The GB Boxing squad competes in the forms of boxing sanctioned by the International Boxing Association (IBA) which is the international governing body for the sport.
Traditionally known as amateur boxing, IBA stopped using the term ‘amateur’ in 2007 and in 2012 called on all National Federations – including those in England, Scotland and Wales – to drop the word after the IBA Statutes were amended at an Extraordinary Congress in September of that year.
The decision to drop the term ‘amateur’ coincided with the development of new variants of the sport and since 2013, IBA has operated three codes of boxing: AIBA Open Boxing (AOB), World Series Boxing (WSB) and AIBA Professional Boxing (APB).
The male and female members of the GB Boxing squad participate in AOB. To-date no-one from the GB Boxing squad has competed in APB.
AIBA Open Boxing (AOB):
Formerly known as amateur or Olympic boxing, this is the most common form of boxing within IBA and is the one used at the Olympic Games and World and European Championships. It is also the one practiced in the 1000+ boxing clubs in Great Britain that are affiliated to the national governing bodies (NGBs) in England (England Boxing), Scotland (Boxing Scotland) and Wales (Welsh Boxing).
AOB bouts take place over 3×3 minutes rounds for men and 4×2 minutes for women. Competitors wear vests; women wear headguards, but since 2013 these have been removed for men for senior and elite competitions.
Three judges are used and bouts are scored using the ‘10 point must’ system. The judges will score each round, and at the end of the bout the boxer who is deemed the winner by the majority of judges will win the bout. Bouts can also be stopped by the referee in the event of injury or a serious imbalance between the boxers.
There are 13 weight classes for men and 12 for women following AIBA’s latest changes made in August 2021. The weight classes are:
| Male Weight Classes | Female Weight Classes |
| Minimumweight – 46-48kg | Minimumweight – 45-48kg |
| Flyweight – 51kg | Light-flyweight – 50kg |
| Bantamweight – 54kg | Flyweight – 52kg |
| Feathweight – 57kg | Bantamweight – 54kg |
| Lightweight – 60kg | Featherweight – 57kg |
| Light-welterweight – 63.5kg | Lightweight – 60kg |
| Welterweight – 67kg | Light-welterweight – 63kg |
| Light-middleweight – 71kg | Welterweight – 66kg |
| Middleweight – 75kg | Light-middleweight – 70kg |
| Light-heavyweight – 80kg | Middleweight – 75kg |
| Cruiserweight – 86kg | Light-heavyweight – 81kg |
| Heavyweight – 92kg | Heavyweight – 81kg+ |
| Super-heavyweight – 92kg+ |
The AIBA Technical and AOB Competition rules can be found at the link below:
International Boxing Association: Technical and Competition Rules
