From Murder to Boxing

Here is another boxing article before we leave this topic temporarily. I really didn't do much editing on this one. For a theme as detailed as boxing history, this is the most informative I can get without overly exceeding the required word limit. Consequently, I decided to use a more serious tone rather than a comical one to emphasize how much the sport has changed throughout the years.

Description: The early years of boxing was a great way to commit murder with no consequences. Today, a black eye and a fat lip is already considered too painful to look at.

During the early days of boxing, when it was still referred to as pugilism, the sport was far less complicated than what it is today. There were no judges to give points as winning solely meant beating your opponent to a pulp until he dies or quits. However, as the sport evolved, a ton of new rules was enforced, while boxers were required to wear a lot of protective gear. Despite the significant downgrade in blood and pain, modern boxing still has its thrills and exciting moments, especially if a knockout takes place and the boxer goes out in a stretcher.

Based on several archaeological studies, boxing has been around since 3000 BC. Still, the combat sport didn't get off until it reached Greece a few thousand years later when random men were chosen to honor the nation's fallen warriors by engaging in a bout. There were no weight divisions then, and every part of the body was fair game, though wrestling moves and grapples were prohibited.

Pugilism gained popularity in Rome and even became part of the Olympics later on. However, the sport was banned by Roman leaders because it destroyed the boxer's face, which Romans considered the image of God. The sport eventually reached England and became known as bare-knuckle boxing or prizefighting, whose first champion was James Figg. To lower the death count among boxers, the first official set of rules was unveiled by heavyweight champion Jack Broughton in 1743. Broughton also created padded gloves or mufflers to soften the effect of a punch. The immense popularity of the sport during this time eventually gave birth to the term boxing.

James Figg versus modern-day Mike Tyson: who you got?

Another bunch of rules was created in 1867 called the Marquess of Queensberry rules. These regulations became the blueprint of all the intricacies in boxing today, such as weight divisions, rounds and referees. As years passed more rules were added like the prohibition of hitting below the belt, TKO and safety requirements. Although boxing has certainly mellowed down throughout the years, it still is one of the more violent, yet entertaining sports we have today.

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