Definition of the word standing count

The origin of the phrase "standing count" can be traced back to the mid-19th century in bare-knuckle boxing, where the term "standing eight counts" (later shortened to "standing eight") was commonly used to refer to a similar situation. This phrase likely comes from the fact that for a boxer to be given a full count of eight seconds (two sets of four seconds) was considered a very generous amount of time, as it was seen as giving the opponent nearly half a minute to recover. The practice of counting out lying-down boxers was initially introduced in professional boxing matches to prevent a downed fighter from being hit again before able to safely defend themselves. The use of standing counts evolved over time, as referees discovered it was more effective to ensure that a downed fighter was truly incapacitated before restarting the fight, rather than simply waiting out the count. Today, standing counts remain a crucial part of boxing, allowing referees to balance the need to protect injured fighters with fairness to both boxers in the ring.