A low blow in boxing is an illegal punch that lands below the opponent's waist, specifically below the navel or belly button, which is considered the "low blow line." This line is not the belt line of the trunks but the navel itself, which serves as the definitive boundary for legal punches. Any punch where the majority of the glove lands below this line is deemed a low blow and is against the rules
. Referees typically warn fighters if punches start to stray near or below this line and may stop the action to give warnings or deduct points if the fouls continue. The purpose of this rule is to protect fighters from strikes to sensitive areas such as the groin, which can cause injury and unfairly affect the fight
. An example of a controversial low blow occurred in the fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois, where Dubois landed a punch on Usyk's midsection that the referee ruled as a low blow because it landed below the navel line, allowing Usyk time to recover
. In summary, a low blow in boxing is a punch that lands below the navel, considered illegal, and subject to penalties by the referee to ensure fair play and fighter safety.
