The distance (boxing)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The distance is a boxing slang term used to refer to boxing matches that last the maximum number of rounds, with the match either tied or be decided by points decision.

Until the 1980s many championship fights were a maximum of 15 rounds. This changed though, following the death of Duk Koo Kim after his fourteen-round fight with Ray Mancini.

Ostensibly in response to studies which showed that many fighters begin to sustain permanent brain damage after the twelfth round, the World Boxing Council shortened its title fights to a maximum of 12 rounds.[1] The World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization followed suit in 1988 and the International Boxing Federation did so in 1989.

Non-title fights can be of any length under 12 rounds but are typically 10 rounds or fewer, however there were some ten rounds championship matches. Women's championship boxing is ten rounds or less. Each boxing round lasts 2 minutes instead of 3 for men.

"Going the distance" was featured prominently in the 1976 film Rocky in which Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed fight 15 rounds for the World Heavyweight Championship. Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) and Creed (Carl Weathers) nearly "go the distance" again in their rematch in 1979's Rocky II. Balboa's final fight against Mason "The Line" Dixon in Rocky Balboa lasts the maximum of 10 rounds.