Section 7: Violations & Penalties
Fouls
The following actions constitute fouls under IBF rules and may result in warnings, point deductions, or disqualification:
- Hitting below the belt: Punches landing below the imaginary beltline across the hip bones.
- Hitting behind the head (rabbit punches): Striking the back of the head or the base of the skull.
- Hitting on the back: Punches to the kidneys or spine area.
- Headbutting: Using the head as an offensive weapon, whether intentional or through reckless action.
- Holding and hitting: Clinching the opponent with one hand while striking with the other.
- Holding, clinching, or wrestling: Excessive holding without attempting to punch or create separation.
- Pushing or shoving: Using open gloves or forearms to push the opponent.
- Hitting with open gloves: Slapping or striking with the inside, back, or wrist area of the glove.
- Hitting after the bell: Punches delivered after the timekeeper's signal ending the round.
- Hitting a downed opponent: Striking a boxer who has any part of their body other than their feet on the canvas.
- Biting: Biting or attempting to bite an opponent.
- Spitting: Intentionally spitting on or at an opponent.
- Eye gouging or thumbing: Intentionally pressing the thumb into the opponent's eye.
- Use of elbows or forearms: Striking with any part of the arm other than the knuckle area of the glove.
- Intentional spitting out of the mouthpiece: Deliberately ejecting the mouthguard to gain a rest or break in action.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct: Any behavior deemed unsportsmanlike by the referee, including verbal abuse, taunting with intent to injure, or attempting to influence the officials.
Penalty Progression
The referee enforces fouls using a progressive penalty system:
- Verbal Warning: For first or minor infractions. The referee pauses the action, identifies the foul, and cautions the boxer.
- Official Warning: The referee signals the foul to the judges and issues a formal warning recorded on the official scorecard. This may occur without a prior verbal warning for serious fouls.
- Point Deduction: For repeated fouls or egregious single infractions. The referee stops the action, notifies each judge of the deduction, and the point is subtracted from the offending boxer's score for that round. Multiple points may be deducted in a single instance for severe fouls.
- Disqualification: For intentional, flagrant, or repeated fouls that endanger the opponent. The disqualified boxer loses the bout, and the result is recorded as a DQ loss on their professional record.
Corner Violations
Corner personnel are subject to penalties for violations including: entering the ring before the bell, applying foreign substances to the boxer, coaching from ringside in a disruptive manner, or interfering with the referee or opponent. Penalties range from warnings to ejection of the offending corner person, and in severe cases may result in disqualification of the boxer they represent.