What commands does the referee use, and how does the knockdown count work?
Rule- South Africa
- Boxing South Africa
- Professional boxing
- 18 and over
- Boxing Regulations 2004 (amended)
- Referees and judges
- 2026
- Ring officials
From regulation 27(6) of the Boxing Regulations and its definitions:
Before the bout: check each boxer's seconds are registered with Boxing SA (remove any who aren't), name each chief second as responsible for their assistants and for tying on the gloves, and check gloves, bandages and costume comply.
Commands:
- "Stop!" halts boxing during a round; both boxers stay standing without support. "Box on!" resumes.
- "Break!" separates a clinch: both boxers step back before resuming, and the referee may part them if they don't obey promptly, but must not tap their gloves or arms.
Knockdown count:
- Send the opponent to the furthest neutral corner, then lean over the downed boxer and count each second aloud to nine, indicate the tenth, and say "out".
- After a knockdown from a blow, give a mandatory eight count even if the boxer rises sooner. They may take it standing or on the floor, and you must be satisfied they can defend themselves before "box on".
- If the bell sounds during a count, keep counting until "out" or the boxer rises, in any round. There is no "saved by the bell".
- If both boxers are down, keep counting while either is down; if both stay down to "out", it's a draw.
- "Down" includes hanging helplessly on the ropes, or rising but being unable to defend.
- Wipe resin off the gloves before boxing resumes after a knockdown or slip, and replace a lost mouthguard at the next lull.
Added 22 Oct 2026