HISTORY OF BOXING-THE OLDEST SPORT IN THE WORLD
Fist fighting for sport and spectacle is probably the oldest sport in the world. Pugilism is the other name for boxing, which has its roots in ancient Greece and Rome. Among ancient art, they held boxing competitions. Greek boxers wore unlined leather boxing gloves wrapped around their necks under their elbows. But unlike now they were naked when they fought. The word “boxing” first came into use in England in the 18th century to make a difference between fights to settle disputes and fights under mutually defined conditions for sports. It describes a fight with an agreed number of rounds under recognizable rules.
The first documented boxing match took place in 1681 in Britain. Then the duke of Albermarle competed with the butler and the butcher. In the coming years, bare-knuckle boxing matches will be held in amphitheaters all over England.
Founder
The foundation is considered to be the London teacher named James Figg (1696 – 1734 g.) which was built in 1719 g. in London. He installed a limited area for fighting (a ring) in his club and founded the first boxing club. Since this year, the English have registered their champions. The champions in those days of England they also considered champions of the world. The fights of the boxers in James Figg’s club were decided by boxers without fights.
Fig’s scholar Thames waterman, Jack Broughton (1704-1789), known as the “FATHER OF BOXING”, developed the first set of rules for the sport. He published it in 1743 as a result of the competition in which he killed his opponent in 1741. It resulted in more cruel and deadly battles.
During the later parts of the 19th century and the entire 20th century, amateur and professional boxing were conducted in parallel.
Traditional care for bruises and black eyes opened the way for more serious care for long-term eyes and brain damage, and medical examination of boxers. Medical supervision of their fight became an incredibly important feature of the two types of boxing: amateur and professional.
The most revolutionary changes in this sport came in 1865. Then John Sholto Douglas, the 9th Marquis of Queensberry made new rules for boxing. Those rules basically transformed the sport into what it is today. They regarded him as the “Patron Saint” of boxing. Some of the most significant changes were the 3-minute regulated use of proven boxing gloves.
From this point, the popularity of boxing continued to spread widely. They included boxing in the Olympic Games in Saint Louis in 1904. for the first time.
Sanctioning bodies
In 1927 The National Boxing Association (NBA) became the first of the “sanctioning bodies” that governed the sport. Today, 4 recognized sanctioning bodies control the world of boxing. The WBA (World Boxing Association), WBC (World Boxing Council), IBF (International Boxing Federation), and WBO (World Boxing Organization).
One of the most famous boxers of all time is Jack Dempsey and Muhammad Ali.