The essential vocabulary to understand interviews of famous boxers

20 Interviews of famous boxers terms

Sometimes, the passion for a sport can be hampered by the language barrier... if you are a boxing-lover, you may find it very hard to read or watch interviews of your favourite fighters as most of them are published in english. But don't worry! In this glossary, you will find all the vocabulary you need to understand interviews of boxers in english. Lola-Jane Sanchez LEA L3 - UGA Translation TD3

"Bleeder"

"I was a big bleeder. I had 328 stitches in my career."

A boxer who gets cut easily.

Example: "Chuck "The Bayonne Bleeder" Wepner was the luckiest bleeder in the boxing history."

fr: Saigneur

"Champion"

"Tyson Fury became the WBC world heavyweight champion in February 2020."

The fighter who holds the title.

Example: "He became the undisputed world lightweight champion."

fr: Champion

"Cornerman"

"The cornerman must have detachment from their boxer, but at the same time an unwavering devotion to that boxer's well-being."

A coach, cutman or person responsible for tending to a fighter between rounds.

Example: "The cornerman is a boxing designation taht is capable of more than one meaning."

fr: Homme de coin

"Cross"

"The cross is very similar to a jab and is used more so as a power punch."

A power punch thrown with the fighter's dominant hand in boxing.

Example: "The cross punch is done by throwing the fist from the guard position next to the face."

fr: Direct du bras arrière

"Disqualification"

"Imane Khelif, an Algerian boxer was disqualified."

When one boxer commits too many fouls or flagrant rule violations and subsequently deemed unfit to continue competing.

Example: "Most disqualifications happen for repeated intentional fouling such as headbutting, low blows, rabbit punches, bitting and the like."

fr: Disqualification

"Dive"

"The mob controlled boxing, and wanted LaMotta to take a dive against Billy Fox for an extra $20,000."

When one fighter purposely goes down for the count or pretends to be knocked out.

Example: "Taking a dive is of course illegal, just as is match-fixing in any other sport."

fr: Plongée

"Fighter"

"For boxing enthusiasts as well as casual boxing fans, this fighter rarely needs a formal introduction."

Someone who fights in a battle or in a physical fight against an opponent.

Example: "Muhammad Ali was a professional fighter."

fr: Boxeur ; lutteur

"Gloves"

"Boxing gloves are essential in boxing, protecting the hands of fighters from injuries."

Cushioned gloves that fighters wear on their hands during boxing matches and practices.

Example: "Boxing gloves help to cushion the force of the blows."

fr: Gants de boxe

"Heavyweight"

"The current WBA world heavyweight champion is Oleksandr Usyk."

Any boxer weighing over 200lbs is classified as heavyweight.

Example: "Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk takes spectacular repeat victory over Anthony Joshua."

fr: (catégorie) Poids lourd

"Hook"

"Tyson strikes his opponent with multiple, quick jabs and finishes him off with a strong hook to the temple for the knockout."

A type of short, inside power punch.

Example: "The hook travels the shortest distance from launch to target, transferring power generated from the base to the torso."

fr: Crochet

"Jab"

"The word jab was first used in 1825, to mean to thrust with a point."

To make quick forceful hits with your fist (close hand) when boxing

Example: "Mayweather keeps his opponent off balance by throwing a constant supply of jabs to his head."

fr: Direct du bras avant

"KO" (a knockout)

"Boxing fans love nothing more than a knockout puncher."

A fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports.

Example: "The most common objective boxers have in every fight is to score a knockout."

fr: KO

"Middleweight"

"David Morrell is the WBA "regular" super middleweight champion."

Any boxer weighing 160lbs or less can compete in and is classified as a middleweight.

Example: "The middleweight division has fighters with an average of 6 feet or 1.84 meters."

fr: (catégorie) Poids moyen

"Mouthpiece / Mouthguard"

"Tyson wasn't wearing a mouthpiece before he decided to play with kitty."

Helps dissipate the impact away from the point of contact to stabilise and shield the teeth.

Example: "The mouthpiece minimizes the risk of broken teeth and injuries to your lips, tongue, face or jaw."

fr: Protège-dents

"Palooka"

"Joe Palooka was a boxer who was neither incompetent nor clumsy and oafish, and yet the word palooka came to have those negative meanings."

An old boxing term used to describe a fighter who is uneducated, who is lacking in ability and/or who is generally clumsy.

Example: "If you were a sport writter in the 1930s, you probably used the word palooka a lot."

fr: Palooka

"Peek-A-Boo"

"Mike Tyson was famous for employing the peek-a-boo style."

A style of fighting involving placing your hands in front of your face, providing a lot of angles to confuse your opponent and moving your upper torso rapidly from side to side.

Example: "The peek-a-boo style was attributed to legendary trainer Cus D'Amato."

fr: Peek-A-Boo

"Ring"

"Johnny Thompson, before he joined the army, had been considered one of the speediest men of the boxing ring."

The space in which a boxing match occurs.

Example: "He wasn't surprised to see the Grey God in the boxing ring."

fr: Ring

"Uppercut"

"Uppercuts are one of your most powerful weapons inside the boxing ring."

An upward blow delivered from the direction of the toes with either hand.

Example: "He was knocked down by an uppercut from hsi opponent."

fr: Coup remontant

Amateur Boxing

"Being an amateur boxer is extremely phisically demanding."

Competitive boxing matches where neither participant is paid and most fighters are beginning to learn their craft.

Example: "Amateur boxing is scored purely on points."

fr: Boxe amateur

Sparring Partner

"He has been a friend and a sparring-partner for a lifetime."

Another boxer that a fighter trains with and practices against, in order to prepare for a "real" bout.

Example: "He is the ideal sparring partner because he is direct and not afraid to speak openly."

fr: Partenaire d'entraînement