Boxing
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Boxing, also called Western Boxing, prizefighting and sweet science according to fans, is a sport and martial art in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series of one to three-minute intervals called "rounds". Players in this field try to land their punches on their opponent while evading or blocking the ones brought by their opponents. A competitor can either through Knock Out (KO - when the opponent was unable to get up before the referee counts to 10); Technial Knock Out (TKO - when the opponent is deemed injured and unable to continue the bout); or by having more points than your opponents.
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History
It was said that around 900 BC a Greek ruler named Tonicus Reidicus invented a violent kind of competition wherein two men seaed face to face and would try to kill on another by punching each other down. This "sport" further developed when players began to fight while standing up and wear spiked gloves. Both of these deadly competitions require that their participants be completely naked.
Similar forms of ancient was also found to exist in areas around the Mediterranean aroung 1500 BC.
However, the formal acceptance of boxing as a sport happened during the Ancient Olympic Games when it was first called Pygme or Pygmachia in 688 BC. Participants back then trained with punching bags called korykos. In bouts, fighters were required to wear leather straps over their hands, wrists, and somtimes, breasts called himantes to protect them from possible injuries.
In Ancient Rome, fighters were usually criminals and slaves who hoped to become champions and gain their freedom; however, free men also fought. Eventually, fist fighting became so popular that even aristocrats started fighting, but the practice was eventually banned by the caesar Augustus. In 500 A.D., the sport was banned altogether by christian Theodoric the Great.
London Prize Ring of 1743
After the ancient times, the sport woul later reappear in England during the 18th century. It was in the form of Bare Knuckle Boxing, and sometimes it would be called as prizefighting because gambling and prizes were involved among the participants and the audience. The first documented bare knuckle boxing appeared in 1681 in the London Protestant Mercury. In 1719, bare-knuckle boxing became a little more organized as the first champion of Boxing emerged in the name of Jason Figg, and it was also this time that people began to use the word boxing.
Bare-knuckle boxing back then had no written rules, there were no weight division nor round limits, it also didnt have a referee. Rules such as "no hitting below the belt", biting, kicking and grppling were not present at that time.
It was not until 1743 when the first boxing rules were drafted and it was called London Prize Ring Rules by a man named Jack Broughton. This was done in order to protect fighters in the ring because accidental ring deaths were rampant at that time. In these rules, if a mant went down and could not continue in 30 seconds, a winner was declared. Further hitting a downed fighter and grasping below the waist were prohibited. The use of "mufflers" or any form of padded glover were also made compulsory. It is remarkable that in these rules, when a man went down on his knee the 30 second count will begin without the danger of being hit. So, whenever a fighter feels that he is in danger of being knocked out he can kneel or sit for 30 second giing himtime to recover. In modern boxing, fallin on the knees and resting for 30 second means a knock out.
In 1838, the London Prize Ring rules were expanded in detail. Later revised in 1853, they stipulated the following
- Fights occurred in a 24-foot-square ring surrounded by ropes.
- If a fighter was knocked down, he had to rise within 30 seconds under his own power to be allowed to continue.
- Biting, headbutting and hitting below the belt were declared fouls.
The Queensberry rules of 1867
In 1867, a patron of boxing named Marquess of Queensberry appointed John Chambers to draft and publish a set of rules that will govern amatuer boxing championships held at Lillie Bridge in London. Under these rules, there will be 3 sets of weight division namely the Lightweight, Middleweight and Heavyweight. The said rules contained 12 points, specified that the fighters should have a "fair stand-up boxing match" inside a 24-foot-square ring. The matches should be divided in 3-minute rounds with one minute rest intervals between round. A winner shall only be declared if a player cannot continue the bout in 10 counts. Grappling, throwing or any form of fighting technique aside from the prescribed boxing moves are extremely prohibited.
The use of boxing gloves of "fair-size" were formally introduced under these rules. Each fighter is required to wear a bloated pair of mittens that are laced up around the wrists. This condition made knock out victories difficult to achieve, consequently the fights became longer and more strategic. Fighters now began to focus on defensive maneuvers and offensive strategies in order to win.
The first world heavyweight champion under the Queensberry Rules was "Gentleman Jim" Corbett, who defeated John L. Sullivan in 1892 at the Pelican Athletic Club in New Orleans.
With the gradual acceptance of formalised rules, two distinct branches of boxing emerged; Professional and Olympic. The boxing rules enforced by governing bodies worldwide today at the local, national and international level are all derived in some way from the Marquess of Queensberry Rules.
Evolution of Professional Boxing
A private sporting club in London named th National Sporting Club (NSC) started to prmote it own brand of boxing to the public in their own premises. Along with this, the NSC created nine additional rules to augment the Queensberry Rules. Added to set of rules was the role of the officials, a system of scoring which made fight decisions more convenient. In 1929, the NSC was closed and the British Boxing Board of Control was established.
In 1909 title belts were started to be given by the fifth Earl of Lonsdalet the winners of a British title fight held at the NSC, later these belts were known to be as the Lonsdale Belts. By 1929, the BBBC continued to award Lonsdale Belts to any British boxer who won three consecutive title fights in the same weight division. This was the time when every title fight became to be the center point of every promoter, boxer and manager.
Promoters who coud stage profitable fights from emerging talents and respectable athletes became influential in the sport. Bringing boxing to new audiences helped the boxing elevate its status as an international sport and a entrepreneurial venture to aspiring managers and promoters. At the beginning of the 20th century, the media and the public became perceptive to the events revolving in and out of the ring. An example of a famous three-way relationship (fighter-manager-promoter) was that of former Heavyweight Champion Jack Dempsey (1919-1926), his manager Jack Kearns and their promoter Tex Richards. Their partnership grossed an estimated US$ 8.4 million in only five fights between 1921-1927. Sports historians say that it was during this years that professional boxing flourished all over the globe, thus it heralded the title "The Golden Age of Professional Boxing".
In the 1920's, as the sport of boxing became popular, the National Boxing Association (NBA) was formed in the United States as a national governing body to regulate and sanction its own title fights. Also during that year, the Ring Magazine was established and it listed champions and awarded championship belts. By 1962, the NBA was renamed the World Boxing Association (WBA), and the following year a rival oragnization was established and named the International Boxing Federation (IBF). The title of "Undisputed World Champion" was only given to boxers who is recognized the three separate bodies.
Amateur Boxing
The length of bouts differs in the 2 international amateur sanctioning body. Olympic boxing is comprised of four 2-minute rounds and three 2-minute rounds in the Amateur Boxing Association, each has a one minute interval between rounds.
One of the difference between professional boxing and amateur boxing is the utilization of headgears and gloves with a white stripe across the the knuckle. Unlike professional boxing where any kind of clean punch anwhere the legal area is considered a point, amateur boxing only considers a scorng punch when boxers connect with the white portion of the gloves. The legal areas in amateur boxing is at head and torso, a large belt is worn over the torso to signify the boundary of the legal area. During a fight, the referee attentively monitors the fight to ensure that the competitors use only legal blows, any fighter who repeatedly commit "low blows" is disqualified. Referees also have the power to stop the fight if he sees that the score is overwhelmingly ombalanced or if one of the participant is injured.
Womens Boxing
Although it is experienced it unpopularity and rejection in the past, womens' boxing is over a century old starting 1904 when the Olympic Games initiated a demonstration bout of this event. For most of the 20th century, it was banned in most nations especially in societies where a females role is limited to conservative notions of femininity. Not until in 1988 when the Swedish Amateur Boxing Association revived the sport, and in 1997 when the British Amateur Boxing Association sanctioned it first boxing competition for women. The former hosted an event that featured two thirteen-year-olds, but one of the fighter withdrew because of the apparent media attention. The latter was a fight between two sixteen-year-olds. By 1999, the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) drafted new rules for womens' boxing and at the end of the recent century, the European Cup for Women were organized, and First World championship for Women in 2001. The first sanctioned fight between women was in November 1998 at Streatham in London. between Jane Crouch and Simona Lukic.
Professional Boxing
Professional bouts are far longer than Olympic bouts (ranging from four to twelve rounds, the championship limit since the 1980's when it was shortened from fifteen rounds in an effort to increase fighter safety), headgear is not permitted, and boxers are generally allowed to take much more punishment before a fight is halted. At any time, however, the referee may stop the contest if he believes that one participant cannot intelligently defend him or herself due to injury. In that case, the other participant is awarded a technical knockout win, which appears on the boxer's record as a knockout win (or loss). A technical knockout would also be awarded if a fighter lands a punch that opens a cut on the opponent, and the opponent is later deemed not fit to continue by a doctor because of the cut. For this reason, fighters often employ cutmen, whose job is to treat cuts between rounds so that the boxer is able to continue despite the cut. If a boxer simply quits fighting, or if his corner stops the fight, then the winning boxer is also awarded a technical knockout victory. In contrast with amateur boxing, professional male boxers have to be bare chested.
Boxing Styles
Inside fighter
- In-fighters are often considered the most exciting boxers to watch. This style favours closing inside an opponent, overwhelming them with intensity and flurries of hooks and uppercuts. They tend to be agile on their feet which can make them difficult to evade for a slower fighter.
- Notable in-fighters include Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Shane Mosley, Jake LaMotta, Ricky Hatton, Marco Antonio Barrera, Julio Cesar Chavez, Sugar Ray Leonard and Joe Frazier.
Outside fighter
- Out-fighters or out-boxers are the opposite of the in-fighter. This type of boxer always maintain a gap between his opponent and fight with faster and long range punches. They usually rely on weaker jabs and straights and they tend to win by point decisions, although some of out-fighters have notable knock out records. In addition, they always use jabs to keep their opponent in range and they practice a very strong footwork in order to quickly evede their opponent's punches. Out-fighters are often regarded as the best boxers in the world because they always "outclass" their opponent by means of strategy and speed.
- Notable out-fighters include Felix Trinidad, Muhammad Ali, Pernell Whitaker, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Lennox Lewis and Larry Holmes.
Brawlers
- The brawler also known as a slugger tends to win his/her matches with a one punch knock out. These kind of fighters doesnt have any quick footworks, or advenced defensive strategy, they only dominate their opponents only through sheer power. These makes brawlers exciting to watch because their abilities make their matches unpredicatable.
- Famous brawlers include Cruz Horua, Arturo Gatti, Eric Esch, Sonny Liston, George Foreman, Rocky Marciano, Mike Tyson (after his prime), Nigel Benn, Gerald McClellan and former featherweight champion Naseem Hamed.
Hybrid boxers
- These styles are merely archetypes that many boxers fall into. However, some notable fighters transcend any one category. Mike Tyson, although known primarily as a brawler, was a very intense in-fighter in the first half of his career. He had the strength of a brawler, but the combos, agility and ferocity of an in-fighter, which earned him his devastating reputation. Muhammad Ali, known for his footwork and blindingly fast jab, could mix it up on the inside with fast flurries, using his large frame and fast handspeed for more power. Naseem Hamed was primarily a slugger, favouring single, heavy punches, but his agility and reflexes allowed him to move like an out-fighter.
Swarmer
- A less common style of boxing, the swarmer is a boxer who attempts to overwhelm his opponent by applying constant pressure. Swarmers tend to have a very good bob and weave, good power, a good chin, and a tremendous punch output. Boxers who use the swarmer style tend to have shorter careers than those who don't because the amount of punishment taken while trying to get past opponents guard is very high.
- Famous Swarmers include James Braddock, Mike Tyson (during his prime), Harry Greb, Jack Dempsey and current title holder Ricky Hatton.
Equipment
Gloves
Boxing is a striking martial that utilizes the hands as much any other martial arts that exists right now. Hence, too much of the hands in doing forceful punches can cause severe hand injuries. This is the reason why most of the trainers dont allow their athletes to train without proper hand protection. Usually, before wearing the gloves, boxers apply handwraps on their hands to secure the bones in their hand and allowing the fighter to throw punches with more force.
Headgear
Headgear, used in Olympic boxing, protects against cuts, scrapes, and swelling, but does not protect very well against concussions. Headgear does not sufficiently protect the brain from the jarring that occurs when the head is struck with great force. Also, most boxers aim for the chin on opponents, and the chin is usually not padded. Thus, a powerpunch can do a lot of damage to a boxer, and even a jab that connects to the chin can cause damage, regardless of whether or not headgear is being utilized.
Technique
The modern boxing stance is a reflection of the current system of rules employed by professional boxing. It differs in many ways from the typical boxing stances of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The following stance applies for a right-handed boxer. The boxer stands with the legs shoulder-width apart with the right foot a half-step behind the left foot. The left (lead) fist is held vertically about six inches in front of the face at eye level. The right (rear) fist is held beside the chin and the elbow tucked against the ribcage to protect the body. The chin is tucked into the chest to avoid punches to the jaw which commonly cause knock-outs. Modern boxers can sometimes be seen "tapping" their cheeks or foreheads with their fists in order to remind themselves to keep their hands up (which becomes difficult during long bouts). Modern boxers are taught to "push off" with their feet in order to move effectively. Forward motion involves lifting the lead leg and pushing with the rear leg. Rearward motion involves lifting the rear leg and pushing with the lead leg. During lateral motion the leg in the direction of the movement moves first while the opposite leg provides the force needed to move the body.
Punches
There are four basic punches in boxing: the Jab, Cross, Hook and Uppercut. If a boxer is right-handed, his left hand is the lead hand, his right hand is the rear hand. The following techniques apply to a right-handed boxer. A right-handed boxer's handedness is commonly described as orthodox. A left-handed boxer is called an unorthodox boxer or a Southpaw.
- Jab - A quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand from the guard position. The jab is accompanied by a small, clockwise rotation of the torso and hips, while the fist rotates 90 degrees, becoming horizontal upon impact. As the punch reaches full extension, the lead shoulder is brought up to guard the chin. The rear hand remains next to the face to guard the jaw. After making contact with the target, the lead hand is retracted quickly to resume a guard position in front of the face. The jab is the most important punch in a boxer's arsenal because it provides a fair amount of its own cover and it leaves the least amount of space for a counterpunch from the opponent. It has the longest reach of any punch and does not require commitment or large weight transfers. Due to its relatively weak power, the jab is often used as a tool to gauge distances, probe an opponent's defenses, and set up heavier, more powerful punches. A half-step may be added, moving the entire body into the punch, for additional power.
- Cross - A powerful straight punch thrown with the rear hand. From the guard position, the rear hand is thrown from the chin, crossing the body and traveling towards the target in a straight line. The rear shoulder is thrust forward and finishes just touching the outside of the chin. At the same time, the lead hand is retracted and tucked against the face to protect the inside of the chin. For additional power, the torso and hips are rotated counter-clockwise as the cross is thrown. Weight is also transferred from the rear foot to the lead foot, resulting in the rear heel turning outwards as it acts as a fulcrum for the transfer of weight. Body rotation and the sudden weight transfer is what gives the cross its power. Like the jab, a half-step forward may be added. After the cross is thrown, the hand is retracted quickly and the guard position resumed. It can be used to counterpunch a jab, aiming for the opponent's head (or a counter to a cross aimed at the body) or to set up a hook. The cross can also follow a jab, creating the classic "one-two combo." The cross is also called a "straight" or "right."
- Hook - A semi-circular punch thrown with the lead hand to the side of the opponent's head. From the guard position, the elbow is drawn back with a horizontal fist (knuckles pointing forward) and the elbow bent. The rear hand is tucked firmly against the jaw to protect the chin. The torso and hips are rotated clockwise, propelling the fist through a tight, clockwise arc across the front of the body and connecting with the target. At the same time, the lead foot pivots clockwise, turning the left heel outwards. Upon contact, the hook's circular path ends abruptly and the lead hand is pulled quickly back into the guard position. A hook may also target the lower body (the classic Mexican hook to the liver) and this technique is sometimes called the "rip" to distinguish it from the conventional hook to the head. The hook may also be thrown with the rear hand.
- Uppercut - A vertical, rising punch thrown with the rear hand. From the guard position, the torso shifts slightly to the right, the rear hand drops below the level of the opponent's chest and the knees are bent slightly. From this position, the rear hand is thrust upwards in a rising arc towards the opponent's chin or torso. At the same time, the knees push upwards quickly and the torso and hips rotate counter-clockwise and the rear heel turns outward, mimicking the body movement of the cross. The strategic utility of the uppercut depends on its ability to "lift" the opponent's body, setting it off-balance for successive attacks. The right uppercut followed by a left hook is a devastating combination.
These different punching types can be combined to form 'combos', like a jab and cross combo. Nicknamed the one two combo, it is a really effective combination because the jab blinds the opponent and the cross is powerful enough to knock the opponent out.
Defense
- Slip - Slipping rotates the body slightly so that an incoming punch passes harmlessly next to the head. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer sharply rotates the hips and shoulders. This turns the chin sideways and allows the punch to "slip" past.
- Bob and Weave - Bobbing moves the head laterally and beneath an incoming punch. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer bends the legs quickly and simultaneously shifts the body either slightly right or left. Once the punch has been evaded, the boxer "weaves" back to an upright position, emerging on either the outside or inside of the opponent's still-extended arm. To move outside the opponent's extended arm is called "bobbing to the outside". To move inside the opponent's extended arm is called "bobbing to the inside".
- Parry/Block - Parrying or blocking uses the boxer's hands as defensive tools to deflect incoming attacks. As the opponent's punch arrives, the boxer delivers a sharp, lateral, open-handed blow to the opponent's wrist or forearm, redirecting the punch.
- The Cover-Up - Covering up is the last opportunity to avoid an incoming strike to an unprotected face or body. Generally speaking, the hands are held high to protect the head and chin and the forearms are tucked against the torso to impede body shots. When protecting the body, the boxer rotates the hips and lets incoming punches "roll" off the guard. To protect the head, the boxer presses both fists against the front of the face with the forearms parallel and facing outwards. This type of guard is weak against attacks from below.
- The Clinch - Clinching is a rough form of grappling and occurs when the distance between both fighters has closed and straight punches cannot be employed. In this situation, the boxer attempts to hold or "tie up" the opponent's hands so he is unable to throw hooks or uppercuts. To perform a clinch, the boxer loops both hands around the outside of the opponent's shoulders, scooping back under the forearms to grasp the opponent's arms tightly against his own body. In this position, the opponent's arms are pinned and cannot be used to attack. Clinching is a temporary match state and is quickly dissipated by the referee.
Ring Tactics
Boxers generally attempt to land short, fast combinations and then quickly shift position to avoid a possible response by their opponent. Strategically, the ring's centre is a desired position since a boxer is able to conserve movement by forcing the opponent to circle around them. When in the centre, the boxer is also less likely to be knocked backwards against the ropes surrounding the ring and cornered.]
South Paw
Southpaw is a boxing stance and is used by a boxer who's strongest (main) hand is left hand. The fighter stands with his right foot half a yard infront of his left foot. Jabs are done prodominantly with the right hand however the full on hooks and uppercuts are with the left hand. Dan Hall , 14 , West Bromwich
Orthodox
Orthodox is a boxing stance and is used by a boxer who's strongest (main) hand is his right hand. The fighter stands with his left foot half a yard in front of his left foot. Jabs are done prodominantly with the left hand however the full on hooks and uppercuts are with the right hand. Dan Hall , 14 , West Bromwich
Governing bodies
Boxing has many governing bodies leaving no organization in overall control.
Professional boxing
| Governing Body | Website |
|---|---|
| British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) | http://www.bbbofc.com/ |
| Nevada State Athletic Commission | http://boxing.nv.gov/ |
| Sanctioning Body | Website |
| World Boxing Association (W.B.A.) | http://www.wbaonline.com/ |
| World Boxing Council (W.B.C.) | http://www.wbcboxing.com/ |
| International Boxing Federation (I.B.F.) | http://www.ibf-usba-boxing.com/ |
| World Boxing Organization (W.B.O.) | http://www.wbo-int.com/ |
| International Boxing Organization (I.B.O.) | http://www.iboboxing.com/ |
Amateur boxing
| Governing Body | Website |
|---|---|
| Association Internationale de Boxe Amateur (International Amateur Boxing Association) (A.I.B.A.) | http://www.aiba.net/ |
