Watch Live Boxing

THE HISTORY OF BOXING

Boxing, a much-awaited game in the Olympics today, may be traced back as a hand-hand fighting sport of the Greek and Roman era. It is believed to be quite an ancient form of activity that gives ample entertainment for those who watch. The specific origin of this sport is still a subject of much debate. It is only through the traces of evidence that one guesses about the history of its origin.

References of this sport are identified in several forms in the respective cultures that date back to 1500 BC. Evidence about this sport was found in the Greek Island of Crete, Homer, the legendary ancient Greek poet mentions in one of his works about a fight between two people in 1800 BC. Even, noting about this game was found in the work of Plato, the Greek philosopher too. History reflects incidents when people gathered to watch live boxing as a source of entertainment.

Since the dawn of athletic competitions and various sport related activities, boxing, weaponry and even wrestling formed an important part of a young man's education. However during this time, there was no protective gear to mouth or hands, just a piece of leather tied to hands up to the wrist called cestus . The padded hand gloves as of today, are not the ones what they wore during the earlier time. This eventually resulted in more deadly battles that turned out to be quite gruesome too. Again, it is known from historical records that the Romans turned boxing into a more brutal sport, by introducing gladiatorial competition into it. People came from far off places to watch live boxing . Worth mentioning is one aspect about the history of boxing is that even women used to be active participants in this game during the much earlier days. However with the fall of the Roman Empire, the sport declined and was only revived with the English Monarchy by 1660.

Boxing term was initially adopted by the English during early years of the 18 th century. Again, it is said that the people came to watch live boxing that was first documented in the year 1681 in Britain, Albenmarle Duke devised a fight between his butcher and a butler. The common reason for such matches played during that time is believed to be amusement and fun. The history today says that the word boxing was introduced to assist one in differentiating between the fight for purpose of settling a quarrel and fight that is meant for sheer fun and done under specific rules and regulations.

During the subsequent years that followed, the sport aficionados came from all over to watch live boxing contests that were bare-knuckle, held in the various amphitheaters across the entire England. Jack Boughton, who was nicknamed as father of boxing, came up with documented rules to play this game and made efforts to get the rules of the sport published in the year 1743 through the result of a fight wherein his opponent got killed in the year 1741.

It is only after 1865 that John Sholto Douglass, the then VIII Marquess of Queensbury, written down new rules for the sport of boxing and this has affected the sport to what we witness it today. It was considered to be the greatest contribution in the field of this game. The rule came to be titled with his name. It also made wearing gloves as a mandatory requirement to play boxing. It is in these modern days, that boxing is regarded as one sport that involves two participants who are referred to as boxers and equipped with special guards to mouth as well as padded hand gloves as well as special outfits. They then fight through established rounds of fighting inside a ring before one of the boxers gets knocked-off by the other boxer. There is a referee inside the ring who monitors the game and ensures that it is fought in true spirits adhering to the set guidelines. To watch live boxing , one needs to keep a check on one's adrenalin secretion too as the game is filled withn excitement and thrill.

The first heavyweight world boxing championships took place in the year 1860. This first ever International Championship gave the sport the much needed impetus, and sooner increasing number of people turned to the sport and embraced it as diehard fans and began enjoying to watch live boxing contests. As the game claimed to increase its fanfare and popularity it resulted in getting it included in the Olympic games of 1904 at St. Louis. Thereafter there was no turning back for the sport. During the later part of 19 th as well as the 20 th century, the novice and the expert boxing organizations operated correspondingly with regard to people's appeal as well as favor. From thereafter, the acclaimed fighters or boxers from across the world kept meeting and did fight to lay their hands upon the touted titles during the entire 20 th as well as the 21 st centuries.

Again, women boxing were not to be left behind. Women's boxing was established and officially organized in the latter part of the 20 th century. The female version of the sport gained much status and importance since then. It began growing slowly but steadily.

It is only during the year 1927 that NBA (National Boxing Association) has become the first ever agency to have governance and control over the sport. Today, boxing as a sport is governed by the three internationally sanctioning agencies. It is the World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and the World Boxing Association (WBA) that the titles conferred by them are considered as champions across the world.

Although it is exciting to watch live boxing contests, but is plagued with injuries and can be even fatal in some cases or can result in permanent damage of important organs of the body. The medical concerns of this game are far too many.

Boxing is one of the most popular games in Europe and even in America. Legends like Muhammad Ali, Jack Johnson, Joe Louis along with many others stars have brought international fame and recognition to the sport. It was earlier known as Pugilism meaning sweet science. The game of boxing is heading into the millennium with much grace and aplomb. The boxing history, thus offers insights into many stalwarts moment of the game.