Eh, I don’t know, the reader would have to have a strong enough association between that phrase and boxing that they wouldn’t need it telegraphed to them, but I don’t feel like your typical reader thinks about boxing enough to make that jump.
You’d still need those panels for context, too. Otherwise it’s not obvious this is the start of the fight and the official just laid down the rules.
I mean…yeah? Did you think progress was going to come from the outside? Someone’s gotta make an effort to steer the ship the right way.