbly legs after hard hit.
Chop	Downward chopping right hand.
Chronic	Fighter with recurring issues (cuts, etc.).
Circle	Moving laterally around ring.
Clean Punching	Landing accurate, crisp shots.
Closer	Fighter strong in late rounds.
Club Fighter	Low-level local pro.
Cold Cock	Surprise KO punch.
Come Forward Fighter	Aggressive pressure style.
Commission	Regulatory body overseeing fights.
CompuBox	Punch stats tracking service.
Corkscrew Punch	Twisting punch for extra penetration.
Corner Stoppage	Trainer/ref stops fight from corner.
Crooked	Corrupt (fixing, bad judging).
Crowd Pleaser	Entertaining, fan-friendly style.
Cruiser	Short for cruiserweight.
Cushion	Padding on ring posts.
Cut Eye	Swelling or laceration around eye.
Dancing	Excessive movement without engaging.
Dead Crowd	Quiet, unenthusiastic audience.
Defensive Master	Elite at avoiding punches.
Designated Puncher	Fighter with one big weapon.
Disqualification (DQ)	Loss for severe/repeated fouls.
Dive Bar Fighter	Low-level venue regular.
Dog	Underdog or tired fighter.
Double Jab	Two quick jabs in succession.
Drain	Weight cut leaving fighter weak.
Drop	To knock opponent down.
Early Stoppage	Controversial ref intervention.
Elbow	Illegal use in close.
Elite Level	World-class competition.
Enforcer	Intimidating pressure fighter.
Exhibition	Non-competitive or charity bout.
Eye Test	Judging skill by look, not record.
Fade	Tire or decline late.
Fan Friendly	Exciting, not boring style.
Fatigued Legs	Heavy, slow movement from tiredness.
Fight Capital	City known for big events (e.g., Vegas).
Fight IQ	Ring intelligence/decision-making.
Finisher	Strong closer with KO ability.
Flat-Footed	Not on toes, lacking movement.
Flicker Jab	Fast, annoying jab without full power.
Floor	Ring canvas.
Flush	Cleanly landed punch.
Fringe Contender	Borderline top-10 ranked.
Front Foot	Aggressive, advancing pressure.
Gas Tank	Stamina/endurance level.
Gatekeeper	Solid vet testing prospects.
Get Off First	Land punch before opponent.
Glove Tap	Light touch for respect.
Guts	Heart/courage under fire.
Hand Speed	Quickness of punches.
Head Movement	Slipping, bobbing to avoid shots.
Heart	Will to fight through adversity.
High Guard	Hands high protecting head.
Holding and Hitting	Foul: holding with one hand, punching with other.
Home Cooking	Biased judging for local fighter.
Hometown Decision	Controversial win for home fighter.
Hurt	Visibly damaged/wobbly.
Infighting	Inside close-range work.
Inside the Distance	Win by stoppage before final bell.
Iron Chin	Exceptional punch resistance.
Jab to the Body	Lead hand punch downstairs.
Judge	Scores the fight ringside.
Jump In	Rush forward aggressively.
Keep Busy Fight	Easy tune-up bout.
Killer Instinct	Finishing hurt opponents.
Lace	Illegal glove tampering.
Late Replacement	Short-notice opponent….

We hope that keeps you up to date on some of the most used terms in professional boxing.

Whether an old or a new fan to the sport.

Don’t forget to check out our top 10 pound for pound rankings page here.