In Times of Ancient Greece

In Times of Ancient Greece, Boxing Was A Violent Spectacle

Boxing is one of the oldest known sports. Stone carvings indicate that the Sumerians, who lived in what is now Iraq, boxed at least 5,000 years ago. The sport probably spread from the Sumerians to peoples throughout the ancient world. In Times of Ancient Greece boxing was a brutal spectacle. Two young men would sit on flat stones, face to face, with their fists wrapped in thongs (strips of leather). At a signal, they began to hit each other until one of them fell to the ground unconscious. The other man then continued to beat his opponent until he died. According to legend, the thongs were later fitted with metal spikes so that the fights ended more quickly. The Romans also staged brutal boxing matches. On their hands and forearms, the fighters wore cestuses, which consisted of leather straps plated with metal. In time, the sport became so savage that the Romans forbade the use of cestuses in the last hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Boxing almost disappeared as a sport until the late 1600's, when it reappeared in England. However, it remained a cruel sport, and many fighters were crippled, blinded, or even killed while fighting.

Joe Figg Became Successful By Punching Instead of Wrestling

In the early 1700's, James Figg, one of England's most famous athletes, introduced modern boxing which signified the beginning of modern boxing. In Figg's day, boxing involved much wrestling. Figg became successful by punching instead of wrestling. In 1719, he opened a boxing school in London and began to teach his style of bare-knuckle gloveless fighting. Figg's boxing rules were still very brutal. For example, one rule required that boxers continue to fight without rest periods until one man could not go on. In 1743, Jack Broughton, a well known British boxer, introduced new rules. Under Broughton's rules, a fight ended when one man was knocked down and could not get up within 30 seconds. However, bouts were still unremitting. Broughton's rules, with some additions, became standard for all bouts. They were known as the London Prize Ring Rules, and they helped to make boxing less savage sport.

The Queensbury Rules and the American Boxing Federations Rules

Changes from bare knuckles to gloves came about in the mid-1860's, when the Marques of Queensberry, a British sportsman, sponsored a new boxing code of 12 rules. In 1872, the Queensberry Rules were first used in a professional tournament in London. They have been used throughout the world ever since with only slight changes. The rules require boxers to wear gloves. They also call for three-minute rounds with a one-minute rest period between rounds. US Boxing Federations Rules, This rule was also applied to amateur boxing. The annual Golden Gloves tournament is probably the most famous U.S. amateur boxing event. The nationwide tournaments are approved by the ABF and operates under the American Boxing Federations rules. Local and regional elimination bouts lead to the final championship matches. Professional boxing Financing. Professional boxers fight for money in bouts that are arranged by promoters. A promoter may be an individual or a corporation. The promoter rents an arena or stadium, settles the amount to be paid each boxer, sells tickets, and takes care of all other necessary arrangements.

The Trainer Drills The Fighter In Boxing Techniques

In addition, the promoters try to sell to television network, like cable, or closed circuit, motion picture, and radio rights for an important bout.  Promoters schedules several matches for the same evening, with the main event featuring two top boxers. Preliminary bouts between less important boxers come before the main event. Preliminary bouts are scheduled for four or six rounds. Professional boxers usually have a manager to handle their business affairs. The manager makes agreements with promoters for bouts, hires the fighter's employees, and sets up a training camp. The manager may get up to a third of the prize money. A boxer's employees include a trainer and one to three seconds. The trainer drills the fighter in boxing techniques and directs strategy during bouts. The seconds assist the trainer. Promoters generally pay less experienced boxers a flat fee. Well known fighters usually receive a percentage of the gate including ticket receipts and other revenue producing areas.

Keys To a Boxer's Success

They also may share in the profits from the sale of any entertainment rights. Boxing champions Regulation. In the United States, state and local boxing commissions regulate professional boxing. Most of these commissions belong to the World Boxing Association (WBA), some to the World Boxing Council (WBC), and others to the International Boxing Federation (IBF), or to all three. The WBA, WBC, and IBF are international organisations that recommend rules to their members. These organisations holds the key to a boxer's success and such organisation names its own list of world boxing champions. The three lists often differs. In Canada, Canadian Boxing Federation supervises professional boxing in Canada.

In Times of Ancient Greece