Marquess of Queensberry Rules

Published in 1867, these rules transformed boxing from bare-knuckle brawling into a structured sport. Key innovations: mandatory gloves, 3-minute rounds with 1-minute rest, a 10-second count for knockdowns, weight classes, and a referee to enforce rules. These rules are the ancestor of every modern boxing rule set. While no one fights under pure Queensberry rules today, their framework — rounds, gloves, knockdown counts, referee authority — remains the foundation.