History of Boxing

Boxing is one of the most popular sports in the world. The history of boxing is as rich and varied as the sport itself. Read on to find out more.

How it all started

The ancient Greeks believed fist fighting was one of the games played by the gods on Olympus. Thus, boxing became part of the Olympic Games in about 688 BC. During Roman times, the sport started to thrive on a wide scale. Boxers fought with leather bands around their fists for protection and sometimes wore metal-filled, leather hand coverings, which resulted in bloody, sometimes fatal, battles. Boxing diminished after the fall of Rome.

Boxing revival

Boxing enjoyed a resurgence in the 18th century in England. The championship reign of James Figg, who held the heavyweight title from 1719 through 1730, made the sport especially popular. During the Industrial Revolution, boxing attracted participants and spectators from the working class. Organization was minimal at first, and the bouts of those eras resembled street fights more than modern boxing. The second heavyweight champion, Jack Broughton of England, helped diminish some of the gorier aspects that the sport had acquired, such as hitting below the belt line. During this time, the ring of spectators changed to a squared-off area.

The modern era

In 1866, the Marquess of Queensberry gave his support to a new set of rules, which were named in his honor. These rules limited the number of three minute rounds, eliminated gouging and wrestling and made the use of gloves mandatory. With the growing popularity of boxing, especially in the United States, weight classes other than the unlimited heavyweights emerged. These classes were popular as world championships were held at the new weights.

Boxing has enjoyed a rich history as it continues to thrill lovers of the sport to this day. Since the time of ancient Romans, boxing has fascinated the world.