Why is it Illegal to push-off with your shoulder?

[Rolling Stone]

I never understood this rule.....If your opponent is leaning in against you, why can't you push off with your shoulder???

I understand some boxers get away with doing this sometimes, but its an illegal move for some reason, if you can't push off with your shoulder how the **** can you fight? the only possible alternatives are to clinch and wait for the ref to break you up, or to punch to the back of the head.....

does anyone have a link to boxing's official rules???

[SiCaRiO13 Jr]

because a shoulder to the jaw hurts... alot

[Rolling Stone]

because a shoulder to the jaw hurts... alot

well that would be an illegal move, but im talking about a shoulder to your opponnents chest just to push him back a little

[SiCaRiO13 Jr]

that, I dont know why, its better to tie up your oponent than to push them anyway

[Ivansmamma]

Why is the backhand swing illegal?

[Eric Holder]

never got that rule, the one that bugs me most is how refs let guys like B-Hop and Hatton clinch and when their opponents try and push them off they get warned for pushing

[Rolling Stone]

never got that rule, the one that bugs me most is how refs let guys like B-Hop and Hatton clinch and when their opponents try and push them off they get warned for pushing

yeah, thats my point, and if refs don't immediately break you up than they can continue to clinch and hit....eg. Hatton vs Tszyu....Tszyu should've been allowed to push him back cause the ref wasn't doing nothing about Hatton's clinching....luckily Joe Cortez didn't let HAtton do that **** vs Mayweather

[shadeyfizzle]

Why is the backhand swing illegal?

never quite understood the shoulder pushoff rule but the backhand swing is illegal because it's more likely to cause cuts and break hands/wrists than normal punches.

[CubanGuyNYC]

This is total speculation on my part, but I think the reasoning is sound. Boxing is a fighting sport governed by strict rules. The London Prize Ring rules, and the later Marquess of Queensberry rules (modern boxing rules), were designed to make boxing a "manly," or "gentlemanly," art. My sense has always been that the rules were primarily intended to keep a boxing contest "civilized and orderly." Actions like pushing off with the shoulder or striking with the back of the hand would have been considered cowardly or "uncivilized" in the old days. These antiquated ideas have remained to the present day. I don't think the rules always had the safety of the fighters in mind. Is it really necessary to have white knuckle gloves in amateur boxing? It's just another way to control the action.