RTD in Boxing: Meaning, Process & Impact on Match Results

In boxing, you might notice “RTD” listed next to a fighter’s name and wonder what it implies. It appears in results summaries, but the exact reasoning behind it is often left vague.

Understanding RTD may shed light on why a bout ends between rounds and why it is recorded in a particular way. It also helps to clear up common confusion with other ways a fight might stop.

If you follow boxing or the associated results markets, even a basic grasp of RTD may make scorecards and settlement outcomes easier to interpret. Read on for more details.

What RTD Means in Boxing

RTD is an abbreviation for “Retired.” It is applied when a boxer does not return for the next round after the break. Usually, the decision comes from the corner during the one-minute interval, though a boxer might also signal they are unable to continue.

Unlike a knockout, there is no count or stoppage during the action. Instead, the referee is informed that the fighter will not carry on, and the bout concludes at that moment.

Corners may reach this decision for a variety of reasons—sometimes due to an injury that makes continuing unwise, or because the boxer has taken accumulated punishment that makes the team cautious. Officially, an RTD is logged as a type of technical stoppage, which is why it may be grouped with TKO results in records, though it differs in how it occurs.

How Does an RTD Work in a Fight?

During the break between rounds, the corner assesses their fighter’s condition. Coaches, medical staff, and occasionally the ringside doctor evaluate injuries, responsiveness, breathing, and overall condition. If the team decides continuing might not be appropriate, they signal the referee before the next round begins.

This signal may be verbal, passed through an official, or simply by keeping the boxer seated when the bell rings. If a towel is thrown mid-round, the referee stops the fight as a TKO. But if the corner refuses to send their fighter out at the interval, it is recorded as RTD because the decision occurred between rounds.

Doctors may also advise the corner to withdraw a boxer if they spot a concerning cut or suspected injury. Once the referee confirms this, the contest ends, and RTD is officially recorded.

RTD vs TKO: What Is the Difference?

The main differences lie in timing and who decides.

With RTD, the corner or boxer opts not to continue during the interval, so the fight ends before the next bell. By contrast, a TKO occurs when the referee stops the action mid-round because a boxer is unable to defend themselves, is taking repeated unanswered shots, or is judged unfit to continue. Medical stoppages during rounds are also considered TKO, as the referee halts the fight based on the doctor’s advice.

Throwing the towel illustrates this well. If it lands during exchanges, the referee declares a TKO. If the boxer is kept on the stool during the interval, it counts as RTD. Although both are stoppages and often grouped together in records, they occur at different moments in the bout.

How Does an RTD Affect Match Results and Betting?

In official results, an RTD counts as a stoppage win for the opponent. In method-of-victory markets, most bookmakers treat it the same way as a TKO, which is why a fighter may be recorded as winning by TKO even if the withdrawal happened on the stool.

Round and totals markets usually follow a straightforward approach. For instance, if a boxer retires before the start of round six, settlement is typically based on five rounds being completed. For over/under lines, it often depends on whether the next round has begun—the timing of the bell may be decisive. Rules may vary, so it is worth checking market terms on the site being used.

Understanding how this classification works may make post-fight summaries and settlement outcomes clearer, particularly for stoppages that occur out of combat.

Common Misunderstandings About RTDs

A frequent confusion is thinking that all non-knockout stoppages are identical. RTD is a specific type of stoppage occurring between rounds. It is grouped with technical results in records, which is why it may seem ambiguous, but the triggers and timing are distinct.

Another misconception is that only severe injuries lead to RTD. Corners may also withdraw a boxer due to accumulated damage, vision impairment, or strategic caution. It is not a disqualification, and it is not a forfeit. Rather, it is the team choosing not to send the fighter out for the next round.

Many people also wonder about betting treatment. Most bookmakers combine RTD with TKO for method-of-victory markets, and round-based outcomes are typically decided by the last completed round. Market rules and wording, however, take precedence.

If betting, do so within your financial limits and alongside other priorities. Should gambling start affecting your wellbeing or finances, seek guidance early. Organisations such as GamCare and GambleAware offer free, confidential support.

Understanding the meaning of RTD, how it is applied, and how it is recorded may make the sport easier to follow and the result line on a card much clearer.