Boxing was first held at the Summer Olympics in 1904.International Olympic Committee: Boxing History Male athletes are divided into weight classes and compete for 11 medal sets.Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Boxing
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, boxing events were held from August 9 to August 24, 2008, at the Workers Indoor Arena.Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Time and Venue Cuba earned the most medals in boxing, taking home eight. China followed with four medals, while Russia, Great Britain, Italy, France and Ireland each won three.NBC Olympics: Boxing - 2008 Medals Standings By Nation
History
Boxing first appeared at the Summer Olympic Games in 1904. It has appeared at every Summer Games since, with the exception of the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden.International Olympic Committee: Boxing History
Although women did appear in a boxing exhibition at the 1904 Olympics, women's boxing has never been held as a full medal sport. Many American female boxers are pushing for the inclusion of women's boxing events at the 2012 Olympics in London.BostonHerald.com: Women’s Boxing Fighting for Inclusion into 2012 London Olympics
Weight classes
- Light flyweight: 48 kg (106 lbs)NBC Olympics: Boxing Basics
- Flyweight: 48-51 kg (106-112 lbs)NBC Olympics: Boxing Basics
- Bantamweight: 51-54 kg (112-119 lbs)NBC Olympics: Boxing Basics
- Featherweight: 54-57 kg (119-126 lbs)NBC Olympics: Boxing Basics
- Lightweight: 57-60 kg (126-132 lbs)NBC Olympics: Boxing Basics
- Light welterweight: 60-64 kg (132-141 lbs)NBC Olympics: Boxing Basics
- Welterweight: 64-69 kg (141-152 lbs)NBC Olympics: Boxing Basics
- Middleweight: 69-75 kg (152-165 lbs)NBC Olympics: Boxing Basics
- Light heavyweight: 75-81 kg (165-179 lbs)NBC Olympics: Boxing Basics
- Heavyweight: 81-91 kg (179-201 lbs)NBC Olympics: Boxing Basics
- Super heavyweight: >91 kg (>201 lbs)NBC Olympics: Boxing Basics