The centuries-old history of boxing and how it was actually created?

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Boxing is one of the oldest sports in history, with roots dating back to Antiquity. With a seemingly simple concept and simple rules, boxing has undergone many changes over the years to become the spectacle and money machine we see today. But how did this attractive, but realistic and rather barbaric sport come to be invented?

The roots go way back before the New Era

It turns out that traces of the sport date back to 4,000 BC, with hand-to-hand combat being extremely popular on the Nile Plateau and throughout Egypt. Conquering Ethiopia, the Egyptians began to spread the sport - both in the Mediterranean region and in the Middle East. The sport gained immense fame throughout the conquered lands, even becoming part of the Olympics in Ancient Greece (around 686 BC). However, the sport is very different from what we watch now.

The two opponents fight in a "live" arena, the ring of sorts being the circle that the spectators leave for the competitors. They, in turn, fight almost literally "to the last drop of blood." The winner is declared the person who remains on his feet, while many losers lose their lives as well. The fighters use leather straps to protect their hands. However, with the spread of the sport, even these rules received many changes, and in Rome they turned a fight between two into a kind of gladiatorial combat. The Romans added all kinds of metals, even put iron brackets on their straps, so that they could deliver heavier and more deadly blows. With the development of civilization, the spread of Christianity and the collapse of the Roman Empire, the sport was totally banned because of its barbaric nature.

the new time

Although centuries passed, the legend of boxing lived on to re-emerge among the people in the 17th century. It was then that the first official meeting in this sport took place, with the first match being in 1681 in England. London became the center of boxing fights and, although without special rules, the sport gained serious popularity. Fees began to be paid to fighters, and betting became a standard part of every boxing match. A new element is also added - the division of the match into rounds of a certain duration. Still no gloves though. But to a large extent, the sport looks more and more like its modern-day equivalent.

The ban on this type of "dueling" continues in full force, the sport is not recognized as such, but nevertheless it is growing in popularity. In the early 18th century, a huge amount of matches were held in England, and the first major champion in history was James Figg, a fan favorite and undefeated gladiator who went undefeated and held the title of #1 in England for 15 years.

He himself notices Jack Broughton, whom he persuades to come to London. Broughton is a loyal follower of the great champion, the Englishman being a huge contributor to making banned fighting a sport with rules and mass distribution. He was the author of the first code of rules with more clearly expressed rules, and in 1838, based on this code, a universal rulebook was created in sports. That is why he is also called the "father of boxing", being accepted into the boxing "Hall of Fame" as a "pioneer in boxing".

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