A Down (ダウン, Daun) in boxing is when any part of a boxer's body other than their feet is on the ring's canvas after they get hit by an attack. If any part of a boxer's body other than their feet is on the ring's canvas without getting hit, it is a slip.

Once a boxer falls, the referee pauses the match and sends the standing boxer to a neutral corner. The referee decides if it is a down or a slip based on what he saw happen before the boxer's fall. This can lead to controversy between the referee and the boxer who fell, the boxer's seconds, and/or the audience if they believe the referee's decision of a down was false. However, the referee's decision is final. A down will result in a loss of points, making it difficult to win if the match goes into a decision.

Once a down occurs, the referee will do a ten count. Once the referee counts to ten, the match will end in a knockout (KO). However, if the referee believes the boxer is unable to continue, the referee will end the match without a count, ending the match with a technical knockout (TKO). Some boxers may purposely wait until the count of nine to get up in order to recover from their injuries or regain some stamina. Once a boxer gets up from their down, they are to put up a fighting pose or the match will not continue. Failure to put up a fighting pose will result in a loss for that boxer. If the boxer stands up and puts up a fighting pose and the referee still believes the boxer is unable to continue, the referee will ask the name of the venue they are fighting in, their name, or to walk in a straight line. If they are unable to do so it will result in their loss.

If both boxers go down at the same time, it is called a double down. The match will not continue until both boxers get up. If one boxer gets up by the count of ten, but the other boxer is still down, the match ends in the standing boxer's victory. If a boxer is standing or leaning up against the ropes but unable to attack or is unconscious, a standing down occurs. If the boxer is unable to move during the ten count or respond to the referee, the match ends in their loss.

If a boxer is down and their opponent attacks them while their down, the opponent will receive or warning, point deduction, or a disqualification as it is considered a foul.

The Three Down Rule

The three down rule means that if one boxer goes down three times in one round, the match ends in a knockout loss for that boxer.

Matches and sanction bodes with the three down rule:

1. Sparring matches. Both sides can agree or disagree with the three down rule, or increase or decrease the amount of downs.
2. Non ranked or national ranked matches and title matches (JBC included).
3. The WBA world ranked matches and world title matches.

Matches and sanction bodes without the three down rule:

1. Sparring matches. Both sides can agree or disagree with the three down rule, or increase or decrease the amount of downs.
2. The OPBF ranked and title matches.
3. The IBF world ranked matches and world title matches.
4. The WBC world ranked matches and world title matches.
5. The WBO world ranked matches and world title matches.

Trivia

• A double down has only happened twice. The first time one was during Mamoru Takamura vs. David Eagle, and the second one was during Ryō Mashiba vs. Ryūhei Sawamura.