Skill Bouts

England Boxing Rulebook – 2024 / 2025

Skills Bouts 1. 

What is a Skills Bout? 1.1. Skills bouts have a valid place within our sport and the rules concerning such bouts should be clear and must meet the aims for all involved; Boxers, Coaches, Officials, and parents/guardians. 

1.2. A skills bout is designed to; 

• Bridge the gap between the gym and competitive boxing. 

• Teach and improve boxing skills. 

• Gain and improve the confidence of young Boxers. 

• Allow young and nervous Boxers to perform in front of friends and family. 

• Give young Boxers the skills needed for a competitive bout. 

• Help attract and retain young Boxers in the sport. 

• Help parents/guardians acclimatize to the boxing environment. 

1.3. The key elements of a skills bout should be for young nervous Boxers as a means of introducing them to boxing to gain experience and confidence at the earliest stages of their boxing career. 

A skills bout should be a vehicle to help to bridge the gap between sparring in the relatively comfortableenvironment of their club and the often daunting competitive environment of a boxing show. 

2. The Aim of the Skills Bout 

2.1. A skills bout must be undertaken in a strictly controlled manner ensuring that the following behaviour is positively encouraged: 

• Good sportsmanship 

• Demonstration of learnt boxing skills 

• No heavy punching 

• No aggression 

• No threatening behaviour or intimidation 

2.2. It is imperative that every person involved in a skills bout knows exactly how the process works and fully understands the reason why a skills bout is being undertaken. 

The Announcer is to announce a skills bout as such and using the bullet points above explain the process and outcome for spectators. 

3 The Rules of a Skills Bout 

3.3 A Skills bout must be announced as such – It is important that the Announcer announces that a skills bout is taking place and briefly explains to the spectators its purpose and its outcome. This is to ensure that the correct environment is set before the bout starts. 

3.4 Bouts including a 10-year-old Boxer will be 3 x 1-minute rounds with a 1-minute interval between rounds – This is in line with the round durations of competitive minor’s bouts. 

England Boxing Technical & Competition Rules 2025 68 

3.5 All other skills bouts will be 3 x 1.5 minute rounds with a 1-minute interval between round – This is in line with schools age bouts and gives the Boxers enough time to show their skills withoutbecoming too fatigued. 

3.6 Coaches are not permitted to Coach from the corner during a Skills bout – This ensures that coaches do not encourage their Boxers to become too aggressive and over excited. The 1- minute interval between rounds is ample time for a Coach to give the Boxer any necessary instructions and encouragement. 

3.7 A Boxer may only have 6 skills bouts in total, and then they must box competitively – If carried out correctly, 6 skills bouts will give a young Boxer ample experience to be able to undertake a competitive bout. Any shortfall in a Boxer’s skill should be addressed in the gym duringsparring. 

3.8 No skills bout will be permitted with a weight difference in excess of 2kg – Although powerand hard punching are discouraged during a skills bout, the weight differential should be minimal to ensure the safety of both Boxers. 

3.9 Boxers must be within 12 months of each other in age – This is in line with the currentrules for minors and schools aged Boxers. 

3.10 A Boxer can have a skills bout from their 10th birthday up to the day before their 16th birthday – The older and heavier Boxers are, the more difficult a skills bout is to manage for both the Coach and the Referee. Generally, an older Boxer is looking to show off to friends and family and tends not to follow the spirit and rules of a skills bout. This then leads to heavy punching and aggression which lends itself to a competitive bout rather than a skills bout. The spirit of a skills bout is to give confidence and experience to young, nervous Boxers. 

3.11 A Boxer cannot have a skills bout once they have taken part in a competitive bout – A skills bout should be used to build confidence and experience leading up to a competitive bout. After a competitive contest, any shortfall in skill should be addressed in the gym during sparring. 

3.12 All skills bouts must be recorded on the Boxer’s Locker account and on the T6 Recorder’s sheet – A clear record of skills bouts must be kept in the same way as competitive bouts. 

3.13 1 skills bout = 0.5 competitive bout – Although they are not judged and there is no decision, a skills bout still gives a Boxer a level competition experience. This bout ratio will ensure an even matchis made between Boxers when they transition from a skill bout to a competitive bout. 

3.14 If the Supervisor and Referee are both in agreement that a Boxer has advanced beyond skills bouts, ‘No Further Skills Bouts’ can be declared on the Boxer’s Locker account – This ensures that Boxers taking part in a skills bout are evenly matched and that there is not a large difference in skilllevels. 

3.15 A maximum of 4 skills bouts per club tournament shall be allowed unless it has been advertised as a skills show – Any Boxer under the age of 16 years old must not be allowed to competeafter 10:30pm. 

3.16 No competition bouts are allowed on a skills show – A skills show must be conducted in the same way as a competitive show except that ringside Judges are not required. England Boxing Technical & Competition Rules 2025 69 4 Officials and Coaches responsibilities during a Skills Bout 

4.1. Supervisor’s Responsibility – The Supervisor must be present at a skills bout and must ensure the Boxer’s ages and weights are within the allowed tolerances set out in the England Boxing rule book. 

The Supervisor has the right to request the Referee to stop a skills bout at any stage if he/she feels that the bout is not being carried out in the way in which it is intended. If the Supervisor feels that a Boxer has advanced beyond the level required by a skills bout, they must consult with the Referee and ONLY if both are in agreement, ‘No Further Skills Bouts’ should be added in the Boxer’s Digital BCR1 card. 

4.2. Referee’s Responsibility – The Referee must ensure that skills bouts are very strictly controlled, and that Boxers and Coaches know their responsibilities. If a Boxer fails to adhere to the rules or spirit of the bout, a caution should be issued. If his/her cautions are not heeded, the Referee has the right to stop a skills bout at any stage if they feels that the bout is not being carried out in the manner in which it is intended. 

4.3. Coach’s Responsibility – A Coach must fully understand the rules of a skills bout and the manner by which it is to be carried out. The Coach must ensure the bout runs according to the rules and in the spirit in which it is intended, ensuring there is no heavy punching, aggression, or unsportsmanlike behaviour during the bout. 

4.4. Announcer Responsibility – The Announcer is to announce that a skills bout is taking place and briefly explains to the spectators its purpose and its outcome. This is to ensure that the correct environment is set before the bout starts.