A brief history of boxing

Hitting a target with one or more of their limbs was one of the first ways humans expressed aggression. Before the invention of tools, punches and kicks were the only weapons. Of course, the invention of weapons such as daggers, spears and bows made hunting easier. However, the need for hand-to-hand combat remained. Thus was born the first combat sports.

Wrestling or grappling is often considered the first combat sport. Records dating back to the earliest human civilizations mention wrestling. And many historians and archaeologists believe the sport may go back even further, to prehistoric times. Similarly, an impressive sport like boxing is also mentioned as one of the earliest human societies.

The fact that boxing and wrestling are the oldest combat sports makes sense. After all, grappling and striking are his two fundamentals in martial arts, and the two sports are the epitome of grappling (wrestling) and striking (boxing).

Throughout history, boxing has far surpassed wrestling in popularity. Today the sport dominates the martial arts scene as the most popular combat sport.Not only is it the most watched, it is also the most practiced and the most wagered. With the advent of his bookmaker online, betting on boxing has never been easier. Enthusiasts can deposit the required amount for their next match by simply clicking a few links. All you need is an electronic device with internet access.

The best part is that many of these sportsbooks also function as online casinos. All the familiar games are provided.

But we are here to discuss the history of the sport and how it became popular on these websites.

ancient history

As we said, historians believe that boxing as a sport dates back to prehistoric times. . In fact, the earliest records of boxing as a sport date back to more than 3000 BC. 3 era reliefs were found.^rd Millennium BC, Iraq. The artwork depicts many things, among them a boxing match between his two men.

The next known record comes to us some 1000 years later. This is an ancient Egyptian relief, depicting both athletes and spectators, clearly depicting a boxing match. In both of these reliefs, the fighters depicted are barehanded. This depiction creates the misconception that gloved boxing is relatively new. However, an ancient Minoan painting depicts him two boys participating in a boxing match. They are both gloves. The painting dates from the 1600s BC, meaning that boxing with gloves predates him more than 3500 years ago.

There is also much evidence that boxing was a big part of ancient Indian society. Musti Yudha is the equivalent of Mala Yudha, India’s national wrestling style. Musti Yudha, literally translated to “boxing”, refers to a particular type of boxing practiced in India today. However, throughout the country’s history the phrase has been used to refer to any form of boxing.

Finally, our ancient quest leads us to the pinnacle of athletic competition, the Olympic Games. The sport gained great popularity and became an official part of the ancient Olympic Games. The Romans then revived the sport, and boxing soon became one of the Republic and Empire’s favorite spectator sports.

subsequent iterations

The division of the Roman Empire brought political and economic turmoil to Europe. The chaos that began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire. Technology and progress were lost, and the Western world plunged into what became known as the “Dark Ages.” Although modern historians have criticized this particular nomenclature, the fact remains that the fall of Rome led to the decline of Western European lifestyles. , is lost.

But while Western Europe was retreating, Eastern Europe was thriving. So it’s no surprise that the next mention of boxing comes from Russia. Records of kulachniy boys (translated as fist fights or fist fights) can be traced back to the year 13^th century. That said, many historians believe the practice goes back a long time. Unfortunately, there is no written record to confirm this fact. Around this time, Russian feudal lords organized competitions, recruiting the best warriors and even betting on sponsored combatants. In many ways these were the first “modern” boxing matches.

17:00^th In the 19th century, boxing resurfaced in England. London was the hub for bare knuckle boxing competitions. Around this time, the word “boxing” first attracted attention. This was also the time when boxing championships emerged. Several people competed for the number one spot, and a tournament known as “Champions” was held. The first English boxing his champion we have of record is a man named James Figg who won the title in 1719.

first rule

When it came to bare knuckle boxing, or fistfighting as it is called today, there were no written rules to govern the sport. This meant that boxing matches often had no rules or very simple rules established by the venue. In that sense, the history of boxing is very similar to that of MMA, whose official rules were established in the 20th century.^th century.

Luckily for boxers, the official rules for fighting were written long ago. The first rules were introduced in his 1743, written by retired boxer and champion Jack Broughton. The so-called Broughton his rule was the first to introduce major boxing concepts such as “you can’t hit below the belt” and “you can’t hit an opponent who is down”. They also introduced the concept of knockout. According to Broughton, fighters were not allowed to attack downed opponents. Rather, if a fallen player does not get up within 30 seconds of him, the match ends and the last player standing wins.

The Broughton Rules were a major inspiration for the Marquess of Queensbury Rules. The Marquess of Queensbury’s Rules governing light, middle and heavyweight boxers, written by John Chambers, a well-known athlete and sportsman of the time. Rings, and duration of rounds. The publication of the rules was sponsored by the Marquess of Queensbury and her title is associated with the sport to this day.

The Marquess of Queensbury’s rule was an essential turning point in the sport. Their publication made boxing much safer than it used to be and was a great inspiration for the new rules to come years later.

Popularity of boxing in 19 years^th The century appeared to be on an upward trajectory. The prize fight was getting a lot of attention from all walks of society. But that all came to a halt when a British legal battle resulted in a bare knuckle fight labeled “assault”, even though both participants were consenting adults.

This decision resulted in bare knuckle boxing being banned in the UK and later in the US. Prizefighting is no longer organized as a legal sport, but now takes place underground. Nevada was the only state in America that did not ban sports. In fact, one of the earliest recorded cases of film censorship occurred in the late 19th century.^th A century when many states banned the screening of prize fight footage filmed in Nevada.

Meanwhile, boxing under the Queensbury Rules was just beginning to thrive. In 1892, John L. Sullivan was elected the first ever champion by regulation. With his help, and the passion and charisma of many promoters, the sport gained incredible popularity, especially during the first decades of his 20s.^th century.

boxing in the twenties^th century

The 20^th The century was something of a turning point for boxing: before the 1900s, boxers struggled to break into the mainstream or achieve any legitimacy. However, 20^th The century brought a new love and passion for sport. In the early days, many talented boxers rose to the top of the crop. Famous names from this era are James J. Braddock, Max Baer, ​​Jack Kid Berg, Christopher Battalino and many others worth remembering.

The popularity of these boxers caused a huge boom in interest in the sport.After World War II, boxing became more popular than ever. It was during the last few decades that some of the greatest boxers of all time came onto the scene.

The standout star of this era is, of course, Cassius Clay, popularly known to the world as Muhammad Ali. Considered one of the greatest boxers of all time, Ali’s nickname was simply “The Greatest”. Muhammad Ali has participated in quite a few of the most infamous and most popular fights of all time. Among them are Rumble in the Jungle with George Foreman, The Fighting Trilogy with Joe Frazier, which includes Fight of the Century, and Manila’s Thriller.

Another name from the era whose influence cannot be taken lightly is “Sugar” Ray Robinson, often regarded as the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of all time. George Foreman, who defeated Muhammad Ali to retain the title of heavyweight champion twice and win the Olympic gold medal.

The popularity of boxing in the 60’s and 70’s created one of the most famous films in cinema history. 1976, John G. Avilsen’s Rocky It hit theaters and was an incredible success.the importance of Rocky Cannot be underestimated. Not only did it have a huge impact on movies, but it also led to the sport becoming more popular and inspired people around the world to try it for themselves.

boxing today

Boxing remains the most popular martial art today. late twenties^th In the 19th century, sports began to gain international recognition. Although largely due to the rise of superstars such as Ali, Tyson, Frazier, Holyfield and his boxers, Rocky movie franchise. Today, his boxing gyms are filled with young talent, especially in the US, UK, Ireland, Mexico and many countries in Eastern Europe, Africa and South America. The sport has also become popular in East Asian countries such as China and Japan.

The 21^st The century has also given us some great boxers.^th great man of the century. People like Manny Pacquiao, Tyson Fury, Floyd Mayweather, Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez have maintained their passion for boxing with their impressive talent and strength.

final thoughts

The history of boxing is long and fascinating. Striking is he one of the oldest and simplest forms of combat. And out of this simplicity came a sport that has truly captured the heart and soul of humanity for most of its history. Boxing has endured the collapse of civilization, legal problems, changing rules, and controversy, and has maintained its status as the favorite martial art of many people around the world.

The popularity of mixed martial arts has quickly permeated boxing, but the sport remains the number one combat sport in the world. Young talent emerges each year from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Mexico, and pay-per-view boxing matches are broadcast on television. It remains one of the highest paid PPV events.