No contest (boxing): Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

No contest is a technical term used in the sport of boxing, to describe a fight which ends for reasons outside the fighters' hands. Various reasons could be used for a fight to be ruled a no contest, but the rules that dictate whether a fight should be called a no contest, a disqualification win for one of the boxers, or a knockout win for one of the boxers differ from country to country.

In the 1800s, many countries (and some parts of the United States) officially banned boxing, and the police would step in to stop the illegal bouts (which, although illegal, were still sanctioned by regional boxing commissions). Since boxing is now legal virtually everywhere in the world, the number of fights called no-contest has decreased dramatically since the beginnings of the 20th century. However, no contest results in boxing matches still occasionally occur.

One good example of a no-contest bout was in 1983, on the undercard of the fight where Roberto Duran beat Davey Moore for the World Jr. Middleweight title at the Madison Square Garden, when Luis Resto and Billy Collins Jr. boxed ten rounds. Resto appeared to officially win the match at the time, but it was later discovered that he had cheated by tampering with his gloves before the fight. The injuries Collins received affected his vision, and, upon finding out what Resto and his corner had done, the New York state athletic commission decided to change the result of the fight to a no-contest.

For no contests in the judicial system, please see the nolo contendere page.