Olympics-Boxing-Amateur bouts to switch to three rounds

BEIJING, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Amateur boxing bouts should be contested over three rounds instead of four at major competitions from later this year, an International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) official said on Thursday.

There will be three rounds of three minutes each instead of four two-minute rounds, which is the format currently being used at the Beijing Olympics.

"The 3x3, which is better perceived by the public, should be introduced at the AIBA World Cup in December in Moscow," AIBA technical delegate Terry Smith told reporters.

(Reporting by Patrick Vignal, editing by Jon Bramley)