History Of Boxing

Boxing is one of the most popular sports, especially in Europe and the Americas. Legends like Muhammad Ali, Jack Johnson, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Benny Leonard, Mickey Walker along with many stars have brought worldwide fame and recognition to the sport. Boxing was earlier known by the name Pugilism, meaning sweet science.

Boxers
Historical evidence lead to the fact that boxing was prevalent in North Africa in 4000 BC. It was also popularly played in Greek and Rome.The rules were crude then andboxers often indulged into lethal boxing rounds with leather taped on to their bare hands. It is believed that In Ancient Rome, the boxing fighters were usually offenders and slaves. They played the game to win and gain independence. However, facts also point to free men fighting for competition and the spirit of sport. Eventually, Augustus is known to have banned fighting. It is also said that in 500 A.D. Theodoric banned the sport owing to its popularity and growing distraction caused in public life.

The first signs of documented records take you to the year 1681 in Britain. It is a popular belief that the Duke of Albemarle held a boxing competition between his butcher and butler. The common reason for such matches is believed to be amusement and fun.

Prior to 1866, Jack Boughtonis is credited with establishing a set of rules for boxing. It is said that Jack decided to publish the rules in 1743 after a grisly match with one of his opponents who died during the match. The legend was popularly known as the ‘Father of boxing’.

However, the more recognizable development occurred during a time known as modern era in boxing. In the year 1866, the Marquess of Queensberry consented to a new set of boxing rules. The rules were titled with his name. The new rules introduced limited number of 3-minute rounds. It also banned gouging and wrestling during the match and made gloves compulsory. It took a while for bare-knuckled fights to completely go out of fashion, but there was considerable decrease after the rule was passed. In 1892, James Corbett set this rule straight by defeating the bare-fisted boxer John Sullivan with the new established rules.

Another radical changes in the sport can be traced to Douglass. It was John Douglass who gave birth to the modern day boxing rules way back in 1865. Famous as the ‘Patron Saint’, Douglass has contributed to systematic game of boxing. He made 12 prominent rules, the most significant ones being three-minute rounds and approved standards for boxing gloves.

There was no looking back for the sport during early 1900s. Boxing was on list in the St. Louis games in 1904. Throughout the 20th century, the world witnessed gifted fighters who fought for titles and bestowed the game with world known recognition and popularity. Boxing was heading straight into the 21st century with grace and aplomb.

In 1902, a London dentist by the name Jack Marles invented the first mouth guard for boxers. The mouth guards were basically designed for training sessions. In 1913, Welterweight fighter Ted "Kid" Lewis became the first boxer to use a protective mouthpiece in the prize ring. The mouthpiece soon became popular and gained acclaim in the sport of boxing.

The establishment of National Boxing Association (NBA) in 1927 ensured a fair governing body that looked into the game and its success. The main aim of the NBA was to arrange championships between the best talents and look after boxing ethics and popularity of the game. We have three world-acclaimed boxing organizations today—the WBC, IBF and the WBA. The International Amateur Boxing Association was formed in 1946 and it is the first international body for amateur boxing.

Some other glorious names in the history of boxing include Gene Tunney, Corbett and Sullivan for heavy weight category, as also lightweight champions Barney Ross and Henry Armstrong. The boxing history offers insight into many stalwart moments of the game.

History of boxing travels through different parts of the world starting with North Africa in 4000 BC. Greeks and Romans played and immensely enjoyed the sport of pugilism. History takes us back to festivals and games where combatants fought till one of the fighters died. There is mention of use of spikes and studs made of metal during prizefights. These shadows eventually warded off as the game took a developed form with well-defined and fair rules protecting fighters. United States has played a major role in building up image of boxing in the world, especially during the 20th century.

In so far as the nation became the focus for professional boxing in the world. With the establishment of NBA (National Boxing Association), the first such body governing the game, boxing achieved renewed status in new world of sports. Ring magazine was founded in mid 1900s and it began systematic listing of championships and winners. The NBA gained its new name in 1962 and became World Boxing Association-WBA. The new role brought about increased responsibility. It was in late 19th and early 20th century that Olympic boxing was encouraged in schools, universities as also in the armed forces.

In 1963, an adversary sprung to power under the name of the World Boxing Council-WBA. Another body by the name IBF (International Boxing Federation) came to power in 1983. It is remarkable that to be titled a world champion, a boxer had to acquire recognition from three separate bodies. There are different regional sanctioning bodies like the North American Boxing Federation and the United States Boxing Association who also granted championships. Ring Magazine listed each weight division champion and its rankings are the still applauded by boxing fans worldwide.

An international body for amateur boxing was formed in 1946 known as the International Amateur Boxing Association. The development phase of boxing has seen the United States as a world leader, promoting and generating opportunities at all levels. The US played a major role in building a reputable status for the sport and also popularising and making professional and amateur level boxing more safe for fighters. The Olympic champions, the US has won 106 Olympic medals till date: 47 gold, 23 silver and 36 bronzes. Most heavyweight champions of this century originate from the United States.

For the game of boxing, there are some things that haven’t changed. The boxers play hand-to-hand and in a one-to-one combat, against a boxer of similar size and strength. The pugilistic nature of the game has been preserved making boxing a sport with its unique identity. Players win points for clean and solid blows to the allowed body parts, like on the front of the opponent's body above the waistline. Correct hits to the head and torso score points and are considered important in the game. A punch scores points only when the boxers connect with the white portion of the gloves.

Many names and leads to the game of boxing which has seen its peak times in the US. The nation passionately supported boxing events and continues to promote boxing championships under different divisions all over the world.

Boxing Events and Categories

Boxing is a sport that has never failed to fascinate the sport world. The reputation of Olympic-style's boxing finds worldwide acclaim with its own characteristics and pro boxing independent rules. Boxing is a recognized sport in Olympics and Common Wealth games. The sport first gained Olympic inclusion in 1904 at St. Louis Olympics.

Boxing Categories

Following are eight major professional categories for boxing

• Flyweight: Weight up to 112 lb /50.8 kg
• Bantamweight: Weight up to118 lb/53.5 kg
• Featherweight: Weight up to 126 lb/57.2 kg
• Lightweight: Up to 135 lb/61.2 kg
• Welterweight: Weighing up to 147 lb/66.7 kg
• Middleweight: Weighing up to 160 lb/72.6 kg
• Light heavyweight: Up to 175 lb/79.4 kg
• Heavyweight: Most Popular. Unlimited weight starting at 175 lbs

Olympic Boxing

Boxing is known to be played at the Olympic Games in 1904. The last decade and the past few years have been favourable for boxing. It has seen recognition for junior and middleweight championships. The United States has been a persistent leader in the boxing arena and it is widely acclaimed to have promoted the sport by enhancing the sports image in front of the world.

Ever since 1972, the countries winning maximum gold medals are Cuba and the U.S. The first half of the 20th century witnessed a steady growth in Olympic boxing. The International Boxing Federation was the first international organization that was created in London in 1920. Back then, there were only five member nations.

Interestingly, late 19th and early 20th century saw Olympic boxing being encouraged at the school and university level. Women boxing made a late entry in 1904 at the Olympic games with a demonstration fight. Boxing for women was not encouraged by most nations. A few of them even banning boxing as a sport for women. It was with British Amateur Boxing Association that women boxing took serious shape when the Association endorsed the first boxing championship for women. New rules for women’s boxing were accepted by the end of 20th century and the first World championship for women was held very recently in 2001. The sport has lead to some hope for women boxers with recognition coming late for women boxing that has been included as an official sport in 2012 Olympic games.

In Olympics and Common wealth, boxing bouts consist of four rounds, each of two minutes, while national ABA(Amateur Boxing association) consist of three rounds of two minutes are, each round followed by a one minute interval.

Boxing has found new meaning in the world of Olympics and common wealth games. It has come a long way from the days of pugilism and prize fighting, very rightly named the ‘sport of kings’. Boxing has won acclaims of many a kings and dynasties and found its way to hearts of millions of sport lovers across the world.