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What hits are illegal in boxing?

Author

Sarah Smith

Published Jan 15, 2026

You cannot strike with your head, forearm, or elbows. You cannot hit with an open glove, wrist, or backhand, only closed fist punches. Fighters may not strike their opponent in the back, back of the head, neck, or kidneys. You cannot hold and use the ropes to gain leverage for a punch.

Where are you not allowed to hit in boxing?

You cannot punch your opponent's back, or the back of his head or neck (known as a rabbit punch) or in the kidneys (kidney punch).

Are punches to the throat illegal in boxing?

Direct punches to the throat are illegal in both boxing and MMA. But due to the nature of fighting sports, throat punches often land without intention.

Are rabbit punches illegal in boxing?

The rabbit punch is illegal in boxing, MMA, and other combat sports that involve striking. The only exceptions are no-holds-barred events such as the International Vale Tudo Championship (prior to rule changes in mid-2012).

Is an uppercut illegal in boxing?

The only attacking move allowed in boxing is punching. Kicking, kneeing, elbowing, head-butting, holding and throwing are not allowed. There are four basic punches; the jab, the cross, the hook and the uppercut.

41 related questions found

Is grappling allowed in boxing?

Where to even start... the most "natural" form of unarmed fighting is basically a kind of MMA, because punching, kicking and grappling are all entirely valid and about equally dangerous ways to defeat and opponent so why rule any of them out. When any is ruled out there is usually a reason.

Are kidney punches illegal in UFC?

Most strikes to the kidney are currently legal in MMA.

Are throat punches legal in UFC?

No direct strikes to the throat are allowed in UFC – this includes a fighter pulling their opponent's head in such a way to open the neck area to strike it. Fighters also cannot gouge their fingers or thumb into the opponent's throat/neck/trachea to attempt a submission. But there is slightly more leeway in this area.

Why is back of the head illegal?

Punches to the Back of the Head

Punching the back of the head is dangerous, and it could potentially cause severe damage to a fighter. Thus, it is not allowed.

Is spitting illegal in UFC?

Biting or spitting at an opponent:

Biting in any form is illegal. A fighter must recognize that a referee may not be able to physically observe some actions, and must make the referee aware if they are being bit during an exhibition of unarmed combat.

Can you grab toes in UFC?

When a fighter's fingers or toes go through the cage and grab hold of the fence and start to control either their body position or their opponent's body position it now becomes an illegal action. A fighter may not grab the ropes or wrap their arms over or under the ring ropes at any time.

Why are boxing pants so big?

One of the major reasons for boxers wearing big baggy shorts is to improve air circulation around their legs. Boxing is a physically taxing sport that requires a lot of sophisticated yet straining footwork.

Is elbow allowed in boxing?

Yes, provided that it is a passive defence not an active one. In other words you can receive a punch on the elbow; and you can position an elbow such that it takes an incoming punch; but you cannot strike the fist or arm with your elbow.

Are shoulders legal in boxing?

Punching your opponent's arms and shoulders in boxing is perfectly legal. The areas of the body that you are unable to hit include: below the belt, neck, kidneys, the back of the head, and the back of the body.

Is headbutt allowed in boxing?

Intentional or accidental hitting of the head to an opponent's head which may or may not result in a cut. In boxing and other forms of combat sports, headbutting is illegal because it is a devastating form of attack. When a headbutt is made during a fight, the fight goes to the scorecards.

Can a punch break a bone?

Boxer's fractures happen most often during fist fights and when someone punches a hard object in anger or frustration. Slowing the loss of bone that occurs naturally with age can also help avoid boxer's fractures.

What is the strongest punch?

Ngannou holds the record for the hardest punch ever landed at 129,161 units, with Dana White putting that figure into real-life situations. “His punches are equivalent to 96 horsepower.

Can a punch break a skull?

Skull fracture

If the hit person loses consciousness and falls, they may hit their head on the ground or a piece of furniture. The sound will be something like two snooker balls colliding. This might result in a fractured skull.

Is hair pulling legal in UFC?

#5 Groin strikes, hair-pulling, eye-pokes, biting, spitting and fish-hooking are illegal in the UFC. Attacking an opponent's groin area, pulling their hair, landing intentional eye-pokes or downright trying to gouge their eyes out, biting, and/or spitting at one's opponent are all illegal moves in the UFC.

Are elbows legal in UFC?

Although many in the MMA community disagree with outlawing them, downward strikes with the elbow are illegal under the Unified Rules of MMA. To clarify, fighters may not strike their opponent from a twelve o'clock position to a six o'clock position with their elbow.

What is illegal in Muay Thai?

You can NOT use the hip or shoulder to throw an opponent in any kind of judo throw or reap. You can NOT step across, or in front of, your opponents leg with your leg and bringing your opponent over your hip. You can NOT grab the opponent's hip in a waist lock and throw them using a hip throw.

Can you break bones in UFC?

Are UFC fighters allowed to break limbs? Breaking a limb in a UFC fight is always an accident or incidental part of submission locks or strikes gone wrong from a high output of force. UFC fighters can break their limbs by throwing big leg kicks that are blocked or by refusing to tap out in a submission.

Why do boxers hug during fight?

Holding is usually considered wrapping your arm around the opponent's waist or another body part, typically while leaving yourself an arm free to still throw punches. As a result, while it looks like a hug from the outside, it's actually a tactical maneuver in boxing.

Why do boxers hiss?

Boxers make noise when they punch to help them exhale air from their lungs forcefully. This exhalation is noisier than normal exhalations because the boxer's tongue restricts regular airflow out of the mouth. The noise amplifies as it passes through the teeth and out of the mouth guard.

Can boxers jump?

Depending on their size and physical health, most boxers can easily jump at least five feet into the air. Of course, some boxers may be able to jump higher but five feet is more than enough for most boxers to then climb over your standard fence.