Professional boxers have been fighting for centuries. Over the years, they have learned how to fight dirty in inconspicuous ways so there is less risk of getting caught. Dirty fighting is not encouraged, but, when it is used against you, you need to be aware of it, and, if necessary, you need to know how to use it in retaliation against the other dirty fighter.

Here are a few of the dirty tricks used by boxers:

• When the opponent crouches, use one hand to push on opponent’s head while you use hooks to the ribs or uppercuts to the face.

• If the referee is on one side, on the other side, punch or hit the opponent’s liver with your palm.

• On the inside, in a clinch or on the ropes, keep your head in the opponent’s face. Do not head butt, just push.

• If you are taller than the opponent, lean on him or her.

• Accidental low blows will happen. You may receive a warning, but after a low blow, the recipient will not fully recover for a few rounds.

• To get an opponent to turn in one direction, put your hand behind his or her opposite elbow and pull.

• Step on the opponent’s foot so he or she cannot escape, and then quickly punch before the referee calls break.

• Hook, and then accidentally fall forward, slamming your elbow into the opponent’s face.

• To stop the opponent from clinching, push your forearm into opponent’s throat.

• In a clinch, if the opponent has his or her arms straight and under your arms, lever his or her arm against your side so that the arm bends backward at the elbow, similar to an arm bar.

• As you voluntarily separate without the referee’s command, catch the opponent with a hook as you separate.

• Get into a clinch, and then push away with the gloves and quickly punch.

• If an opponent is holding, smacking him or her on the back of the head until he or she lets go or the referee warns you.

• When opponent is rushing in, place a glove against your face, and raise your elbow. Many times the opponent will punch the elbow, which could injure his hand, or the opponent’s face may bump into the elbow.

The preceding listed some of the dirty tricks of boxing, but some actions not just dirty, they border on criminal when used in the ring. These actions should only be used in self-defense situations where you think your life is in danger.

• Head Butting. Head butting is very dangerous to the opponent, and sometimes to the person doing the butting. See head butting topic for more information.

• Rabbit Punch. A rabbit punch is a punch to the back of the head at the base of the skull, or to the neck at the base of the skull. It is dangerous since it may damage the cervical vertebrae and subsequently the spinal cord, which may lead to serious paralysis or death. The punch's name is derived from the name of the technique used by hunters to kill rabbits with a quick, sharp strike to the back of the head.

• Thumbing. Thumbing is when a thumb is jabbed into the opponents’ eye. Thumbing is danger in that it may result in permanent damage a fighter’s eye. Boxing gloves are designed to help prevent accidental thumbing.