Who enforces penalties for fouls such as contact after the bell?

• A. The judges
• B. The audience
• C. The referee
• D. The promoter

Answer: (C)

In boxing, penalties for fouls are enforced by the referee. The referee is in charge of the action inside the ring and watches for rule violations, including fouls like hitting after the bell. They can issue warnings, deduct points, or even stop the fight or disqualify a fighter if the foul is serious or repeated. Judges, on the other hand, score the fight from their seats and don’t enforce penalties in real time. The audience cannot enforce penalties, and the promoter handles event logistics rather than in-ring rule enforcement. So the person who handles penalties for fouls is the referee.