Why are boxers considered athletes if all they do is punch each other?

LOL, im not a boxing fan at all but this is funny to me. How is someone who works out all the time to fight not an athlete? Boxing isn't just standing there throwing punches, theres a lot of techniques and finesse involved. Its not easy to dodge punches while your eye is swollen shut and the person in front of you is trying to annihilate your face. And yes you and i could throw punches... But a boxers punch is probably 10 times harder then ours...