Human behaviours associated with dominance in elite amateur boxing bouts: A comparison of winners and losers under the Ten Point Must System

Abstract

Humans commonly ascertain physical dominance through non-lethal fighting by participating in combat sports. However, the behaviours that achieve fight dominance are not fully understood. Amateur boxing competition, which is judged using the subjective “Ten Point Must-System”, provides insight into fight dominance behaviours. Notational analysis was performed on 26 elite male competitors in a national boxing championship. Behavioural (guard-drop time; movement style [stepping/bouncing time]; clinch-time; interaction-time) and technical (total punches; punches landed [%Hit]; air punches [%Air]; defence) measures were recorded. Participants reported effort required (0–100%) and perceived effect of fatigue on their own performance (5-point Likert scale) following bouts. Differences between winners and losers, and changes across the duration of the bout were examined. Winners punched more accurately than losers (greater %Hit [33% vs. 23%] and lower %Air [17% vs. 27%]) but total punches, defence and interaction-time were similar. From rounds 1–2, clinch-time and guard drops increased whilst bouncing decreased. Perceived effect of fatigue increased throughout the bout while perceived effort increased only from rounds 2–3. %Hit and movement index together in regression analysis correctly classified 85% of bout outcomes, indicating that judges (subjectively) chose winning (dominant) boxers according to punch accuracy and style, rather than assertiveness (more punches thrown). Boxers appear to use tactical strategies throughout the bout to pace their effort and minimise fatigue (increased guard drops, reduced bouncing), but these did not influence perceived dominance or bout outcome. These results show that judges use several performance indicators not including the total number of successful punches thrown to assess fight dominance and superiority between fighters. These results provide valuable information as to how experienced fight observers subjectively rate superiority and dominance during one-on-one human fighting.

A damaging punch: Assessment and application of a method to quantify punch performance

“…El‐Ashker and Davis et al report straight punches (jabs and crosses) to be the most prevalent punches in competition boxing, followed by hooks. Typical work rate for elite boxers under current AIBA competition rules ranges from 71 to 109 offensive and defensive actions per 3‐minute round of boxing (approximately 0.4‐0.6 actions per second), although work rates as high as 1.9 actions per second have been reported when including locomotive actions (ie, bouncing around the boxing ring) and clinching . As such, the 3MPT contains predominantly straight punches with additional hooks to reflect the specific punch types thrown in a bout, and the work rate was 126 actions per round (0.7 actions per second).…”

“…The 3-minute punch test (3MPT) was developed based on previously reported work rates and punch frequencies 9,10 in amateur boxing competition. El-Ashker 11 and Davis et al 9,12 report straight punches (jabs and crosses) to be the most prevalent punches in competition boxing, followed by hooks.…”

Technical–tactical analysis of small combat games in male kickboxers: effects of varied number of opponents and area size

“…On the other hand, clinches were more frequently used during the 1 versus 1 than during the 1 versus 4 condition. Similar to other striking combat sports (i.e., amateur boxing), it seems that the increase in clinching movements during the 1 versus 1 condition was used as a pacing strategy to avoid fatigue throughout bouts [ 17 ]. However, the findings of our study indicated that clinching was not the preferred option to draw a stoppage and gain a brief rest when the kickboxer was confronted by four different opponents (i.e., 1 vs. 4).…”

“…It seems also plausible to argue that the increased usage of defensive skills was not only for tactical ends in response to the opponent's actions but also as a strategy to pace effort and minimize fatigue. In this sense, Dunn et al [ 17 ] revealed that amateur boxers reduced the total number of attacks and increased guard drops as part of a pacing strategy approach to avoid fatigue throughout the bout. In this sense, Rydzik and Ambroży [ 4 ] showed that the high level of physical fitness underlies the optimal development of technique for kickboxing competitors.…”

The association between competitor level and the physical preparation practices of amateur boxers

“…Boxing is a combat sport, consisting of intermittent bouts of multi-directional, high-intensity activity, interspersed by 1-min periods of active and passive recovery over a specific number of rounds [ 1 ]. Amateur bout activity includes repeatedly striking an opponent (≥ 20 punches per minute) [ 1 , 2 ], evading of punches, and manoeuvring around a boxing ring, with an activity rate for male elite amateur boxers across 3 rounds of ~ 1.31 (s -1 ) [ 1 , 3 ]. This activity can induce a significant biomechanical and physiological demand, in addition to the substantial psychological and hormonal demand associated with combat [ 3 – 7 ].…”