Archive for January, 2010

Boxing has been around longer than most would think, both as a sport and as a form of entertainment. It can be dated back to the antiquities where the beginning of sporting competitions was first referenced. There have been many punches thrown throughout the centuries, with many a bad intention behind them.
There is proof that the Greeks took part in boxing events. Of course, it was not referred to as boxing, but it was the first competitive fighting event where fighters wore gloves. They were not padded as we see in our more modern boxing matches. Rather, the gloves that were worn in ancient Greece were much simpler than what we see today. They were just simple, cloth wrappings around the hand, and that was it.
The first time the word boxing was used was not until the eighteenth century in England. The term boxing was derived to create a difference between competitive fighting, and fighting as a result of a problem between two or more people.
Currently, boxing as we know it, is a match between two people dressed in gloves, and proper protective gear. This may include a cup, a mouthpiece, and even padding around the head. There are very specific rules and goals to be followed in the ring where the boxing match occurs.
The boxers face each other in the ring for a number of rounds or until one boxer is knocked out before the other. There is a referee in the ring with the two boxers. His job is to make sure that all the rules are followed, and to insure that the match is conducted in a safe, sane manner.
Boxing has been primarily a man’s sport, although there is evidence of female fighters as far back as the eighteenth century. It is still the case today; even though many more women are currently approaching it. What may be contributing to this is the changing reasons for engaging in the sport. It used to be solely a competitive sport rather than a leisurely one. Nowadays, people are taking interest in boxing for its physical benefits as a prime consideration.
Since the nineteenth century, boxing has stayed relatively the same. But we have seen the development of new and different competitive fighting organizations and sports. This has taken some practitioners away from boxing, as one has so many choices when looking to join a martial arts fighting league. There’s Kung Fu, Judo, kickboxing, mixed martial arts fighting, wrestling, and many more to consider. What we have witnessed as a result is that far less people are choosing boxing, creating a decline in the number of competitive boxers out there.
What has not changed is boxing as a form of entertainment. Out of all fighting sports, boxing matches still bring in some of the largest audiences. Interest in matches hasn’t waned much, even if interest in practicing the art is on the decline. Sadly, there have not been a lot of great champions in a while, capable of making people everywhere want to put on a pair of gloves and be a hero for a while. Where oh where is the next Mohammed Ali?