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A lot of people seem to misinformed on what boxing actually is where it came from and how it fits into the realm of Martial Arts. Here is a brief history of the art of boxing a.k.a. pugilism, Anglais Boxing, fist fighting, English Boxing or the sweet science.
Boxing/Fist fighting can be traced back to to the early Sumerian's. Early reliefs found in Iraq depict two men engaging in fist fighting for prize money or purse. The tablet is believed to be around 7,000 years old. Boxing is described in several ancient Indian texts such as the Vedas. The earliest form of boxing with any type of glove can be found on the island of Crete in Greece around 1500 B.C.
Ancient Greece and Rome:
The ancient Greeks and later Romans called boxing pugilism a name that is still used today. Greeks were the first to give rules to the sport. Clinching for example was strictly forbidden but unlike modern boxing there were no weight classes, no rounds and no time limits. Fights were won either by knock out a fighter leaving the fight or sometimes death. Gloves were used in practice but, during actual competition hardened leather was wrapped around fighters hands.
Homers classic the Iliad contains the first detailed account of a box fight. Homer described that the Mycenaean warriors often included boxing tournaments to honor their fallen. Another legend sites that the Hero Theseus created a form of boxing that had men wearing spiked gloves and elbow wraps facing each other until one died.
Boxing was first introduced as an Olympic sport in 688 BC. The event was called Pygme or Pymachia with fighters training on heavy bags and fighting with leather wraps on their hands and wrists and some times chest as protection. The Spartans were the first ones to apply boxing training to sword and shield techniques.
In Rome two forms of boxing were developed, one the athletic sport taken from the Greeks which remained popular through out the entirety of the Empire and another Gladiatorial type used for slaves and criminals but also allowed free men to fight for the title of champion. The sport was so popular in Rome that many of the aristocrats often practiced it, until it was banned by Caesar Augustus.
In 393 AD the Olympics were banned by the Christian emperor Theodosius and the practice of boxing was banned all together in 500 AD by Theodoric the Great as an insult to God since it disfigures the face, the image of God. However, this ruling had little effect outside the major cities of the Eastern Empire. By this time Western Europe was no longer part of the Roman Empire. Boxing remained popular in Europe throughout the Middle Ages and beyond. On a side note wrestling, fencing and racing (both chariot and foot) were never banned by the late Romans, as they did not cause disfigurement.
London Proze Ring Rules (1743)
Classical boxing pretty much disappeared after the fall of the Roman Empire. But there are some records of fist fighting arts through out Italy during the Middle ages all the way through the Renaissance. Boxing later resurfaced in early 18th century England. The first documented "boxing match" took place in 1681 in Britian when the Duke of Albemarle engineered a bout between his butler and his butcher. Later as more were interested in this type of bare knuckle prize fighting the sport began to grow and spread through out the UK.
Early fighting had no written rules. There were no weight divisions or round limits, and no referee. In general, it was very chaotic. The first boxing rules, called the London Prize Ring rules, were introduced by heavyweight champion Jack Broughton in 1743 to protect fighters in the ring where deaths sometimes occurred. Under these rules, if a man went down and could not continue after a count of 30 seconds, the fight was over. Hitting a downed fighter and grasping below the waist were prohibited. Broughton also invented and encouraged the use of "mufflers", a form of padded gloves, which were used in training and exhibitions. The first 'boxing paper' was published in the late 18th century by successful Birmingham boxer 'William Futrell' who remained undefeated until his one hour and seventeen minute fight at Smitham Bottom, Croydon, on July 9, 1788 against a much younger "Gentleman" John Jackson which was attended by the Prince of Wales.
Although bare-knuckle fighting was in almost every aspect far more brutal than modern boxing, it did allow the fighters a single advantage not enjoyed by today's boxers: The London Prize Rules permitted the fighter to drop to one knee to begin a 30-second count at any time. Thus a fighter realizing he was in trouble had an opportunity to recover. Intentionally going down in modern boxing will cause the recovering fighter to lose points in the scoring system.
In 1838, the London Prize Ring rules were expanded in detail. Later revised in 1853, they stipulated the following:
* Fights occurred in a 24-foot-square ring surrounded by ropes.
* If a fighter was knocked down, he had to rise within 30 seconds under his own power to be allowed to continue.
* Biting, headbutting and hitting below the belt were declared fouls.
Through the late nineteenth century, boxing or prizefighting was primarily a sport of questionable legitimacy. Outlawed in England and much of the United States, prizefights were often held at gambling venues and broken up by police. Brawling and wrestling tactics continued, and riots at prizefights were common occurrences. Still, throughout this period, there arose some notable bare knuckle champions who developed fairly sophisticated fighting tactics.
Rules:
1. That a square of a yard be chalked in the middle of the stage, and on every fresh set-to after a fall, or being parted from the rails, each Second is to bring his Man to the side of the square, and place him opposite to the other, and till they are fairly set-to at the Lines, it shall not be lawful for one to strike at the other.
2. That, in order to prevent any Disputes, the time a Man lies after a fall, if the Second does not bring his Man to the side of the square, within the space of half a minute, he shall be deemed a beaten Man.
3. That in every main Battle, no person whatever shall be upon the Stage, except the Principals and their Seconds, the same rule to be observed in bye-battles, except that in the latter, Mr. Broughton is allowed to be upon the Stage to keep decorum, and to assist Gentlemen in getting to their places, provided always he does not interfere in the Battle; and whoever pretends to infringe these Rules to be turned immediately out of the house. Every body is to quit the Stage as soon as the Champions are stripped, before the set-to.
4. That no Champion be deemed beaten, unless he fails coming up to the line in the limited time, or that his own Second declares him beaten. No Second is to be allowed to ask his man’s Adversary any questions, or advise him to give out.
5. That in bye-battles, the winning man to have two-thirds of the Money given, which shall be publicly divided upon the Stage, notwithstanding any private agreements to the contrary.
6. That to prevent Disputes, in every main Battle the Principals shall, on coming on the Stage, choose from among the gentlemen present two Umpires, who shall absolutely decide all Disputes that may arise about the Battle; and if the two Umpires cannot agree, the said Umpires to choose a third, who is to determine it.
7. That no person is to hit his Adversary when he is down, or seize him by the ham, the breeches, or any part below the waist. A man on his knees is to be reckoned down.
__________________
I'm a shark, the ground game is my ocean. And most people don't know how to swim. Oh yeah and I can knock you out too
Everything I know in life, I learned from watching the Fall Guy.
In 1867, the Marquess of Queensberry rules were drafted by John Chambers for amateur championships held at Lillie Bridge in London for Lightweights, Middleweights and Heavyweights. The rules were published under the patronage of the Marquess of Queensberry, whose name has always been associated with them.
There were twelve rules in all, and they specified that fights should be "a fair stand-up boxing match" in a 24-foot-square ring. Rounds were three minutes long with one minute rest intervals between rounds. Each fighter was given a ten-second count if he was knocked down and wrestling was banned.
The introduction of gloves of "fair-size" also changed the nature of the bouts. An average pair of boxing gloves resembles a bloated pair of mittens and are laced up around the wrists. Gloves protected fighters from both facial and hand injuries, their considerable size and weight making knock-out victories more difficult to achieve. The gloves could also be used to block an opponent's blows. As a result of their introduction, bouts became longer and more strategic with greater importance attached to defensive maneuvers such as slipping, bobbing, countering and angling. Because less defensive emphasis was placed on the use of the forearms and more on the gloves, the classical forearms outwards, torso leaning back stance of the bare knuckle boxer was modified to more modern stance in which the torso is tilted forward and the hands are held closer to the face.
The first world heavyweight champion under the Queensberry Rules was "Gentleman Jim" Corbett, who defeated John L. Sullivan in 1892 at the Pelican Athletic Club in New Orleans.
Throughout the early twentieth century, boxing struggled to achieve legitimacy, through the influence of promoters like Tex Rickard and the popularity of great champions from John L. Sullivan to Jack Dempsey. Shortly after this era, boxing commissions and other sanctioning bodies were established to regulate the sport and establish universally recognized champions.
The Rules:
1. To be a fair stand-up boxing match in a 24-foot ring, or as near that size as practicable.
2. No wrestling or hugging allowed.
3. The rounds to be of three minutes' duration, and one minute's time between rounds.
4. If either man falls through weakness or otherwise, he must get up unassisted, 10 seconds to be allowed him to do so, the other man meanwhile to return to his corner, and when the fallen man is on his legs the round is to be resumed and continued until the three minutes have expired. If one man fails to come to the scratch in the 10 seconds allowed, it shall be in the power of the referee to give his award in favour of the other man.
5. A man hanging on the ropes in a helpless state, with his toes off the ground, shall be considered down.
6. No seconds or any other person to be allowed in the ring during the rounds.
7. Should the contest be stopped by any unavoidable interference, the referee to name the time and place as soon as possible for finishing the contest; so that the match must be won and lost, unless the backers of both men agree to draw the stakes.
8. The gloves to be fair-sized boxing gloves of the best quality and new.
9. Should a glove burst, or come off, it must be replaced to the referee's satisfaction.
10. A man on one knee is considered down and if struck is entitled to the stakes.
11. No shoes or boots with springs allowed.
12. The contest in all other respects to be governed by revised rules of the London Prize Ring.
Amateur & Pro Boxing
There are slight variations in the rules between amateur and pro boxers. Amateur boxers must wear protective head gear and gloves with a white stripe on the front, points are only scored if the white part of the glove touches the opponent. An amateur bout consists of 4 2 minute rounds.
Pro boxers are required to not wear head gear. And compete in 10-15 3 minute rounds.
The Marquess of Queensberry rules are still the primary rules used to govern boxing today. Slight variations have been added by various organizations and athletic commissions but, they are generally the same rules since 1867.
__________________
I'm a shark, the ground game is my ocean. And most people don't know how to swim. Oh yeah and I can knock you out too
Everything I know in life, I learned from watching the Fall Guy.
art
1. the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.
Boxing can be pretty... When there are hot girls... And very little clothes.
art
1. the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.
Boxing can be pretty... When there are hot girls... And very little clothes.
Cat fighting? They don't wear gloves, gets in the way of the
Claws
__________________ Blue BELT. I'm begining to like this Karate
The History of Boxing
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