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Encyclopedia > Prize fighter

Boxing, nicknamed the "sweet science" and also called pugilism or prizefighting, is a sport where two participants of similar weight attack each other with their fists in a series of two to three-minute intervals called "rounds". In both Amateur and Professional divisions, the combatants (called boxers or fighters) avoid their opponent's punches whilst trying to land punches of their own. Points are awarded for clean, solid blows to the legal area on the front of the opponent's body above the waistline, with hits to the head and torso especially valuable. The fighter with the most points after the scheduled number of rounds is declared the winner. Victory may also be achieved if the opponent is knocked down and unable get up before the referee counts to ten (a Knockout, or KO) or if the opponent is deemed too injured to continue (a Technical Knockout, or TKO).

Contents


Origins

Earliest evidence suggests that boxing was prevalent in North Africa during 4000 BC and the Mediterranean in 1500 BC.


A Greek ruler named Thesus, who ruled around 900 B.C., was entertained by men who would be seated in front of each other and beat another with their fists until one of them was killed. In time, the fighters fought on their feet and wore gloves (not padded) and wrappings on their arms below the elbows, but were otherwise naked when competing. First accepted as an Olympic sport (the ancient Greeks called it Pygme/ Pygmachia) in 688 BC, participants in the ancient games trained on punching bags (called a korykos). Keeping their fingers free, fighters then wore leather straps (called himantes) on their hands, wrists, and sometimes lower arms, to protect them from injury.


In Ancient Rome, fighters were usually criminals and slaves. They hoped to become champions and gain their freedom. However, free men also fought. Eventually, fist fighting became so popular that even aristocrats started fighting, but that was banned by the ruler Augustus. In 500 A.D., the sport was banned by Theodoric the Great. The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. ... The famous statue of Octavian at the Prima Porta Caesar Augustus (Latin:IMP·CAESAR·DIVI·F·AVGVSTVS) ¹ (23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), known to modern historians as Octavian for the period of his life prior to 27 BC, is considered the first and one of the most... Theodoric the Great (454 - August 30, 526), known to the Romans as Flavius Theodoricus, was king of the East Goths, the Ostrogoths (488-526), ruler of Italy (493-526), and regent of the Visigoths (511-526). ...


London Prize Ring rules (1839)

The beginnings of the modern right cross demonstrated in Edmund Price's The Science of Self Defense: A Treatise on Sparring and Wrestling, 1867
Enlarge
The beginnings of the modern right cross demonstrated in Edmund Price's The Science of Self Defense: A Treatise on Sparring and Wrestling, 1867

Records of boxing activity disappeared after the fall of the Roman Empire. The sport would later resurface in England during the early 18th century in the form of bare-knuckle prizefighting. The first documented account of a bare-knuckle fight in England appeared in 1681 in the "London Protestant Mercury," and the first English bare-knuckle champion was James Figg in 1719. This is also the time when the word "boxing" first came to be used. Image File history File links Blow2. ... Image File history File links Blow2. ... This article contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ...


Early bare-knuckle fighting was crude with no written rules. There were no weight divisions, round limits and no referee. Modern rules banning gouging, grappling, biting, headbutting, fish-hooking and blows below the belt were absent.


The first boxing 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 "mufflers" (padded gloves), which were used in training and exhibitions. A drawing of Jack Broughton by George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend. ...


In 1839, the London Prize Ring rules were introduced which superceded Jack Broughton's rules. Later revised in 1853, they stipulated the following: The London Prize Ring rules was a list of 29 rules drafted by Britains Jack Broughton in 1743, governing the conduct of prizefighting/boxing for over 100 years. ...

  • Fights occur in a 24-foot-square ring surrounded by ropes.
  • If a fighter was knocked down, he must rise within 30 seconds of his own power to be allowed to continue.
  • Biting, headbutting and hitting below the belt were declared fouls.

Marquess of Queensberry rules (1867)

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. 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Marquess of Queensbury rules are a code of popularly accepted rules in the sport of boxing. ... John Graham Chambers codified the Marquess of Queensberry rules upon which modern-day boxing is based. ... The Lillie Bridge Grounds was a sports ground in London near to present day Stamford Bridge, opened around 1867. ... The Houses of Parliament and the clock tower containing Big Ben Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... John Sholto Douglas (1844-1900) was an eccentric Scottish nobleman, the 9th Marquess of Queensberry and Viscount Drumlanrig. ...


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 the hands of both fighters but their considerable size and weight made knock-out victories more difficult to achieve. Resultantly, bouts became longer and more strategic with greater importance attached to defensive maneuvers such as slipping, bobbing, countering and angling. Knuckles may refer to: the joints of the hand Knuckles the Echidna, the Sega video game character This is a disambiguation page: a list of articles associated with the same title. ...


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. James John Corbett, born September 1, 1866 in San Francisco, California, United States – died February 18, 1933 in Bayside, New York, was a heavyweight boxing champion. ... For the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, see John L. Sullivan (U.S. Navy). ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ...


With the gradual acceptance of formalised rules, two distinct branches of boxing emerged; Professional and Amateur. The boxing rules enforced by governing bodies worldwide today at the local, national and international level are all derived in some way from the Marquis of Queensberry Rules.


Amateur boxing

In amateur boxing (the version of the sport found at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games) the primary emphasis is on landing scoring punches rather than concern with doing physical damage to one's opponent. Competitors wear protective headgear and box for three to five rounds of two or three minutes each. Gloves in amateur boxing have a white strip across the knuckle. A punch is considered a scoring punch only when the boxers connect with the white portion of the gloves. Each punch that lands on the head or torso is awarded a point. A referee monitors the fight to ensure that competitors use only legal blows (a belt worn over the torso represents the lower limit of punches - any boxer repeatedly landing "low blows" is disqualified). Referees also ensure that the boxers don't use holding tactics to prevent the opponent from swinging (if this occurs, the referee separates the opponents and orders them to continue boxing. Repeated holding can result in a boxer being penalized, or ultimately, disqualified). For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ... Current flag of the Commonwealth Games Federation The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sport event held every four years involving the elite athletes of the Commonwealth of Nations. ... The referee in the sport of boxing is the individual charged with enforcing the rules of the ring during a boxing match. ...


Also, in amateur boxing, referees will readily step in and stop the contest even if the competitor is only relatively lightly injured. As a result, the risk of grievous injury is considerably reduced in amateur boxing versus professional boxing.


Amateur boxing history

The Queensberry Amateur Championships continued from 1867 to 1885, and so, unlike their professional counterparts, amateur boxers did not deviate from using gloves once the Queensberry Rules had been published. In Britain, the Amateur Boxing Association (A.B.A.) was formed in 1880 when twelve clubs affiliated. It held its first championships the following year. Four weight classes were contested, Featherweight (9 stone), Lightweight (10 stone), Middleweight (11 stone, 4 pounds) and Heavyweight (no limit). (A stone is equal to 14 pounds). By 1902, American boxers were contesting the titles in the A.B.A. Championships, which, therefore, took on an international complexion. By 1924, the A.B.A. had 105 clubs in affiliation. 1867 (MDCCCLXVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...


Boxing first appeared at the Olympic Games in 1904 and, apart from the Games of 1912, has always been part of them. From 1972 through 2004, Cuba and the United States have won the most Gold Medals, 29 for Cuba and 21 for the U.S. Internationally, amateur boxing spread steadily throughout the first half of the 20th century, but when the first international body, the Federation Internationale de Boxe Amateur (International Amateur Boxing Federation) was formed in Paris in 1920, there were only five member nations. In 1946, however, when the International Amateur Boxing Association (A.I.B.A.) was formed in London, twenty-four nations from five continents were represented, and the A.I.B.A. has continued to be the official world federation of amateur boxing ever since. The first World Amateur Boxing Championships were staged in 1974. For months before the Olympic Games, runners relay the Olympic Flame from Olympia to the opening ceremony. ... 1904 (MCMIV) is a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ...


In the late 19th and early 20th century, amateur boxing was encouraged in schools, universities and in the armed forces, but the champions usually came from among the urban poor.


Women's boxing first appeared in the Olympic Games at a demonstration bout in 1904. For most of the 20th century, however, it was banned in most nations. Its revival was pioneered by the Swedish Amateur Boxing Association, which sanctioned events for women in 1988. The British Amateur Boxing Association sanctioned its first boxing competition for women in 1997. The first event was to be between two thirteen-year-olds, but one of the boxers withdrew because of hostile media attention. Four weeks later, an event was held between two sixteen-year-olds. 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII in Roman) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII in Roman) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


The A.I.B.A. accepted new rules for Women's Boxing at the end of the 20th century and approved the first European Cup for Women in 1999 and the first World Championship for women in 2001. Women's boxing will be an exhibition sport at the 2008 Olympics, but it won't become an official Olympic sport until the 2012 Olympics. . 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will a Leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2012 (MMXII) will be a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


A new scoring system was invented for amateur boxing: using a computer, judges must press a button every time they think a boxer landed a punch. When three or more of the five judges press the button within a second of each other, the punch counts as a "point" for the fighter that landed it. Punches to the head or face of an opponent usually score the most points for a competitor. At any point of the fight in which a fighter is leading by twenty points (or sometimes more), the referee is indicated and the fight is stopped, the leading fighter winning by "mercy", and credited with a knockout.


Professional boxing

Professional bouts are far longer than amateur bouts (ranging from four to twelve rounds), headgear is not permitted, and boxers are generally allowed to take much more punishment before a fight is halted. At any time, however, the referee may stop the contest if he believes that one participant can not or should not continue to box. In that case, the other participant is awarded a technical knockout win, which appears on the boxer's record as a knockout win (or loss). A technical knockout would also be awarded if a fighter lands a punch that opens a cut on the opponent, and the opponent is later deemed not fit to continue by a doctor because of the cut. If a boxer simply quits fighting, or if his corner stops the fight, then the winning boxer is also awarded a technical knockout victory.


If a knockout or disqualification does not occur, the fight must go to the scorecards. Professional fights have three judges each, and each of the judges must use the 10 point must system: Under this system, each time a boxer wins a round in the judges' eyes, the judge gives that boxer 10 points, and the other 9 or less. If the judge deems the round to be a tie, he or she may score it 10-10. When the fight reaches its scheduled distance, all scores are added, round by round, to determine who won on each judges' cards. When all three judges have the same boxer as the winner, this is an unanimous decision. When two judges have one boxer winning the fight and the other one has it a tie, this is called a majority decision. When two judges have one boxer winning the fight and the other judge has the other boxer winning, this is called a split decision. When one judge gives his or her vote to one boxer, another one gives it to the other boxer, and the third judge calls it a tie, this is a draw. It is also a draw when two judges score the fight a tie, regardless of who the third judge score the bout for. Draw has the following meanings: Drawing is one way of making an image by making marks on a surface with a pen, pencil or other line tool. ...


In Britain, the bout is only scored by the referee, except when a title is at stake, in which case it is scored by three judges.


If a fight can not go on because of an injury caused to one of the competitors by a headbutt, there are different rules: If the fight has not reached the end of round three, (in some places, round four), the fight is declared a technical draw or a no contest. If it has reached beyond the end of round three (or four), then the scorecards are read and whoever is ahead, wins by a technical decision. A technical decision is a term used in boxing when a fight has to be stopped because of a headbutt. ...


Evolution of professional boxing

In 1891, the National Sporting Club (N.S.C.), a private club in London, began to promote professional glove fights at its own premises, and created nine of its own rules to augment the Queensberry Rules. These rules specified more accurately the role of the officials, and produced a system of scoring that enabled the referee to decide the result of a fight. The British Boxing Board of Control (B.B.B.C.) was first formed in 1919 with close links to the N.S.C., and was re-formed in 1929 after the N.S.C. closed. 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The British Boxing Board of Control is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. ... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...


In 1909, the first of twenty-two belts were presented by the fifth Earl of Lonsdale to the winner of a British title fight held at the N.S.C. In 1929, the B.B.B.C. continued to award Lonsdale Belts to any British boxer who won three title fights in the same weight division. The "title fight" has always been the focal point in professional boxing. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, however, there were title fights at each weight. Promoters who could stage profitable title fights became influential in the sport, as did boxers' managers. The best promoters and managers have been instrumental in bringing boxing to new audiences and provoking media and public interest. The most famous of all three-way partnership (fighter-manager-promoter) was that of Jack Dempsey (Heavyweight Champion, 1919-1926), his manager Jack Kearns, and the promoter Tex Rickard. Together they grossed US$ 8.4 million in only five fights between 1921 and 1927 and ushered in a "golden age" of popularity for professional boxing in the 1920s. They were also responsible for the first live radio broadcast of a title fight (Dempsey v. Georges Carpentier, in 1921). In Britain, Jack Solomons' success as a fight promoter helped re-establish professional boxing after the Second World War and made Britain a popular place for title fights in the 1950s and 1960s. 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The title of Earl of Lonsdale has been created twice - first in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1784 (becoming extinct in 1802), and then in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1807, both times for members of the Lowther family. ... 1929 (MCMXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article is about the boxer named Jack Dempsey. ... This is a chronological list of world heavyweight boxing champions, as recognized by the following organizations: The World Boxing Association (WBA), founded in 1921 as the National Boxing Association (NBA), The World Boxing Council (WBC), founded in 1963, The International Boxing Federation (IBF), founded in 1983, The World Boxing Organization... 1919 (MCMXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1926 (MCMXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Jack Doc Kearns (1882-1963) was an American boxing manager from the state of Washington. ... George Lewis Tex Rickard (1870-1929 ?) was an American boxing promoter, and founder of the New York Rangers NHL franchise. ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Referred to as the Jazz Age or primarily in North America and in Australia as the Roaring Twenties . In Europe it is sometimes refered to as the Golden Twenties. ... Georges Carpentier Georges Carpentier (January 12, 1894 - October 28, 1975) was a French boxer. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 8 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a military conflict that took place between 1939 and 1945. ... // Events and trends This map shows two essential global spheres during the Cold War in 1959. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ...


In the first part of the 20th century, the United States became the centre for professional boxing. It was generally accepted that the "world champions" were those listed by the Police Gazette. After 1920, the National Boxing Association (N.B.A.) began to sanction "title fights". Also during that time, Ring Magazine magazine was founded and it listed champions and awarded championship belts. The N.B.A. was renamed in 1962 and became the World Boxing Association (W.B.A.). The following year, a rival body, the World Boxing Council (W.B.C.), was formed. In 1983, another world body, the International Boxing Federation (I.B.F.) was formed. By the end of the 20th century, a boxer had to be recognized by the three separate bodies to be the "Undisputed World Champion". Regional sanctioning bodies such as the North American Boxing Federation, the North American Boxing Council and the United States Boxing Association also awarded championships. Ring Magazine also continued listing the World Champion of each weight division, and its rankings continue being of the most appreciated by fans. The Police Gazette has been the title of several publications. ... 1920 (MCMXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ... WBA is also an abbreviation for West Bromwich Albion F.C., an English football team. ... Front cover of the first issue of Ring Magazine Ring Magazine is a boxing magazine that was first published in 1922. ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... World Boxing Association (WBA) is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title, at the professional level. ... The World Boxing Council (WBC) has operated since 1963 as a competitor to Venezuelas World Boxing Association (WBA) and, according to its founders, a way to improve professional boxings standards. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The International Boxing Federation, or IBF, is one of many organizations which sanction championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC, WBO, and a dozen or so others. ... North American Boxing Council The NABC [ http://www. ... Front cover of the first issue of Ring Magazine Ring Magazine is a boxing magazine that was first published in 1922. ...


Although women fought professionally in many countries, in Britain the B.B.B.C. refused to issue licences to women until 1998. By the end of the century, however, they had issued five such licenses. The first sanctioned bout between women was in November 1998 at Streatham in London, between Jane Couch and Simona Lukic. 1998 (MCMXCVIII in Roman) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Streatham is a place in the London Borough of Lambeth. ...


Equipment

Boxing techniques utilize very forceful strikes with the hand. There are many bones in the hand, and striking surfaces without proper technique can cause serious hand injuries. Today, most trainers do not allow boxers to train and spar without handwraps and gloves. Handwraps are used to secure the bones in the hand, and the gloves are used to protect the hands from blunt injury, allowing boxers to throw punches with more force than if they did not utilize them.


Headgear, used in amateur boxing, protects against cuts, scrapes, and swelling, but does not protect very well against concussions. Headgear does not sufficiently protect the brain from the jarring that occurs when the head is struck with great force. Also, most boxers aim for the chin on opponents, and the chin is usually not padded. Thus, a powerpunch can do a lot of damage to a boxer, and even a jab that connects to the chin can cause damage, regardless of whether or not headgear is being utilized.


Length of bouts

For decades, from the 1920s to the 1980s, world championship matches in professional boxing were scheduled for fifteen rounds, but that changed after a November 13, 1982 WBA Lightweight title bout ended with the death of boxer Duk Koo Kim in a fight against Ray Mancini in the 14th round of a nationally televised championship fight on CBS. Duk Koo Kim or Deuk-Koo Kim or Deuk-Gu Kim, (January 8, 1959 – November 18, 1982), was a South Korean boxer whose unexpected death following a match versus Ray Mancini changed the sport of boxing in many ways. ... Ray Mancini (born March 4, 1961) was an American boxer from Youngstown, Ohio, who was given the nickname Boom Boom because of his whirlwind fighting style. ...


Exactly three months after the fatal fight, the World Boxing Council reduced the number of their championship fights to 12 rounds. The World Boxing Association even stripped a fighter of his championship in 1983 because the fight had been a 15-round bout, shortly after the rule was changed to 12 rounds. By 1988, to the displeasure of many boxing purists, all fights had been reduced to a maximum of 12 rounds only, partially for safety, and partially for television, as a 12-round bout could take one hour to broadcast, while a 15-round bout could requre 90 minutes to broadcast. The World Boxing Council (WBC) has operated since 1963 as a competitor to Venezuelas World Boxing Association (WBA) and, according to its founders, a way to improve professional boxings standards. ... World Boxing Association (WBA) is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title, at the professional level. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII in Roman) was a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


Technique

Stance and movement

Development


The modern boxing stance is a reflection of the current system of rules employed by professional boxing. It differs in many ways from the typical boxing stances of the 19th and early 20th centuries. It's been stated that Americans adopted a more upright vertical armed guard (as opposed to more horizontally held, knuckles facing the ground guard as seen when looking at early 20th century boxers such as Jack Johnson) due to the Americans' confrontations with the Filipino natives as a result of the Philippines Spanish-American war. When engaged in hand to hand combat, the Filipinos would slash the wrists of the American soldiers, the Americans adapted by changing the guarded stance and thus just one example of a boxing technicality evolving.


The Boxer's Stance


The following stance applies for a right-handed boxer. The boxer stands with the legs shoulder-width apart with the right foot a half-step behind the left foot. The left (lead) fist is held vertically about six inches in front of the face at eye level. The right (rear) fist is held beside the chin and the elbow tucked against the ribcage to protect the body. The chin is tucked into the chest to avoid punches to the jaw which commonly cause knock-outs. Modern boxers can sometimes be seen "tapping" their cheeks or foreheads with their fists in order to remind themselves to keep their hands up (which becomes difficult during long bouts).


Movement


Modern boxers are taught to "push off" with their feet in order to move effectively. Forward motion involves lifting the lead leg and pushing with the rear leg. Rearward motion involves lifting the rear leg and pushing with the lead leg. During lateral motion the leg in the direction of the movement moves first while the opposite leg provides the force needed to move the body.


Punches

There are four basic punches in boxing: the Jab, Cross, Hook and Uppercut. If a boxer is right-handed, his left hand is the lead hand, his right hand is the rear hand and vice versa. The following techniques apply to a right-handed boxer. A right-handed boxer's handedness is commonly described as orthodox. A left-handed boxer is called an unorthodox boxer or a Southpaw. Southpaw is a term used to describe left-handed people, particuarly within sports and in the United States. ...

  • Jab - A quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand from the guard position. The jab is accompanied by a small, clockwise rotation of the torso and hips, while the fist rotates 180 degrees, becoming horizontal upon impact. As the punch reaches full extension, the lead shoulder is brought up to guard the chin. The rear hand remains next to the face to guard the jaw. After making contact with the target, the lead hand is retracted quickly to resume a guard position in front of the face. The jab is the most important punch in a boxer's arsenal because it provides a fair amount of its own cover and it leaves the least amount of space for a counterpunch from the opponent. It has the longest reach of any punch and does not require commitment or large weight transfers. Due to its relatively weak power, the jab is often used as a tool to gauge distances, probe an opponent's defenses, and set up heavier, more powerful punches. A half-step may be added, moving the entire body into the punch, for additional power.
  • Cross - A powerful straight punch thrown with the rear hand. From the guard position, the rear hand is thrown from the chin, crossing the body and travelling towards the target in a straight line. The rear shoulder is thrust forward and finishes just touching the outside of the chin. At the same time, the lead hand is retracted and tucked against the face to protect the inside of the chin. For additional power, the torso and hips are rotated anti-clockwise as the cross is thrown. Weight is also transferred from the rear foot to the lead foot, resulting in the rear heel turning outwards as it acts as a fulcrum for the transfer of weight. Body rotation and the sudden weight transfer is what gives the cross its power. Like the jab, a half-step forward may be added. After the cross is thrown, the hand is retracted quickly and the guard position resumed. It can be used to counterpunch a jab, aiming for the opponent's head (or a counter to a cross aimed at the body) or to set up a hook. The cross can also follow a jab, creating the classic "one-two combo." The cross is also called a "straight" or "right."
  • Hook - A semi-circular punch thrown with the lead hand to the side of the opponent's head. From the guard position, the elbow is drawn back with a horizontal fist (knuckles pointing forward) and the elbow bent. The rear hand is tucked firmly against the jaw to protect the chin. The torso and hips are rotated clockwise, propelling the fist through a tight, clockwise arc across the front of the body and connecting with the target. At the same time, the lead foot pivots clockwise, turning the left heel outwards. Upon contact, the hook's circular path ends abruptly and the lead hand is pulled quickly back into the guard position. A hook may also target the lower body (the classic Mexican hook to the liver) and this technique is sometimes called the "rip" to distinguish it from the conventional hook to the head. The hook may also be thrown with the rear hand.
  • Uppercut - A vertical, rising punch thrown with the rear hand. From the guard position, the torso shifts slightly to the right, the rear hand drops below the level of the opponent's chest and the knees are bent slightly. From this position, the rear hand is thrust upwards in a rising arc towards the opponent's chin or torso. At the same time, the knees push upwards quickly and the torso and hips rotate anti-clockwise and the rear heel turns outward, mimicking the body movement of the cross. The strategic utility of the uppercut depends on its ability to "lift" the opponent's body, setting it off-balance for successive attacks. The right uppercut followed by a left hook is a deadly combination.

Defense

  • Slip - Slipping rotates the body slightly so that an incoming punch passes harmlessly next to the head. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer sharply rotates the hips and shoulders. This turns the chin sideways and allows the punch to "slip" past.
  • Bob and Weave - Bobbing moves the head laterally and beneath an incoming punch. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer bends the legs quickly and simultaneously shifts the body either slightly right or left. Once the punch has been evaded, the boxer "weaves" back to an upright position, emerging on either the outside or inside of the opponent's still-extended arm. To move outside the opponent's extended arm is called "bobbing to the outside". To move inside the opponent's extended arm is called "bobbing to the inside".
  • Parry - Parrying uses the boxer's hands as defensive tools to deflect incoming attacks. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer delivers a sharp, lateral, open-handed blow to the opponent's wrist or forearm, redirecting the punch.
  • The Cover-Up - Covering up is the last line of defense against an incoming strike to an unprotected face or body. Generally speaking, the hands are held high to protect the head and chin and the forearms are tucked against the torso to impede body shots. When protecting the body, the boxer rotates the hips and lets incoming punches "roll" off the guard. When protecting the head, the boxer presses both fists against the front of the face with the forearms parallel and facing outwards.
  • The Clinch - Clinching is a rough form of grappling and occurs when the distance between both fighters has closed and straight punches cannot be employed. In this situation, the boxer attempts to hold or "tie up" the opponent's hands so he is unable to throw roundhouse punches or uppercuts. To perform a clinch, the boxer loops both hands around the outside of the opponent's shoulders, scooping back under the forearms to grasp the opponent's arms tightly against his own body. In this position, the opponent's arms are pinned and cannot be used to attack. Clinching is a temporary match state and is quickly dissipated by the referee.

A grappling position refers the relative positioning and holds of two combatants engaged in grappling. ... Grappling refers to the gripping, handling and controlling of an opponent without the use of striking. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

Tactics and strategy

The "Rope-a-dope" Strategy

  • A tactic famously used by Muhammad Ali in his 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" bout against George Foreman. The rope-a-dope method involves laying back on the ropes, covering up defensively as much as possible and allowing the opponent to land punches. Weathering the blows, the fighter lures the opponent into expending his energy whilst conserving his own. If successful, the attacking opponent will eventually tire, creating defensive flaws which the fighter now exploits. However, the rope-a-dope is generally discouraged in modern boxing since most opponents are not fooled by it and few boxers possess the physical toughness to withstand a prolonged, unanswered assault.

The "Peek-a-Boo" Style Muhammad Ali-Haj (Arabic: محمد على) born January 17, 1942 (as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. ... The Rumble in The Jungle was a historic boxing event that took place on October 30, 1974, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, then known as Zaire. ... George Edward Foreman (born January 10, 1949 in Marshall, Texas) is a former boxer who was twice Heavyweight Champion of the world and is considered to be one of the greatest Heavyweight boxers of all time. ...

  • A method made famous by Mike Tyson, the peek-a-boo involves heavy emphasis on "bobbing and weaving." Through elusive head movement, the boxer frustrates his opponent's attempts to land blows, and counters them with powerful punches of his own.

Stick and Move Michael Gerard Tyson, (born June 30, 1966, Brooklyn, New York, USA) is a former American professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion, and is considered by many to be one of the greatest and most feared heavyweight boxers of all time. ...

  • This strategy is very popular in amateur boxing where points are often more important than damage. It is also used extensively by many professional fighters. The "stick and move" method involves avoiding the opponent through elusive footwork. The boxer will land well-timed jabs, then back away again without giving the opponent opportunity to launch an attack of his own. In this way, a fighter can slowly wear down an adversary in relative safety.

Brawling

  • This strategy involves attacking aggressively without backing away for rest or defense. This is a risky tactic, as defense becomes difficult for both fighters when so many punches are being thrown together. Contests tend to finish quickly when one of the fighters chooses to employ this method. Often considered the strategy of unskilled fighters, this method is often used by skilled fighters after they have gained an advantage by first injuring their opponent.

Ring Control

  • A boxer can gain advantage through strategic control of the space inside the boxing ring. A fighter employing this method will position himself at the center of the ring, and allow his opponent to circle around him as they fight. He must not let his opponent push him backward too far, or he will lose control of the center. As they fight, the boxer will attempt to push his opponent backwards toward the ropes, cutting down on the amount of space available for him to maneuver as he circles the center. If possible, the boxer will trap his opponent in the corner of the ring. When this happens, the boxer will attack more aggressively, keeping his opponent trapped. The trapped fighter will not be able to move side to side for defense, and will be forced to hold his ground until he can make the attacking fighter retreat.

Bolo punch

  • Occasionally seen in amateur boxing, the bolo is an arm punch which owes its power to the shortening of a circular arc rather than to transference of body weight; it tends to have more of an effect due to the surprise of the odd angle it lands at rather than the actual power of the punch. This is more of a gimmick than a technical maneuver, this punch is not taught, it is on the same plane in boxing technicality as is the Ali shuffle.

Boxing legends

The boxing world has produced talented and world famous personalities in both the amateur and professional realms. Famous amateur boxers have usually been Olympic medallists. The Olympics have long been considered a springboard for professional entry, though some Olympic champions prefer to retain their amateur status, including two Cuban three-time gold medalists, Teófilo Stevenson and Félix Savón. Teófilo Stevenson Lawrence or Teófilo Stevenson (born March 29, 1952) is a Cuban former boxer who made history in amateur boxing, but who refused to turn professional. ... Félix Savón Fabre (September 22, 1967) is a Cuban boxer, a winner of three gold medals at the Olympics. ...


It is the professional side of boxing, however, that has produced the celebrities whose activities the public have generally followed. In the period between bare-knuckle pugilism and post-Queensberry boxing, Jem Mace was important. He carried many of the traditions of the old London Prize-Ring, but promoted the use of gloves and helped to popularize the sport in the United States and Australia. In the post-Queensberry era, the first British fighter to achieve superstar status was Bob Fitzsimmons. He weighed less than 12 stone but won world titles at Middleweight (1892), Light Heavyweight (1903), and Heavyweight (1897). He fought his last bout at the age of fifty-two.


Great Britain, the birth place of modern boxing, has produced numerous boxing legends. Among British amateur boxers, only those who won Olympic gold medals tended to achieve recognition beyond the limits of boxing enthusiasts. They included Harry Mallin (Middleweight), 1920 and 1924), Terry Spinks (Flyweight, 1956), Dick McTaggart (Lightweight, 1956) and Chris Finnegan (Middleweight, 1968).


London rules and pre-Queensberry era

The bareknuckle era produced legends like John L. Sullivan, the first world heavyweight champion. Sullivan has been called the first great American sports hero.


1900s to 1920s

It is the post-Queensberry (or Modern) era that has the greatest number of legendary boxers, such as world heavyweight champions Jim Jeffries (the first Great White Hope) and Jack Johnson (the first black world heavyweight champion), who fought each other in 1910 in the first "Fight of the Century". James Jackson Jeffries (born April 15, 1875 in Carroll, Ohio, United States – died March 3, 1953 in Burbank, California) was a world heavyweight boxing champion. ... Great White Hope, sometimes plain great white hope, may refer to several things: It originally referred to James J. Jeffries (1875-1953), a white boxer who came out of retirement in an attempt to dislodge the first black world boxing heavyweight champion, Jack Johnson. ... John Arthur Johnson (March 31, 1878 – June 10, 1946), better known as Jack Johnson and nicknamed the Galveston Giant, was an American boxer and arguably the best heavyweight of his generation. ...


Successful fighters have provoked fierce local pride. The best example was Jimmy Wilde, a Welsh flyweight who won the world Flyweight Championship in 1916 and held it until 1923. He once had a sequence of eighty-eight fights without defeat. Between 1911 and 1923, he won seventy-five of his fights by a knockout. He was idolized in Wales, where they commonly believed him to be the best boxer, pound-for-pound, that ever lived. He was described as the "Mighty Atom" and "the ghost with a hammer in his hand".


1920s to 1940s

Jack Dempsey was one of the most important athletes of roaring twenties and became the World heavyweight champion after defeating Jess Willard. Joe Louis dominated the heavyweight scene for 12 years before retiring as world champion in 1949. Shortly before the beginning of WW2, the battles between Louis and Max Schmeling were seen as battles between America and Nazi Germany. Louis is considered by many one of the best boxers of the Depression and possibly of all time. Another famous boxer, James Braddock (better known as the Cinderella Man) inspired many with his rags to riches story. He eventually fought his way to the heavyweight title and won against Max Baer who had 10 to 1 odds in his favor. Braddock finally lost his title to Joe Louis but made financial arrangements with him to receive 10% of the profits from the rest of Louis's fights. This article is about the boxer named Jack Dempsey. ... Jess Willard, born December 29, 1881 in St. ... Joseph Louis Barrow (1914-1981), better known in the boxing world as Joe Louis and nicknamed The Brown Bomber, was a native of Lexington, Alabama who became World Heavyweight Champion. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 8 million military deaths {{{notes}}} World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a military conflict that took place between 1939 and 1945. ... Maximillian Adolph Otto Siegfried Schmeling (September 28, 1905 – February 2, 2005) was a German boxer whose two fights with Joe Louis transcended boxing and became worldwide social events which will forever be linked to the rivalry between Americans and Germans before World War II. // Biography Early years and Jack Sharkey... Motto: Official (Latin): E pluribus unum (1789 to 1956) (Translated: Out of Many, One) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government  â€¢ President  â€¢ Vice President Federal... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... James Walter Braddock (June 7, 1906 – November 29, 1974) was a champion boxer. ... Cinderella Man is a 2005 American drama film titled after the nickname and inspired by the real life story of former Heavyweight boxing champion, James J. Braddock. ... Maximillian Adelbert Baer (February 11, 1909 – November 21, 1959) was a famous American boxer of the 1930s, onetime Heavyweight Champion of the World, and actor. ... Joseph Louis Barrow (1914-1981), better known in the boxing world as Joe Louis and nicknamed The Brown Bomber, was a native of Lexington, Alabama who became World Heavyweight Champion. ...


Britain has had other popular world champions. In the 1930s, Jackie Berg won the light welterweight title. In the 1940s, Freddie Mills won the light heavyweight title. In the 1950s and 1960s, Randy Turpin and Terry Downes won middleweight titles. and in the 1970s, John Conteh and John Stracey won the light heavyweight and welterweight titles respectively. With so many title-awarding bodies in the 1980s and 1990s, the public became unsure about who actually was the champion. Nevertheless, the successes of Nigel Benn, Naseem Hamed, Chris Eubank, Joe Calzaghe, and Ricky Hatton continued to bring extensive media coverage to boxing and sustained a considerable public following. Nigel Benn (born January 22, 1964) is a British citizen who was a world champion boxer. ... Naseem Hamed (born Feburary 12 1974, in Sheffield, United Kingdom) is a British boxer. ... Chris Eubank (August 8, 1966 - ), is a former boxer and a British celebrity. ... Joe Calzaghe is a British boxer of half Italian and half Welsh descent, based in Wales. ... IBF, WBU & WBA Champion, Ricky Hatton Ricky The Hitman Hatton, (born October 6, 1978), is a professional boxer from the Hattersley council estate in Hyde, Tameside, Greater Manchester England and is the current WBU, WBA and IBF light-welterweight champion, in the IBFs case the title being his first...


The Scots had a similar pride in Benny Lynch, a flyweight from Glasgow, who held the world flyweight title in 1935 and again in 1937. Over the years, Scots have had great success at this weight; Jackie Paterson won the title in 1943 and Walter McGowan in 1966. Scots have also had success in the lightweight division. Ken Buchanan won the title in 1971 and Jim Watt in 1980.


England, too, had its successes at the lighter weights. Among the flyweights, Jackie Brown won the title in 1932, Peter Kane in 1938 and Terry Allen.


1940s to 1960s

The 1950s had a boxer who would go down in history as the only undefeated world heavyweight champion: Rocky Marciano. The title of the movie Rocky was inspired by this legend. This era also had Sugar Ray Robinson, who most experts rate as the best pound-for-pound boxer of all time. Robinson held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951, and the world middleweight title a record five times from 1951 to 1960. Another great of this period was Archie Moore, who held the world light heavyweight title for ten years and scored more knockout victories than any other boxer in history. // Events and trends This map shows two essential global spheres during the Cold War in 1959. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Rocky (1976) is a motion picture written by and starring Sylvester Stallone as underdog boxer Rocky Balboa. ... Sugar Ray Robinson. ... Archie Moore (December 13, 1913 _ December 9, 1998) was a light heavyweight world boxing champion who set many records in boxing. ...


In Northern Ireland, Rinty Monahan held the flyweight title from 1947 to 1950, and Barry McGuigan won the W.B.A. featherweight title in 1985.


1960s to 1980s

The decades of the 1960s & 1970s are best remembered by the dominance of a boxer once named Cassius Clay, who said he would "shock the world." He joined the Nation of Islam, changed his name to Muhammad Ali, and declared himself against war. Many sociologists, observers, and critics now view Ali as a reflection of the changing society of that time. Ali had tough opponents like Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, and George Foreman, but proved himself to be the best heavyweight of his era, if not of all time. Larry Holmes (a former sparring partner of Ali) and the electric promoter Don King both gained prominence during this time. The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and socio-political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930 with a declared aim of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social and economic condition of the black man and woman of America and the world. ... Muhammad Ali-Haj (Arabic: محمد على) born January 17, 1942 (as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. ... Charles Sonny Liston (May 8, 1932 – December 30, 1970), was a boxer who became world Heavyweight champion, and whose life and personality were always obscure. ... For the Major League Baseball player and manager, see Joe Frazier (baseball) Joseph William Frazier nicknamed Smokin Joe (born in Beaufort, South Carolina on January 12, 1944), better known as Joe Frazier, is a world famous former boxer and world Heavyweight champion. ... Kenneth Howard Norton was a heavyweight boxer from Jacksonville, Illinois. ... George Edward Foreman (born January 10, 1949 in Marshall, Texas) is a former boxer who was twice Heavyweight Champion of the world and is considered to be one of the greatest Heavyweight boxers of all time. ... Larry Holmes is a former world heavyweight boxing champion considered one of the fiercest fighters in the history of heavyweight boxing. ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ...


After the retirement of Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard became the biggest star in the sport. In the late 1970s and the 1980s, Leonard won world titles in five different weight divisions, and was the first boxer to make 100 million dollars during his career. Sugar Ray Leonard (born May 17, 1956 in Wilmington, North Carolina) is a former American boxer. ...


1980s to present

If there was ever a bad boy of boxing, the title surely would go to a man who burst into professional boxing like a hurricane; Mike Tyson. Nicknamed "Iron Mike" because of his devastating punching power, Tyson took the world by storm. The most dominant figure on the heavyweight division in the mid-to-late 80s, he ran through his opponents like a wrecking ball, becoming the first undisputed champion in a decade. Both in and out of the ring, he was always in the news. He was jailed multiple times, barred from boxing for a year after biting a chunk out of Evander Holyfield's ear, and going into bankruptcy. When he fought his last title fight, against Lennox Lewis in 2002, he was beaten thoroughly and knocked out. Lewis, a Canadian trained British born heavyweight titleholder, retired as champion. This article is about weather phenomena. ... Michael Gerard Tyson, (born June 30, 1966, Brooklyn, New York, USA) is a former American professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion, and is considered by many to be one of the greatest and most feared heavyweight boxers of all time. ... Evander Holyfield (born October 19, 1962) is a professional boxer from The United States, who has earned millions of dollars. ... Notice of closure stuck on the door of a computer store the day after its parent company, Granville Technology Group Ltd, declared bankruptcy (strictly, administration - see text) in the UK. Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay their creditors. ... Lennox Claudius Lewis (born 2 September 1965 in West Ham, London, England) is an English former boxer, who represented Canada in the Olympics and is the former undisputed heavyweight champion. ...


Roy Jones, Jr. was the most dominant fighter of the 1990s and early 2000s. He won world titles in four different weight divisions, from middleweight to heavyweight. When he defeated John Ruiz to win the WBA heavyweight title, he was the first former middleweight champion to win a heavyweight title since Bob Fitzsimmons accomplished the feat over one hundred years earlier. Roy Jones Jr. ... John Ruiz John “The Quiet Man” Ruiz (born January 4, 1972), a native of Isabela, Puerto Rico who lives in Massachusetts, is the first Hispanic/Latino world heavyweight champion in professional boxing history. ... World Boxing Association (WBA) is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title, at the professional level. ... Robert James Bob Fitzsimmons (May 26, 1863 - October 22, 1917) was a Cornish native and moved to New Zealand in his childhood. ...


Oscar De La Hoya was possibly the most popular American boxer of his era. He won titles from junior lightweight to middleweight. With good looks and charisma, along with plenty of boxing talent, he became the richest non-heavyweight in the history of boxing. Oscar De La Hoya (born February 4, 1973) — nicknamed the Golden Boy — is a Mexican-American boxer who won a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and between 1997 and 1999, was regarded as the best pound for pound fighter in the world. ...


Julio Cesar Chavez was the most dominant fighter of this era. He defeated many big name fighters like: Roger Mayweather, Melderick Taylor, and Hector Camacho. However, his illustrious streak was broken by Frankie Randall. After, the Randall fight the once invincible Chavez was see as vulnerable. Subsequently, he lost to De La Hoya and Kostya Tszyu.



Britain had to wait 100 years to have its first heavyweight champion since Bob Fitzsimmons lost his title in 1899. Lennox Lewis became undisputed champion in 1999, having first gained the W.B.C. title in 1993. Frank Bruno held the W.B.C. world heavyweight title from 1995 and 1996, after beating the man who beat Lewis, Oliver McCall. He lost it to Mike Tyson in a rematch of their 1989 title bout. Lennox Claudius Lewis (born 2 September 1965 in West Ham, London, England) is an English former boxer, who represented Canada in the Olympics and is the former undisputed heavyweight champion. ...


Sue Atkins (alias Sue Catkins) helped to pioneer women's boxing in Britain in the 1980s, but without any official recognition. The first British woman to be issued with a license was Jane Couch from Fleetwood, who won the Women's International Boxing Federation (W.I.B.F.) welterweight title in 1996.


Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the current dominant figure in boxing. Floyd Mayweather Jr. ...


International Boxing Hall of Fame

For many years, the sport of boxing did not have a hall of fame. The inspiration for the boxing hall of fame evolved from a tribute the town of Canastota, New York held for two local heroes in 1982. The tribute was for Carmen Basilio, who was world welterweight and middleweight champion in the 1950s, and his nephew, Billy Backus, who was world welterweight champion in the early 1970s. The people of Canastota raised money for the tribute, which was so success that some started to look into the idea of creating the sport's first hall of fame and museum. The International Boxing Hall of Fame opened in Canastota in 1989. In 1990, the first group of legends were inducted, which included Jack Johnson, Benny Leonard, Jack Dempsey, Henry Armstrong, Sugar Ray Robinson, Archie Moore, and Muhammad Ali. The Hall of Fame holds it's induction ceremony every June as part of a four day event. Canastota is a village located inside the Town of Lenox in Madison County, New York. ... Carmine Basilio (born April 2, 1927) in Canastota, New York, better known in the boxing world as Carmen Basilio, is a former boxer of Italian-American origin. ... Billy Backus (born March 5, 1943) is a former world boxing champion whose coronation was considered by some to be as surprising as Team USAs ice hockey gold medal coronation at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games or James Buster Douglass knockout victory over Mike Tyson. ... The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta. ... John Arthur Johnson (March 31, 1878 – June 10, 1946), better known as Jack Johnson and nicknamed the Galveston Giant, was an American boxer and arguably the best heavyweight of his generation. ... Benny Leonard (b. ... This article is about the boxer named Jack Dempsey. ... Henry Jackson Jr. ... Sugar Ray Robinson. ... Archie Moore (December 13, 1913 _ December 9, 1998) was a light heavyweight world boxing champion who set many records in boxing. ... Muhammad Ali-Haj (Arabic: محمد على) born January 17, 1942 (as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. ...


List of articles on boxing history

For more information on the timeline of boxing history see

Professional boxing in the 1920s was basically a sport that was practiced only in the United States, although several world champions went abroad for exhibition fights. ... Boxing in the 1930s was affected by one of the biggest economic struggles in the history of the United States: The depression era. ... Boxing in the 1940s in many ways reflected worldwide situations that affected other endeavors as well. ... During the 1950s, a couple of relatively new developments changed the world: World War II had only been over for five years when the decade of the 50s began, and television was beginning to make a major impact internationally. ... During the 1960s, boxing, like mostly everything else around the world, went through changing times. ... During the 1970s, boxing was characterized by dominating champions and history making rivalries. ... Boxing in the 1980s was filled with important fights, events and personalities that shaped the sport. ...

Medical concerns

In 1983, The Journal of the American Medical Association called for a ban on boxing. The editor, Dr. George Lundberg, called boxing an "obscenity" that "should not be sanctioned by any civilized society." Since the AMA called for abolition of boxing, the British, Canadian, Australian and World Medical Association have also called for the sport's abolition, as have the American Neurological Association and the American Academy of Neurology. The American Medical Association (AMA) is the largest association of medical doctors in the United States. ...


Many who disagree with the AMA point out that boxing is far from being the most dangerous of sports. To put the risks in perspective, here are some US figures on sports fatalities: Motto: Official (Latin): E pluribus unum (1789 to 1956) (Translated: Out of Many, One) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government  â€¢ President  â€¢ Vice President Federal...


Fatality rates per 100,000 participants

  1. Horse racing: 128
  2. Sky diving: 123
  3. Hang gliding: 56
  4. Mountaineering: 51
  5. Scuba diving: 11
  6. Motorcycle racing: 7
  7. College football: 3
  8. Boxing: 1.3

(This table was compiled by R.J. McCunney and P.K. Russo, authors of an article entitled Brain Injuries in Boxing, which was published in 1984.)


In response to such statistics, Lundberg has said, "It's not the deaths but the chronic brain damage that is so frequent." the AMA says about three out of four boxers who have twenty or more professional fights show some brain deterioration.


Many who support the ban proposal consider its main reason is not the fact that boxing is a dangerous sport, but the fact that the goal of the sport is to cause injury to the opponent. Dr. Bill O'Neill, boxing spokesman for the British Medical Association, has said in support of the BMA's proposed ban on boxing, "It is the only sport where the intention is to inflict serious injury on your opponent, and we feel that we must have a total ban on boxing."[1] The logo of the association. ...


Impact of boxing on the English language

Numerous metaphors common to everyday speech derive from the sport of boxing. Some of these include:

Metaphor Definition
he was rocked by that one a fighter was hit by a punch with enough force to be dazed
not up to scratch subpar, not able to do the task at hand (in the old days of boxing, boxers started the round by stepping over a scratch made in the ring, but if a boxer could not do this to keep the round going, he was said to be "not up to scratch")
saved by the bell rescued from defeat by dint of time running out, an unexpected turn of events, etc.
on (or against) the ropes on the verge of being defeated
throw in the towel to quit, give up (traditionally, a boxers manager or trainer will throw a towel into the ring if he feels that his fighter cannot win and is endangering himself.
come out swinging to throw oneself into an activity or competition
in one's corner on someone's side, to help or cheer him on
down for the count knocked out, defeated
sucker punch hitting an opponent who is off his guard, unfairly taking advantage of a vulnerability
hitting below the belt a grossly unfair attack (in everyday life, usually of a verbal nature)
punch drunk dazed or incoherent (originally, from being repeatedly struck, can refer to dazes generally)
pull one's punches to hold back, withhold full force or attack
in the arena to be participating, engaged
keep your guard up to remain alert, on the defensive
punch above one's weight to compete against a more powerful opponent; to perform better than expected

Boxing in popular culture

Joseph Frank Keaton Jr. ... The Champ is a 1931 movie that was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. ... Edward G. Robinson (December 12, 1893 – January 26, 1973) was a American actor of stage and film. ... Golden Boy is the title of a play by Clifford Odets, first staged in 1937 by the Group Theatre. ... Clifford Odets photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1937 Clifford Odets (July 18, 1906 - August 18, 1963) was an American socialist playwright, screenwriter, and social protester. ... Golden Boy is the title of a play by Clifford Odets, first staged in 1937 by the Group Theatre. ... William Holden William Holden (1918-1981), was an Oscar winning American film actor. ... Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American film and television actress. ... Errol Flynn as Robin Hood, one of his most famous roles Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (June 20, 1909 – October 14, 1959) was an Australian - American film actor, most famous for his romantic swashbuckler roles. ... There are a number of things named Body and Soul: Body and Soul is the title of a popular song written in 1930 by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton and John Green. ... John Garfield John Garfield (born March 4, 1913 in New York City; died May 21, 1952 in New York City) was an American actor. ... Champion is a 1949 American film noir drama based on a short story by Ring Lardner. ... Kirk Douglas in Champion Kirk Douglas (born December 9, 1916) is an American actor and film producer known for his oft-imitated and -parodied gravel-ridden voice and his recurring roles as the kinds of characters Douglas himself once described as sons of bitches. He is also father to Hollywood... The Set-Up The Set-Up (1949) is an example of film noir. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... Day of the Fight is a 1951 short subject documentary focusing on prize fighter Walter Cartier during the height of his career. ... Stanley Kubrick (July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was a Jewish American film director and producer who is widely considered to have been one of the most innovative, talented, and influential filmmakers of the late 20th century. ... On the Waterfront is an American 1954 film about mob violence and corruption among longshoremen, and became a standard of its kind. ... Marlon Brando, Jr. ... The Harder They Fall is a 1956 film noir/drama starring Humphrey Bogart in his last movie role. ... Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (December 25, 1899 - January 14, 1957) was an iconic American actor who retains legendary status decades after his death. ... Somebody Up There Likes Me is a 1956 motion picture based on the life of middleweight boxing legend Rocky Graziano. ... Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke Paul Leonard Newman (born January 26, 1925) is an Oscar winning American actor and film director. ... Summary Originally a 1956 teleplay by Rod Serling(Twilight Zone creator) written for the live television show Playhouse 90, Requiem for a Heavyweight was turned into a movie with Anthony Quinn in the role originated by Jack Palance. ... Jack Palance (born Vladimir Palahniuk) (born February 18, 1919) is an American actor. ... Edwin Rodman Rod Serling (December 25, 1924 – June 28, 1975) was a screenwriter, most famous for his science fiction TV series, The Twilight Zone. ... Summary Originally a 1956 teleplay by Rod Serling(Twilight Zone creator) written for the live television show Playhouse 90, Requiem for a Heavyweight was turned into a movie with Anthony Quinn in the role originated by Jack Palance. ... Anthony Quinn This article is about the Anthony Quinn born in 1915. ... Jackie Gleason and Audrey Meadows in a staged publicity shot for The Honeymooners. ... Actor Mickey Rooney speaks at the Pentagon in 2000 during a ceremony honoring the USO. Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule, Jr. ... Kid Galahad is a 1962 musical film starring Elvis Presley as a boxer. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known as The King of Rock n Roll, was an American singer, song producer and actor. ... Golden Boy is the title of a play by Clifford Odets, first staged in 1937 by the Group Theatre. ... The Great White Hope is a 1970 film which tells the fictionalized life story of boxing champion Jack Johnson (here called Jack Jefferson). ... James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is a well-known American actor who was born in Arkabutla, Tate County, Mississippi, the son of Robert Earl Jones, and raised in Dublin, Michigan, by his maternal grandparents. ... Jane Alexander (born October 28, 1939) is an American actress. ... Fat City is: The former name of the musical band Starland Vocal Band Fat City - a 1972 motion picture Fat City Records is an independent record label Fat City (book) is an book by Leonard Gardner This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise... Stacy Keach (born June 2, 1941) is an American actor and narrator. ... Jeff as The Dude in The Big Lebowski. ... Rocky (1976) is a motion picture written by and starring Sylvester Stallone as underdog boxer Rocky Balboa. ... Sylvester Stallone Sylvester Enzio Stallone (born July 6, 1946 in New York City) is an American film actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. ... The Main Event (1979 film) Comedy starring Barbara Streisand and Ryan ONeal, directed by Howard Zieff. ... Barbra Streisand - Guilty Pleasures. ... Patrick Ryan ONeal (born April 20, 1941) is an American actor. ... The Champ is a 1931 movie that was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. ... Jon Voight (born Jonathan Voight on December 29, 1938 in Yonkers, New York) is an American actor born to a Czech father and an English American mother. ... Faye Dunaway (1968) Faye Dunaway (born Dorothy Faye Dunaway on January 14, 1941 in Bascom, Florida) is an Academy Award winning actress. ... Rick Schroder, born Richard Schroder on April 13, 1970 on Staten Island in New York City, (formerly known as Ricky Schroder when he was a child actor on TV) is an American actor who began his career as a child actor. ... Knotts as Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show Jesse Donald Don Knotts (born July 21, 1924) is an American actor. ... Tim Conway (born December 15, 1933, Willoughby, Ohio) is an American comedic actor. ... Raging Bull is a 1980 film directed by Martin Scorsese, and written by Paul Schrader, and Mardik Martin. ... Robert De Niro at the Berlin International Film Festival, 1998 Robert De Niro, Jr. ... Joe Pesci Walter Joseph Pesci (born February 9, 1943), better known as Joe Pesci, is an Italian-American actor who is often typecast as a violent mobster. ... Spike of Bensonhurst was a 1988 movie directed by Paul Morrisey and starring Sasha Mitchell. ... The 1996 movie The Great White Hype stars Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Berg, Damon Wayans, Jeff Goldblum, Jon Lovitz, and Cheech Marin. ... Categories: 1948 births | Cinema actors | American actors | African-American actors | Best Supporting Actor Oscar Nominee | Actor stubs ... Jeff Goldblum Goldblum, in a scene with Kim Thomson from the 1989 film The Tall Guy. ... When We Were Kings is a 1996 documentary film by Leon Gast about the famous Rumble in the Jungle heavyweight championship match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman held in Zaire on October 30, 1974 and the lead-up to the fight. ... Muhammad Ali-Haj (Arabic: محمد على) born January 17, 1942 (as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. ... George Edward Foreman (born January 10, 1949 in Marshall, Texas) is a former boxer who was twice Heavyweight Champion of the world and is considered to be one of the greatest Heavyweight boxers of all time. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Bob Hoskins Robert William Bob Hoskins (born October 26, 1942) is a British actor best known for playing Cockney rough diamonds and gangsters, and for family films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988, Eddie Valiant). ... Ving Rhames, seen here as the character of Marsellus Wallace from the film Pulp Fiction. ... The Hurricane, a 1999 film starring Denzel Washington, purports to be the true story of boxer Rubin Hurricane Carter, whose conviction for triple murder was overturned after he had spent almost 20 years in prison. ... Denzel Washington Denzel Washington (born December 28, 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York) is an American Academy Award-winning actor. ... Rubin Hurricane Carter (born May 6, 1937), middleweight boxer from 1961–1966, is better known for his controversial convictions (1967, 1976) for three June 1966 murders in Paterson, New Jersey, and his subsequent release from prison in 1985. ... Billy Elliot film poster Billy Elliot is a 2000 movie written by Lee Hall and directed by Stephen Daldry. ... Ken Buchanan (born June 28, 1945) is a former world boxing champion. ... Girlfight is also a 2005 song by rapper Brooke Valentine. ... Ali is a 2001 biographical film which tells the story of boxer Muhammad Ali. ... Will Smith in the 2005 romantic comedy Hitch. ... Champion is a 2002 South Korean film about Duk Koo Kim, a South Korean boxer who was killed in a highly publicized bout against Ray Mancini in 1982. ... Ray Mancini (born March 4, 1961) was an American boxer from Youngstown, Ohio, who was given the nickname Boom Boom because of his whirlwind fighting style. ... John Leguizamo (born July 22, 1964 in Bogotá, Colombia), is a Colombian-American comedian, actor and producer of partial Puerto Rican extraction currently working in the Hollywood film industry. ... Million Dollar Baby is a 2004 dramatic film directed by Clint Eastwood. ... Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood, Jr. ... Promotional poster for Against the Ropes Against the Ropes is a 2004 drama movie. ... Jackie Kallen (born c. ... Black Cloud is a 2004 movie directed and written by Rick Schroder. ... Rick Schroder (born Richard Schroder on April 13, 1970 on Staten Island, New York) (also known as Ricky Schroder) is an American actor who began his career as a child actor. ... The Calcium Kid is a British comedy film which was released in 2004. ... Kenneth Lauren Burns (born July 29, 1953) is an American documentary filmmaker. ... Cinderella Man is a 2005 American drama film titled after the nickname and inspired by the real life story of former Heavyweight boxing champion, James J. Braddock. ... James Walter Braddock (June 7, 1906–November 29, 1974) was a champion boxer. ... Russell Crowe Russell Ira Crowe (born April 7, 1964) is an Oscar-winning New Zealand film actor. ... The Contender is a reality television show based on the sport of boxing, but with an element of the (middleweight) competitors lives and relationships with each other within the shows living quarters, based in Pasadena, California. ... Fighting Spirit, known in Japan as Hajime no Ippo (はじめの一歩) is a sports anime and manga series created by Jyoji George Morikawa (森川ジョージ) which was serialized by Kodansha in Shonen Weekly (週刊少年マガジン). ... A page from the Marmalade Boy manga, volume 1 (Japanese version) Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for comics and/or cartoons (not necessarily animated, this includes print cartoons); outside of Japan, it usually refers specifically to Japanese comics. ... Anime (アニメ) is a style of cartoon animation originating in Japan. ... Activision Boxing was a video game released by Activision in 1982. ... The starting match in Mike Tysons Punch-Out, against Glass Joe. ... Nintendo (Japanese: 任天堂, ニンテンドー Nintendō; NASDAQ: NTDOY, TYO: 7974 ) is an international company originally founded in Japan on November 6, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi to produce handmade hanafuda cards, for use in a Japanese playing card game of the same name. ... The European SNES design is identical to the Super Famicom. ... Title Screen Super Punch-Out!! (1994) is a cartoony boxing video game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System designed, developed, and published by Nintendo. ... EA Sports is a brand name used by Electronic Arts since 1993 to distribute games based on sports. ... Knockout Kings is a boxing game that was produced by EA Sports for the PlayStation in 1998. ...

See also

Boxing training is a training method that has been often called by medical doctors, boxing trainers and writers alike, one of the most spartan forms of sports training. ... Mens classifications according to WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO: Weight classes for boxing at the 2004 Summer Olympics: See also Boxing Categories: Boxing | Mass ... The International Boxing Organization, typically referred to by its call letters IBO, is a boxing sanctioning body which awards world championship belts in all weight classes. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This is a list of notable female boxers. ... Current Titleholders in Boxing Category: ... The WIBF (Womens International Boxing Federation) is, along with the WIBA, IWBF and others, one of the more recognized world championship fight sanctioning organizations in Womens boxing. ... World Boxing Association (WBA) is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title, at the professional level. ... The World Boxing Organization (WBO) is one of the sanctioning organizations currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. ...

Resources

References

  1. ^  "Accidents Take Lives of Young Alumni" (July/August 2005). Illinois Alumni, 18(1), 47.

A Century of Boxing Greats:Inside the Ring with the Hundred Best Boxers is a book about boxing, written by Patrick Myler and published in England in 1997 by Robson Books. ... The University of Illinois is the set of three public universities in Illinois. ...

External links

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Look up boxing in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

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AlterNet: Rights and Liberties: Prize Fighter (2675 words)
Even though she is the first Iranian to be awarded the Nobel, the government downplayed her achievement, with President Mohammad Khatami saying that the prize would have been more significant if she had been awarded it for scientific or literary achievements.
The state-run television did not broadcast her acceptance speech last December because, by not wearing a headscarf, she was in violation of the official dress code for women.
The awarding of this prize to me is a recognition by the international community of the cause of Islamic feminism.
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