How Did the Eight-Count Rule Change Boxing Forever?

Given enough time, the rules of all sports shift and change, and in boxing, while the famous count to 10 to record a knockout is still one of the most anticipated moments, the eight-count rule changed the sport in a major way.

Although difficult to imagine in the modern age, boxing history reveals that the sport didn’t have the intermediary measure of an eight-count after a fighter had been knocked down for a long time. The rule was established to give the referee a chance to assess a fighter’s ability to continue after being sent to the canvas.

This rule, like the rest of boxing’s famous attributes, has become a part of pop culture. Intense sparring and scenes of referees counting down a knockdown are staples in nearly every boxing film. You can even find boxing-themed slots with the best online casino payment methods. Playtech’s Rocky or Rival Gaming’s Heavyweight Gold, for example, feature special knockout bonuses and other boxing-inspired elements.

But what’s the history of such a well-known rule in boxing as the eight-count, and why does it sometimes cause confusion?

Boxing History: The Eight-Count Rule’s Impact on the Sport

Boxing History: Mandatory vs Standing Eight Count

Two types of eight counts have made their way into boxing, the Mandatory eight count and the Standing eight count. The Standing eight count is not seen in professional boxing any more but still does the rounds in the amateur circuits. This is to help protect amateurs from getting a beat down that they can’t withstand before a knockout enters the frame.

But in the world of professional fights, it’s off the table as everything, including big prize purses and titles, is on the line, so no fighter can be handed the advantage of a “break” to try and recover. The Mantadory count exists in all boxing.

How the Mandatory Eight Count Changed Boxing

Boxing’s Mandatory eight count, which was used for the first time in 1961, comes into play only when a fighter has been knocked down. This is a compulsory count, and not initiated by a referee’s discretion. What is down to the referee is to quickly assess the fighter’s ability to continue when the eight count is done.

Before the Mandatory count was introduced, a fighter could just beat the 10-count to avoid a knockout and carry on. The danger of that was that they could still be dazed, and not in the capacity to defend themselves against more, potentially damaging blows.

Because of the Mandatory eight count, as long as the fighter is up by the count of eight, the referee can take as much time as he needs to evaluate the fighter. It’s at that point that the official will decide whether it’s safe to restart the contest.

The Standing Eight Count

The standing eight count was introduced in 1982, to give a referee the powers to intervene on the behalf of a fighter getting overwhelmed in the ring, and before a potential knockdown. With a referee having a standing 8 count option to call on, it meant that both fighters were forced to pause, something significant enough to potentially change the course of a bout.

It also produced discrepancies, as one referee may not have seen enough reason to step in with a standing eight count, whereas another would have done so in the same situation. The welfare check was abolished by the Association of Boxing Commission in 1998, which determined that the rule was advantageous to a fighter who received it.

The Story Behind the Standing Eight Count

In 1982, South Korean fighter Kim Duk-koo stepped into the ring against Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini in Las Vegas for a world championship fight. Kim Duk-koo had been the underdog against the powerful Mancini, but he gave a spirited account of himself in a brutal bout.

After 13 rounds, both fighters were exhausted and badly beaten up. Faces were swelled and both fighters struggled to see. Coming out for the 14th round, Kim Duk-koo tried to muster up another huge effort with his opponent also struggling and exhausted.

But the South Korean fighter was caught by a heavy straight right from Mancini that sent him crashing to the canvas. After making it back to his corner after the fight was called, Kim Duk-koo collapsed and was taken to the hospital where he had emergency surgery for a blood clot. Four days later, the boxer died from his injury.

Boxing History: The Watershed Moment

This was a watershed moment for boxing, and with safety at the forefront, the standing eight count was implemented as a reactionary measure to the tragedy. Mancini vs Kim remains the reason championship fighters are now on 12 rounds and not 15. It is also why fighters now have to undergo stringent health checks before and after a fight.