Boxing
Boxing Tournament in Aid of King George's Fund For Sailors at the Royal Naval Air Station, Henstridge, Somerset, July 1945 A29806.jpg
Two Royal Navy men boxing for charity. The modern sport was codified in England.
Also known as Western Boxing, Pugilism See note.[1]
Focus Punching, striking
Country of origin Prehistoric
Parenthood Bare-knuckle boxing
Olympic sport 688 BC (Ancient Greece)
1904 (modern)
Boxing is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves, throw punches at each other for a predetermined amount of time in a boxing ring.
Amateur boxing is both an Olympic and Commonwealth Games sport and is a common fixture in most international games—it also has its own World Championships. Boxing is overseen by a referee over a series of one- to three-minute intervals called rounds.
The result is decided when an opponent is deemed incapable to continue by a referee, is disqualified for breaking a rule, or resigns by throwing in a towel. If a fight completes all of its allocated rounds, the victor is determined by judges' scorecards at the end of the contest. In the event that both fighters gain equal scores from the judges, professional bouts are considered a draw. In Olympic boxing, because a winner must be declared, judges award the content to one fighter on technical criteria.
While humans have fought in hand-to-hand combat since the dawn of human history, the earliest evidence of fist-fighting sporting contests date back to the ancient Near East in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC.[2] The earliest evidence of boxing rules date back to Ancient Greece, where boxing was established as an Olympic game in 688 BC.[2] Boxing evolved from 16th- and 18th-century prizefights, largely in Great Britain, to the forerunner of modern boxing in the mid-19th century with the 1867 introduction of the Marquess of Queensberry Rules.
History
Ancient history
See also: Ancient Greek boxing
A painting of Minoan youths boxing, from an Akrotiri fresco circa 1650 BC. This is the earliest documented use of boxing gloves.
A boxing scene depicted on a Panathenaic amphora from Ancient Greece, circa 336 BC, British Museum
The earliest known depiction of boxing comes from a Sumerian relief in Iraq from the 3rd millennium BC.[2] Later depictions from the 2nd millennium BC are found in reliefs from the Mesopotamian nations of Assyria and Babylonia, and in Hittite art from Asia Minor.[citation needed] A relief sculpture from Egyptian Thebes (c. 1350 BC) shows both boxers and spectators.[2] These early Middle-Eastern and Egyptian depictions showed contests where fighters were either bare-fisted or had a band supporting the wrist.[2] The earliest evidence of fist fighting with the use of gloves can be found on Minoan Crete (c. 1500–1400 BC).[2]
Various types of boxing existed in ancient India. The earliest references to musti-yuddha come from classical Vedic epics such as the Ramayana and Rig Veda. The Mahabharata describes two combatants boxing with clenched fists and fighting with kicks, finger strikes, knee strikes and headbutts.[3] Duels (niyuddham) were often fought to the death.[citation needed] During the period of the Western Satraps, the ruler Rudradaman - in addition to being well-versed in "the great sciences" which included Indian classical music, Sanskrit grammar, and logic - was said to be an excellent horseman, charioteer, elephant rider, swordsman and boxer.[4] The Gurbilas Shemi, an 18th-century Sikh text, gives numerous references to musti-yuddha.
In Ancient Greece boxing was a well developed sport and enjoyed consistent popularity. In Olympic terms, it was first introduced in the 23rd Olympiad, 688 BC. The boxers would wind leather thongs around their hands in order to protect them. There were no rounds and boxers fought until one of them acknowledged defeat or could not continue. Weight categories were not used, which meant heavyweights had a tendency to dominate. The style of boxing practiced typically featured an advanced left leg stance, with the left arm semi-extended as a guard, in addition to being used for striking, and with the right arm drawn back ready to strike. It was the head of the opponent which was primarily targeted, and there is little evidence to suggest that targeting the body was common.[5]
Boxing was a popular spectator sport in Ancient Rome.[6] In order for the fighters to protect themselves against their opponents they wrapped leather thongs around their fists. Eventually harder leather was used and the thong soon became a weapon. The Romans even introduced metal studs to the thongs to make the cestus. Fighting events were held at Roman Amphitheatres. The Roman form of boxing was often a fight until death to please the spectators who gathered at such events. However, especially in later times, purchased slaves and trained combat performers were valuable commodities, and their lives were not given up without due consideration. Often slaves were used against one another in a circle marked on the floor. This is where the term ring came from. In AD 393, during the Roman gladiator period, boxing was abolished due to excessive brutality. It was not until the late 16th century that boxing re-surfaced in London.[citation needed]
Early London prize ring rules
A straight right demonstrated in Edmund Price's The Science of Defence: A Treatise on Sparring and Wrestling, 1867
Records of Classical boxing activity disappeared after the fall of the Western Roman Empire when the wearing of weapons became common once again and interest in fighting with the fists waned. However, there are detailed records of various fist-fighting sports that were maintained in different cities and provinces of Italy between the 12th and 17th centuries. There was also a sport in ancient Rus called Kulachniy Boy or "Fist Fighting".
As the wearing of swords became less common, there was renewed interest in fencing with the fists. The sport would later resurface in England during the early 16th century in the form of bare-knuckle boxing sometimes referred to as prizefighting. The first documented account of a bare-knuckle fight in England appeared in 1681 in the London Protestant Mercury, and the first English bare-knuckle champion was James Figg in 1719.[7] This is also the time when the word "boxing" first came to be used. This earliest form of modern boxing was very different. Contests in Mr. Figg's time, in addition to fist fighting, also contained fencing and cudgeling. On 6 January 1681, the first recorded boxing match took place in Britain when Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle (and later Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica) engineered a bout between his butler and his butcher with the latter winning the prize.
Early fighting had no written rules. There were no weight divisions or round limits, and no referee. In general, it was extremely chaotic. An early article on boxing was published in Nottingham, 1713, by Sir Thomas Parkyns, a successful Wrestler from Bunny, Nottinghamshire, who had practised the techniques he described. The article, a single page in his manual of wrestling and fencing, Progymnasmata: The inn-play, or Cornish-hugg wrestler, described a system of headbutting, punching, eye-gouging, chokes, and hard throws, not recognized in boxing today.[8]
The first boxing rules, called the Broughton's rules, were introduced by champion Jack Broughton in 1743 to protect fighters in the ring where deaths sometimes occurred.[9] Under these rules, if a man went down and could not continue after a count of 30 seconds, the fight was over. Hitting a downed fighter and grasping below the waist were prohibited. Broughton encouraged the use of 'mufflers', a form of padded bandage or mitten, to be used in 'jousting' or sparring sessions in training, and in exhibition matches.
Tom Cribb vs Tom Molineaux in a re-match for the heavyweight championship of England, 1811
These rules did allow the fighters an advantage not enjoyed by today's boxers; they permitted the fighter to drop to one knee to end the round and begin the 30-second count at any time. Thus a fighter realizing he was in trouble had an opportunity to recover. However, this was considered "unmanly"[10] and was frequently disallowed by additional rules negotiated by the Seconds of the Boxers.[11] In modern boxing, there is a three-minute limit to rounds (unlike the downed fighter ends the round rule). Intentionally going down in modern boxing will cause the recovering fighter to lose points in the scoring system. Furthermore, as the contestants did not have heavy leather gloves and wristwraps to protect their hands, they used different punching technique to preserve their hands because the head was a common target to hit full out.[dubious – discuss][citation needed] Almost all period manuals have powerful straight punches with the whole body behind them to the face (including forehead) as the basic blows.[12][13][unreliable source?]
The London Prize Ring Rules introduced measures that remain in effect for professional boxing to this day, such as outlawing butting, gouging, scratching, kicking, hitting a man while down, holding the ropes, and using resin, stones or hard objects in the hands, and biting.[14]
Marquess of Queensberry rules (1867)
In 1867, the Marquess of Queensberry rules were drafted by John Chambers for amateur championships held at Lillie Bridge in London for Lightweights, Middleweights and Heavyweights. The rules were published under the patronage of the Marquess of Queensberry, whose name has always been associated with them.
File:Leonard Cushing Kinetograph 1894.ogv
The June 1894 Leonard–Cushing bout. Each of the six one-minute rounds recorded by the Kinetograph was made available to exhibitors for $22.50.[15] Customers who watched the final round saw Leonard score a knockdown.
There were twelve rules in all, and they specified that fights should be "a fair stand-up boxing match" in a 24-foot-square or similar ring. Rounds were three minutes with one-minute rest intervals between rounds. Each fighter was given a ten-second count if he was knocked down, and wrestling was banned. The introduction of gloves of "fair-size" also changed the nature of the bouts. An average pair of boxing gloves resembles a bloated pair of mittens and are laced up around the wrists.[16] The gloves can be used to block an opponent's blows. As a result of their introduction, bouts became longer and more strategic with greater importance attached to defensive maneuvers such as slipping, bobbing, countering and angling. Because less defensive emphasis was placed on the use of the forearms and more on the gloves, the classical forearms outwards, torso leaning back stance of the bare knuckle boxer was modified to a more modern stance in which the torso is tilted forward and the hands are held closer to the face.
Late 19th and early 20th centuries
Through the late nineteenth century, the martial art of boxing or prizefighting was primarily a sport of dubious legitimacy. Outlawed in England and much of the United States, prizefights were often held at gambling venues and broken up by police.[17] Brawling and wrestling tactics continued, and riots at prizefights were common occurrences. Still, throughout this period, there arose some notable bare knuckle champions who developed fairly sophisticated fighting tactics.
Amateur Boxing Club, Wales 1963
The English case of R v. Coney in 1882 found that a bare-knuckle fight was an assault occasioning actual bodily harm, despite the consent of the participants. This marked the end of widespread public bare-knuckle contests in England.
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.[18]
The first instance of film censorship in the United States occurred in 1897 when several states banned the showing of prize fighting films from the state of Nevada,[19] where it was legal at the time.
Throughout the early twentieth century, boxers struggled to achieve legitimacy.[citation needed] They were aided by the influence of promoters like Tex Rickard and the popularity of great champions such as John L. Sullivan.
Modern boxing
The sport rising from illegal venues and outlawed prize fighting has become one of the largest multibillion-dollar sports today. A majority of young talent still comes from poverty-stricken areas around the world. Places like Mexico, Africa, South America, and Eastern Europe prove to be filled with young aspiring athletes who wish to become the future of boxing. Even in the U.S., places like the inner cities of New York, and Chicago have given rise to promising young talent. According to Rubin, "boxing lost its appeal with the American middle class, and most of who boxes in modern America come from the streets and are street fighters".[20]
Rules
Main article: Marquess of Queensberry Rules
The Marquess of Queensberry rules have been the general rules governing modern boxing since their publication in 1867.[21]
A boxing match typically consists of a determined number of three-minute rounds, a total of up to 9 to 12 rounds. A minute is typically spent between each round with the fighters in their assigned corners receiving advice and attention from their coach and staff. The fight is controlled by a referee who works within the ring to judge and control the conduct of the fighters, rule on their ability to fight safely, count knocked-down fighters, and rule on fouls.
Up to three judges are typically present at ringside to score the bout and assign points to the boxers, based on punches and elbows that connect, defense, knockdowns, hugging and other, more subjective, measures. Because of the open-ended style of boxing judging, many fights have controversial results, in which one or both fighters believe they have been "robbed" or unfairly denied a victory. Each fighter has an assigned corner of the ring, where his or her coach, as well as one or more "seconds" may administer to the fighter at the beginning of the fight and between rounds. Each boxer enters into the ring from their assigned corners at the beginning of each round and must cease fighting and return to their corner at the signalled end of each round.
A bout in which the predetermined number of rounds passes is decided by the judges, and is said to "go the distance". The fighter with the higher score at the end of the fight is ruled the winner. With three judges, unanimous and split decisions are possible, as are draws. A boxer may win the bout before a decision is reached through a knock-out; such bouts are said to have ended "inside the distance". If a fighter is knocked down during the fight, determined by whether the boxer touches the canvas floor of the ring with any part of their body other than the feet as a result of the opponent's punch and not a slip, as determined by the referee, the referee begins counting until the fighter returns to his or her feet and can continue. Some jurisdictions require the referee to count to eight regardless of if the fighter gets up before.
Should the referee count to ten, then the knocked-down boxer is ruled "knocked out" (whether unconscious or not) and the other boxer is ruled the winner by knockout (KO). A "technical knock-out" (TKO) is possible as well, and is ruled by the referee, fight doctor, or a fighter's corner if a fighter is unable to safely continue to fight, based upon injuries or being judged unable to effectively defend themselves. Many jurisdictions and sanctioning agencies also have a "three-knockdown rule", in which three knockdowns in a given round result in a TKO. A TKO is considered a knockout in a fighter's record. A "standing eight" count rule may also be in effect. This gives the referee the right to step in and administer a count of eight to a fighter that he or she feels may be in danger, even if no knockdown has taken place. After counting the referee will observe the fighter, and decide if he or she is fit to continue. For scoring purposes, a standing eight count is treated as a knockdown.
Ingemar Johansson of Sweden KO's heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson, 26 June 1959.
In general, boxers are prohibited from hitting below the belt, holding, tripping, pushing, biting, or spitting. The boxer's shorts are raised so the opponent is not allowed to hit to the groin area with intent to cause pain or injury. Failure to abide by the former may result in a foul. They also are prohibited from kicking, head-butting, or hitting with any part of the arm other than the knuckles of a closed fist (including hitting with the elbow, shoulder or forearm, as well as with open gloves, the wrist, the inside, back or side of the hand). They are prohibited as well from hitting the back, back of the head or neck (called a "rabbit-punch") or the kidneys. They are prohibited from holding the ropes for support when punching, holding an opponent while punching, or ducking below the belt of their opponent (dropping below the waist of your opponent, no matter the distance between).
If a "clinch" – a defensive move in which a boxer wraps his or her opponents arms and holds on to create a pause – is broken by the referee, each fighter must take a full step back before punching again (alternatively, the referee may direct the fighters to "punch out" of the clinch). When a boxer is knocked down, the other boxer must immediately cease fighting and move to the furthest neutral corner of the ring until the referee has either ruled a knockout or called for the fight to continue.
Violations of these rules may be ruled "fouls" by the referee, who may issue warnings, deduct points, or disqualify an offending boxer, causing an automatic loss, depending on the seriousness and intentionality of the foul. An intentional foul that causes injury that prevents a fight from continuing usually causes the boxer who committed it to be disqualified. A fighter who suffers an accidental low-blow may be given up to five minutes to recover, after which they may be ruled knocked out if they are unable to continue. Accidental fouls that cause injury ending a bout may lead to a "no contest" result, or else cause the fight to go to a decision if enough rounds (typically four or more, or at least three in a four-round fight) have passed.
Unheard of in the modern era, but common during the early 20th Century in North America, a "newspaper decision (NWS)" might be made after a no decision bout had ended. A "no decision" bout occurred when, by law or by pre-arrangement of the fighters, if both boxers were still standing at the fight's conclusion and there was no knockout, no official decision was rendered and neither boxer was declared the winner. But this did not prevent the pool of ringside newspaper reporters from declaring a consensus result among themselves and printing a newspaper decision in their publications. Officially, however, a "no decision" bout resulted in neither boxer winning or losing. Boxing historians sometimes use these unofficial newspaper decisions in compiling fight records for illustrative purposes only. Often, media outlets covering a match will personally score the match, and post their scores as an independent sentence in their report.
Professional vs. amateur boxing
Roberto Durán (right) appeared in a book by Prvoslav Vujčić (left)
Throughout the 17th to 19th centuries, boxing bouts were motivated by money, as the fighters competed for prize money, promoters controlled the gate, and spectators bet on the result. The modern Olympic movement revived interest in amateur sports, and amateur boxing became an Olympic sport in 1908. In their current form, Olympic and other amateur bouts are typically limited to three or four rounds, scoring is computed by points based on the number of clean blows landed, regardless of impact, and fighters wear protective headgear, reducing the number of injuries, knockdowns, and knockouts.[22] Currently scoring blows in amateur boxing are subjectively counted by ringside judges, but the Australian Institute for Sport has demonstrated a prototype of an Automated Boxing Scoring System, which introduces scoring objectivity, improves safety, and arguably makes the sport more interesting to spectators. Professional boxing remains by far the most popular form of the sport globally, though amateur boxing is dominant in Cuba and some former Soviet republics. For most fighters, an amateur career, especially at the Olympics, serves to develop skills and gain experience in preparation for a professional career. Western boxers typically participate in one Olympics and then turn pro, Cubans and other socialist countries have an opportunity to collect multiple medals.[23] In 2016, professional boxers were admitted in the Olympic Games and other tournaments sanctioned by AIBA.[24] This was done in part to level the playing field and give all of the athletes the same opportunities government-sponsored boxers from socialist countries and post-Soviet republics have.[25] However, professional organizations strongly opposed that decision.[26][27]
Amateur boxing
Main article: Amateur boxing
Nicola Adams is the first female boxer to win an Olympic gold medal. Here with Mary Kom of India.
Amateur boxing may be found at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sanctioned by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing has a point scoring system that measures the number of clean blows landed rather than physical damage. Bouts consist of three rounds of three minutes in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, and three rounds of three minutes in a national ABA (Amateur Boxing Association) bout, each with a one-minute interval between rounds.
Competitors wear protective headgear and gloves with a white strip or circle across the knuckle. There are cases however, where white ended gloves are not required but any solid color may be worn. The white end is just a way to make it easier for judges to score clean hits. Each competitor must have their hands properly wrapped, pre-fight, for added protection on their hands and for added cushion under the gloves. Gloves worn by the fighters must be twelve ounces in weight unless the fighters weigh under 165 pounds (75 kg), thus allowing them to wear ten ounce gloves. A punch is considered a scoring punch only when the boxers connect with the white portion of the gloves. Each punch that lands cleanly on the head or torso with sufficient force is awarded a point. A referee monitors the fight to ensure that competitors use only legal blows. A belt worn over the torso represents the lower limit of punches – any boxer repeatedly landing low blows below the belt is disqualified. Referees also ensure that the boxers don't use holding tactics to prevent the opponent from swinging. If this occurs, the referee separates the opponents and orders them to continue boxing. Repeated holding can result in a boxer being penalized or ultimately disqualified. Referees will stop the bout if a boxer is seriously injured, if one boxer is significantly dominating the other or if the score is severely imbalanced.[28] Amateur bouts which end this way may be noted as "RSC" (referee stopped contest) with notations for an outclassed opponent (RSCO), outscored opponent (RSCOS), injury (RSCI) or head injury (RSCH).
Professional boxing
Main article: Professional boxing
Firpo sending Dempsey outside the ring; painting by George Bellows.
Professional bouts are usually much longer than amateur bouts, typically ranging from ten to twelve rounds, though four-round fights are common for less experienced fighters or club fighters. There are also some two-[29] and three-round professional bouts,[30] especially in Australia. Through the early 20th century, it was common for fights to have unlimited rounds, ending only when one fighter quit, benefiting high-energy fighters like Jack Dempsey. Fifteen rounds remained the internationally recognized limit for championship fights for most of the 20th century until the early 1980s, when the death of boxer Kim Duk-koo eventually prompted the World Boxing Council and other organizations sanctioning professional boxing to reduce the limit to twelve rounds.
Headgear is not permitted in professional bouts, and boxers are generally allowed to take much more damage before a fight is halted. At any time, the referee may stop the contest if he believes that one participant cannot defend himself due to injury. In that case, the other participant is awarded a technical knockout win. 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.[31]
Boxing styles
Definition of style
"Style" is often defined as the strategic approach a fighter takes during a bout. No two fighters' styles are alike, as each is determined by that individual's physical and mental attributes. Three main styles exist in boxing: outside fighter ("boxer"), brawler (or "slugger"), and Inside fighter ("swarmer"). These styles may be divided into several special subgroups, such as counter puncher, etc. The main philosophy of the styles is, that each style has an advantage over one, but disadvantage over the other one. It follows the rock-paper-scissors scenario - boxer beats brawler, brawler beats swarmer, and swarmer beats boxer.[32]
Boxer/out-fighter
Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali was a typical example of an out-fighter.
A classic "boxer" or stylist (also known as an "out-fighter") seeks to maintain distance between himself and his opponent, fighting with faster, longer range punches, most notably the jab, and gradually wearing his opponent down. Due to this reliance on weaker punches, out-fighters tend to win by point decisions rather than by knockout, though some out-fighters have notable knockout records. They are often regarded as the best boxing strategists due to their ability to control the pace of the fight and lead their opponent, methodically wearing him down and exhibiting more skill and finesse than a brawler.[33] Out-fighters need reach, hand speed, reflexes, and footwork.
Notable out-fighters include Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, Joe Calzaghe, Wilfredo Gómez, Salvador Sanchez, Cecilia Brækhus, Gene Tunney,[34] Ezzard Charles,[35] Willie Pep,[36] Meldrick Taylor, Ricardo Lopez, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Roy Jones Jr., Sugar Ray Leonard, Miguel Vazquez, Sergio "Maravilla" Martínez, Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko and Guillermo Rigondeaux. This style was also used by fictional boxer Apollo Creed.
Boxer-puncher
A boxer-puncher is a well-rounded boxer who is able to fight at close range with a combination of technique and power, often with the ability to knock opponents out with a combination and in some instances a single shot. Their movement and tactics are similar to that of an out-fighter (although they are generally not as mobile as an out-fighter),[37] but instead of winning by decision, they tend to wear their opponents down using combinations and then move in to score the knockout. A boxer must be well rounded to be effective using this style.
Notable boxer-punchers include Muhammad Ali, Canelo Álvarez, Wladimir Klitschko, Vasyl Lomachenko, Lennox Lewis, Joe Louis,[38] Wilfredo Gómez, Oscar De La Hoya, Archie Moore, Miguel Cotto, Nonito Donaire, Sam Langford,[39] Henry Armstrong,[40] Sugar Ray Robinson,[41] Tony Zale, Carlos Monzón,[42] Alexis Argüello, Erik Morales, Terry Norris, Marco Antonio Barrera, Naseem Hamed, Thomas Hearns, and Gennady Golovkin.
Counter puncher
Counter punchers are slippery, defensive style fighters who often rely on their opponent's mistakes in order to gain the advantage, whether it be on the score cards or more preferably a knockout. They use their well-rounded defense to avoid or block shots and then immediately catch the opponent off guard with a well placed and timed punch. A fight with a skilled counter-puncher can turn into a war of attrition, where each shot landed is a battle in itself. Thus, fighting against counter punchers requires constant feinting and the ability to avoid telegraphing one's attacks. To be truly successful using this style they must have good reflexes, a high level of prediction and awareness, pinpoint accuracy and speed, both in striking and in footwork.
Notable counter punchers include Muhammad Ali, Joe Calzaghe, Vitali Klitschko, Evander Holyfield, Max Schmeling, Chris Byrd, Jim Corbett, Jack Johnson, Bernard Hopkins, Laszlo Papp, Jerry Quarry, Anselmo Moreno, James Toney, Marvin Hagler, Juan Manuel Márquez, Humberto Soto, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Roger Mayweather, Pernell Whitaker, Sergio Gabriel Martinez and Guillermo Rigondeaux. This style of boxing is also used by fictional boxer Little Mac.
Counter punchers usually wear their opponents down by causing them to miss their punches. The more the opponent misses, the faster they tire, and the psychological effects of being unable to land a hit will start to sink in. The counter puncher often tries to outplay their opponent entirely, not just in a physical sense, but also in a mental and emotional sense. This style can be incredibly difficult, especially against seasoned fighters, but winning a fight without getting hit is often worth the pay-off. They usually try to stay away from the center of the ring, in order to outmaneuver and chip away at their opponents. A large advantage in counter-hitting is the forward momentum of the attacker, which drives them further into your return strike. As such, knockouts are more common than one would expect from a defensive style.
Brawler/slugger
Famous brawler George Foreman
A brawler is a fighter who generally lacks finesse and footwork in the ring, but makes up for it through sheer punching power. Many brawlers tend to lack mobility, preferring a less mobile, more stable platform and have difficulty pursuing fighters who are fast on their feet. They may also have a tendency to ignore combination punching in favor of continuous beat-downs with one hand and by throwing slower, more powerful single punches (such as hooks and uppercuts). Their slowness and predictable punching pattern (single punches with obvious leads) often leaves them open to counter punches, so successful brawlers must be able to absorb substantial amounts of punishment. However, not all brawler/slugger fighters are not mobile; some can move around and switch styles if needed but still have the brawler/slugger style such as Wilfredo Gómez, Prince Naseem Hamed and Danny García.
A brawler's most important assets are power and chin (the ability to absorb punishment while remaining able to continue boxing). Examples of this style include George Foreman, Rocky Marciano, Julio César Chávez, Roberto Duran, Danny García, Wilfredo Gómez, Sonny Liston, John L. Sullivan, Max Baer, Prince Naseem Hamed, Ray Mancini, David Tua, Arturo Gatti, Micky Ward, Brandon Ríos, Ruslan Provodnikov, Michael Katsidis, James Kirkland, Marcos Maidana, Jake LaMotta, Manny Pacquiao, and Ireland's John Duddy. This style of boxing was also used by fictional boxers Rocky Balboa and James "Clubber" Lang.
Brawlers tend to be more predictable and easy to hit but usually fare well enough against other fighting styles because they train to take punches very well. They often have a higher chance than other fighting styles to score a knockout against their opponents because they focus on landing big, powerful hits, instead of smaller, faster attacks. Oftentimes they place focus on training on their upper body instead of their entire body, to increase power and endurance. They also aim to intimidate their opponents because of their power, stature and ability to take a punch.
Swarmer/in-fighter
Henry Armstrong was known for his aggressive, non-stop assault style of fighting.
In-fighters/swarmers (sometimes called "pressure fighters") attempt to stay close to an opponent, throwing intense flurries and combinations of hooks and uppercuts. Mainly Mexican, Irish, Irish-American, Puerto Rican, and Mexican-American boxers popularized this style. A successful in-fighter often needs a good "chin" because swarming usually involves being hit with many jabs before they can maneuver inside where they are more effective. In-fighters operate best at close range because they are generally shorter and have less reach than their opponents and thus are more effective at a short distance where the longer arms of their opponents make punching awkward. However, several fighters tall for their division have been relatively adept at in-fighting as well as out-fighting.
The essence of a swarmer is non-stop aggression. Many short in-fighters use their stature to their advantage, employing a bob-and-weave defense by bending at the waist to slip underneath or to the sides of incoming punches. Unlike blocking, causing an opponent to miss a punch disrupts his balance, this permits forward movement past the opponent's extended arm and keeps the hands free to counter. A distinct advantage that in-fighters have is when throwing uppercuts, they can channel their entire bodyweight behind the punch; Mike Tyson was famous for throwing devastating uppercuts. Marvin Hagler was known for his hard "chin", punching power, body attack and the stalking of his opponents. Some in-fighters, like Mike Tyson, have been known for being notoriously hard to hit. The key to a swarmer is aggression, endurance, chin, and bobbing-and-weaving.
Notable in-fighters include Henry Armstrong, Aaron Pryor, Julio César Chávez, Jack Dempsey, Shawn Porter, Miguel Cotto, Joe Frazier, Danny García, Mike Tyson, Manny Pacquiao, Rocky Marciano,[43] Wayne McCullough, Gerry Penalosa, Harry Greb,[44][45] David Tua, James Toney and Ricky Hatton. This style was also used by the Street Fighter character Balrog.
Combinations of styles
All fighters have primary skills with which they feel most comfortable, but truly elite fighters are often able to incorporate auxiliary styles when presented with a particular challenge. For example, an out-fighter will sometimes plant his feet and counter punch, or a slugger may have the stamina to pressure fight with his power punches.
Old history of the development of boxing and it's prevalence contribute to fusion of various types of martial arts and the emergence of new ones that are based on them. For example, a combination of boxing and sportive sambo techniques gave rise to a combat sambo.
Style matchups
Louis vs. Schmeling, 1936
There is a generally accepted rule of thumb about the success each of these boxing styles has against the others. In general, an in-fighter has an advantage over an out-fighter, an out-fighter has an advantage over a brawler, and a brawler has an advantage over an in-fighter; these form a cycle with each style being stronger relative to one, and weaker relative to another, with none dominating, as in rock-paper-scissors. Naturally, many other factors, such as the skill level and training of the combatants, determine the outcome of a fight, but the widely held belief in this relationship among the styles is embodied in the cliché amongst boxing fans and writers that "styles make fights."
Brawlers tend to overcome swarmers or in-fighters because, in trying to get close to the slugger, the in-fighter will invariably have to walk straight into the guns of the much harder-hitting brawler, so, unless the former has a very good chin and the latter's stamina is poor, the brawler's superior power will carry the day. A famous example of this type of match-up advantage would be George Foreman's knockout victory over Joe Frazier in their original bout "The Sunshine Showdown".
Although in-fighters struggle against heavy sluggers, they typically enjoy more success against out-fighters or boxers. Out-fighters prefer a slower fight, with some distance between themselves and the opponent. The in-fighter tries to close that gap and unleash furious flurries. On the inside, the out-fighter loses a lot of his combat effectiveness, because he cannot throw the hard punches. The in-fighter is generally successful in this case, due to his intensity in advancing on his opponent and his good agility, which makes him difficult to evade. For example, the swarming Joe Frazier, though easily dominated by the slugger George Foreman, was able to create many more problems for the boxer Muhammad Ali in their three fights. Joe Louis, after retirement, admitted that he hated being crowded, and that swarmers like untied/undefeated champ Rocky Marciano would have caused him style problems even in his prime.
The boxer or out-fighter tends to be most successful against a brawler, whose slow speed (both hand and foot) and poor technique makes him an easy target to hit for the faster out-fighter. The out-fighter's main concern is to stay alert, as the brawler only needs to land one good punch to finish the fight. If the out-fighter can avoid those power punches, he can often wear the brawler down with fast jabs, tiring him out. If he is successful enough, he may even apply extra pressure in the later rounds in an attempt to achieve a knockout. Most classic boxers, such as Muhammad Ali, enjoyed their best successes against sluggers.
An example of a style matchup was the historical fight of Julio César Chávez, a swarmer or in-fighter, against Meldrick Taylor, the boxer or out-fighter (see Julio César Chávez vs. Meldrick Taylor). The match was nicknamed "Thunder Meets Lightning" as an allusion to punching power of Chávez and blinding speed of Taylor. Chávez was the epitome of the "Mexican" style of boxing. Taylor's hand and foot speed and boxing abilities gave him the early advantage, allowing him to begin building a large lead on points. Chávez remained relentless in his pursuit of Taylor and due to his greater punching power Chávez slowly punished Taylor. Coming into the later rounds, Taylor was bleeding from the mouth, his entire face was swollen, the bones around his eye socket had been broken, he had swallowed a considerable amount of his own blood, and as he grew tired, Taylor was increasingly forced into exchanging blows with Chávez, which only gave Chávez a greater chance to cause damage. While there was little doubt that Taylor had solidly won the first three quarters of the fight, the question at hand was whether he would survive the final quarter. Going into the final round, Taylor held a secure lead on the scorecards of two of the three judges. Chávez would have to knock Taylor out to claim a victory, whereas Taylor merely needed to stay away from the Mexican legend. However, Taylor did not stay away, but continued to trade blows with Chávez. As he did so, Taylor showed signs of extreme exhaustion, and every tick of the clock brought Taylor closer to victory unless Chávez could knock him out. With about a minute left in the round, Chávez hit Taylor squarely with several hard punches and stayed on the attack, continuing to hit Taylor with well-placed shots. Finally, with about 25 seconds to go, Chávez landed a hard right hand that caused Taylor to stagger forward towards a corner, forcing Chávez back ahead of him. Suddenly Chávez stepped around Taylor, positioning him so that Taylor was trapped in the corner, with no way to escape from Chávez' desperate final flurry. Chávez then nailed Taylor with a tremendous right hand that dropped the younger man. By using the ring ropes to pull himself up, Taylor managed to return to his feet and was given the mandatory 8-count. Referee Richard Steele asked Taylor twice if he was able to continue fighting, but Taylor failed to answer. Steele then concluded that Taylor was unfit to continue and signaled that he was ending the fight, resulting in a TKO victory for Chávez with only two seconds to go in the bout.
Equipment
Since boxing involves forceful, repetitive punching, precautions must be taken to prevent damage to bones in the hand. Most trainers do not allow boxers to train and spar without wrist wraps and boxing gloves. Hand wraps are used to secure the bones in the hand, and the gloves are used to protect the hands from blunt injury, allowing boxers to throw punches with more force than if they did not use them. Gloves have been required in competition since the late nineteenth century, though modern boxing gloves are much heavier than those worn by early twentieth-century fighters. Prior to a bout, both boxers agree upon the weight of gloves to be used in the bout, with the understanding that lighter gloves allow heavy punchers to inflict more damage. The brand of gloves can also affect the impact of punches, so this too is usually stipulated before a bout. Both sides are allowed to inspect the wraps and gloves of the opponent to help ensure both are within agreed upon specifications and no tampering has taken place.
A mouthguard is important to protect the teeth and gums from injury, and to cushion the jaw, resulting in a decreased chance of knockout. Both fighters must wear soft soled shoes to reduce the damage from accidental (or intentional) stepping on feet. While older boxing boots more commonly resembled those of a professional wrestler, modern boxing shoes and boots tend to be quite similar to their amateur wrestling counterparts.
Boxers practice their skills on several types of punching bags. A small, tear-drop-shaped "speed bag" is used to hone reflexes and repetitive punching skills, while a large cylindrical "heavy bag" filled with sand, a synthetic substitute, or water is used to practice power punching and body blows. The double-end bag is usually connected by elastic on the top and bottom and moves randomly upon getting struck and helps the fighter work on accuracy and reflexes. In addition to these distinctive pieces of equipment, boxers also use sport-nonspecific training equipment to build strength, speed, agility, and stamina. Common training equipment includes free weights, rowing machines, jump rope, and medicine balls.
Boxers also use punch/focus mitts in which a trainer calls out certain combinations and the fighter strikes the mitts accordingly. This is a great exercise for stamina as the boxer isn't allowed to go at his own pace but that of the trainer, typically forcing the fighter to endure a higher output and volume than usual. In addition, they also allow trainers to make boxers utilize footwork and distances more accurately.
Boxing matches typically take place in a boxing ring, a raised platform surrounded by ropes attached to posts rising in each corner. The term "ring" has come to be used as a metaphor for many aspects of prize fighting in general.
Technique
Main article: Boxing styles and technique
Stance
The modern boxing stance differs substantially from the typical boxing stances of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The modern stance has a more upright vertical-armed guard, as opposed to the more horizontal, knuckles-facing-forward guard adopted by early 20th century hook users such as Jack Johnson.
Upright stance
Semi-crouch
Full crouch
In a fully upright stance, the boxer stands with the legs shoulder-width apart and the rear foot a half-step in front of the lead man. Right-handed or orthodox boxers lead with the left foot and fist (for most penetration power). Both feet are parallel, and the right heel is off the ground. The lead (left) fist is held vertically about six inches in front of the face at eye level. The rear (right) 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 and is often kept slightly off-center. Wrists are slightly bent to avoid damage when punching and the elbows are kept tucked in to protect the ribcage. Some boxers fight from a crouch, leaning forward and keeping their feet closer together. The stance described is considered the "textbook" stance and fighters are encouraged to change it around once it's been mastered as a base. Case in point, many fast fighters have their hands down and have almost exaggerated footwork, while brawlers or bully fighters tend to slowly stalk their opponents. In order to retain their stance boxers take 'the first step in any direction with the foot already leading in that direction.'[46]
Different stances allow for bodyweight to be differently positioned and emphasised; this may in turn alter how powerfully and explosively a type of punch can be delivered. For instance, a crouched stance allows for the bodyweight to be positioned further forward over the lead left leg. If a lead left hook is thrown from this position, it will produce a powerful springing action in the lead leg and produce a more explosive punch. This springing action could not be generated effectively, for this punch, if an upright stance was used or if the bodyweight was positioned predominately over the back leg.[47] Mike Tyson was a keen practitioner of a crouched stance and this style of power punching.
Left-handed or southpaw fighters use a mirror image of the orthodox stance, which can create problems for orthodox fighters unaccustomed to receiving jabs, hooks, or crosses from the opposite side. The southpaw stance, conversely, is vulnerable to a straight right hand.
North American fighters tend to favor a more balanced stance, facing the opponent almost squarely, while many European fighters stand with their torso turned more to the side. The positioning of the hands may also vary, as some fighters prefer to have both hands raised in front of the face, risking exposure to body shots.
Punches
There are four basic punches in boxing: the jab, cross, hook and uppercut. Any punch other than a jab is considered a power punch. If a boxer is right-handed (orthodox), his left hand is the lead hand and his right hand is the rear hand. For a left-handed boxer or southpaw, the hand positions are reversed. For clarity, the following discussion will assume a right-handed boxer.
Jab
Cross - in counter-punch with a looping
Hook
Uppercut
Jab – A quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand from the guard position. The jab extends from the side of the torso and typically does not pass in front of it. It 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 can be 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 recognized as 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 counter punch 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, harass an opponent, and set up heavier, more powerful punches. A half-step may be added, moving the entire body into the punch, for additional power. Some notable boxers who have been able to develop relative power in their jabs and use it to punish or wear down their opponents to some effect include Larry Holmes and Wladimir Klitschko.
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. A measure of an ideally extended cross is that the shoulder of the striking arm, the knee of the front leg and the ball of the front foot are on the same vertical plane.[48]
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 give 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 counter punch 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 is also called a "straight" or "right", especially if it does not cross the opponent's outstretched jab.
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 (palm facing down) though in modern times a wide percentage of fighters throw the hook with a vertical fist (palm facing themselves). 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 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. Notable left hookers include Joe Frazier, Roy Jones Jr. and Mike Tyson.
Ricardo Dominguez (left) throws an uppercut on Rafael Ortiz (right).[49]
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 anti-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 deadly combination employing the uppercut to lift the opponent's chin into a vulnerable position, then the hook to knock the opponent out.
These different punch types can be thrown in rapid succession to form combinations or "combos." The most common is the jab and cross combination, nicknamed the "one-two combo." This is usually an effective combination, because the jab blocks the opponent's view of the cross, making it easier to land cleanly and forcefully.
A large, swinging circular punch starting from a cocked-back position with the arm at a longer extension than the hook and all of the fighter's weight behind it is sometimes referred to as a "roundhouse," "haymaker," "overhand," or sucker-punch. Relying on body weight and centripetal force within a wide arc, the roundhouse can be a powerful blow, but it is often a wild and uncontrolled punch that leaves the fighter delivering it off balance and with an open guard.
Wide, looping punches have the further disadvantage of taking more time to deliver, giving the opponent ample warning to react and counter. For this reason, the haymaker or roundhouse is not a conventional punch, and is regarded by trainers as a mark of poor technique or desperation. Sometimes it has been used, because of its immense potential power, to finish off an already staggering opponent who seems unable or unlikely to take advantage of the poor position it leaves the puncher in.
Another unconventional punch is the rarely used bolo punch, in which the opponent swings an arm out several times in a wide arc, usually as a distraction, before delivering with either that or the other arm.
An illegal punch to the back of the head or neck is known as a rabbit punch.
Both the hook and uppercut may be thrown with both hands, resulting in differing footwork and positioning from that described above if thrown by the other hand. Generally the analogous opposite is true of the footwork and torso movement.
Defense
There are several basic maneuvers a boxer can use in order to evade or block punches, depicted and discussed below.
Slipping
Bobbing
Blocking (with the arms)
Cover-Up (with the gloves)
Clinching
Footwork
Pulling away
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. Muhammad Ali was famous for extremely fast and close slips, as was an early Mike Tyson.
Sway or fade – To anticipate a punch and move the upper body or head back so that it misses or has its force appreciably lessened. Also called "rolling with the punch" or " Riding The Punch".
Duck or break – To drop down with the back straight so that a punch aimed at the head glances or misses entirely.
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". Joe Frazier, Jack Dempsey, Mike Tyson and Rocky Marciano were masters of bobbing and weaving.
Parry/block – Parrying or blocking uses the boxer's shoulder, hands or arms as defensive tools to protect against incoming attacks. A block generally receives a punch while a parry tends to deflect it. A "palm", "catch", or "cuff" is a defence which intentionally takes the incoming punch on the palm portion of the defender's glove.
The cover-up – Covering up is the last opportunity (other than rolling with a punch) 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 form of trapping or 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. Clinching is technically against the rules, and in amateur fights points are deducted fairly quickly for it. It is unlikely, however, to see points deducted for a clinch in professional boxing.
Unorthodox strategies
The "rope-a-dope" strategy : Used by Muhammad Ali in his 1974 "the Rumble in the Jungle" bout against George Foreman, the rope-a-dope method involves lying back against the ropes, covering up defensively as much as possible and allowing the opponent to attempt numerous punches. The back-leaning posture, which does not cause the defending boxer to become as unbalanced as he would during normal backward movement, also maximizes the distance of the defender's head from his opponent, increasing the probability that punches will miss their intended target. Weathering the blows that do land, the defender lures the opponent into expending energy while conserving his/her own. If successful, the attacking opponent will eventually tire, creating defensive flaws which the boxer can exploit. In modern boxing, the rope-a-dope is generally discouraged since most opponents are not fooled by it and few boxers possess the physical toughness to withstand a prolonged, unanswered assault. Recently, however, eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao skillfully used the strategy to gauge the power of welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto in November 2009. Pacquiao followed up the rope-a-dope gambit with a withering knockdown. Tyson Fury also attempted this against Francesco Pianeto but didn’t pull it off as smoothly.
Bolo punch : Occasionally seen in Olympic boxing, the bolo is an arm punch which owes its power to the shortening of a circular arc rather than to transference of body weight; it tends to have more of an effect due to the surprise of the odd angle it lands at rather than the actual power of the punch. This is more of a gimmick than a technical maneuver; this punch is not taught, being on the same plane in boxing technicality as is the Ali shuffle. Nevertheless, a few professional boxers have used the bolo-punch to great effect, including former welterweight champions Sugar Ray Leonard, and Kid Gavilán as well as current British fighter Chris Eubank Jr. Middleweight champion Ceferino Garcia is regarded as the inventor of the bolo punch.
Bolo punch
Overhand (overcut)
Overhand : The overhand is a punch, thrown from the rear hand, not found in every boxer's arsenal. Unlike the cross, which has a trajectory parallel to the ground, the overhand has a looping circular arc as it is thrown over the shoulder with the palm facing away from the boxer. It is especially popular with smaller stature boxers trying to reach taller opponents. Boxers who have used this punch consistently and effectively include former heavyweight champions Rocky Marciano and Tim Witherspoon, as well as MMA champions Chuck Liddell and Fedor Emelianenko. The overhand has become a popular weapon in other tournaments that involve fist striking. Deontay Wilder heavily favours and is otherwise known for knocking many of his opponents out with one of his right overhands.
Check hook : A check hook is employed to prevent aggressive boxers from lunging in. There are two parts to the check hook. The first part consists of a regular hook. The second, trickier part involves the footwork. As the opponent lunges in, the boxer should throw the hook and pivot on his left foot and swing his right foot 180 degrees around. If executed correctly, the aggressive boxer will lunge in and sail harmlessly past his opponent like a bull missing a matador. This is rarely seen in professional boxing as it requires a great disparity in skill level to execute. Technically speaking it has been said that there is no such thing as a check hook and that it is simply a hook applied to an opponent that has lurched forward and past his opponent who simply hooks him on the way past. Others have argued that the check hook exists but is an illegal punch due to it being a pivot punch which is illegal in the sport. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. employed the use of a check hook against Ricky Hatton, which sent Hatton flying head first into the corner post and being knocked down.
Ring corner
Female boxer Tina Rupprecht receiving instructions from her trainer while being treated by her cutman in the ring corner between rounds.
In boxing, each fighter is given a corner of the ring where he rests in between rounds for 1 minute and where his trainers stand. Typically, three men stand in the corner besides the boxer himself; these are the trainer, the assistant trainer and the cutman. The trainer and assistant typically give advice to the boxer on what he is doing wrong as well as encouraging him if he is losing. The cutman is a cutaneous doctor responsible for keeping the boxer's face and eyes free of cuts, blood and excessive swelling. This is of particular importance because many fights are stopped because of cuts or swelling that threaten the boxer's eyes.
In addition, the corner is responsible for stopping the fight if they feel their fighter is in grave danger of permanent injury. The corner will occasionally throw in a white towel to signify a boxer's surrender (the idiomatic phrase "to throw in the towel", meaning to give up, derives from this practice).[50] This can be seen in the fight between Diego Corrales and Floyd Mayweather. In that fight, Corrales' corner surrendered despite Corrales' steadfast refusal.
Medical concerns
See also: Dementia pugilistica and The distance (boxing) § Distance change criticisms
Knocking a person unconscious or even causing a concussion may cause permanent brain damage.[51] There is no clear division between the force required to knock a person out and the force likely to kill a person.[52] From 1980 to 2007, more than 200 amateur boxers, professional boxers and Toughman fighters died due to ring or training injuries.[53] In 1983, editorials in the Journal of the American Medical Association called for a ban on boxing.[54] The editor, Dr. George Lundberg, called boxing an "obscenity" that "should not be sanctioned by any civilized society."[55] Since then, the British,[56] Canadian[57] and Australian[58] Medical Associations have called for bans on boxing.
Supporters of the ban state that boxing is the only sport where hurting the other athlete is the goal. Dr. Bill O'Neill, boxing spokesman for the British Medical Association, has supported the BMA's proposed ban on boxing: "It is the only sport where the intention is to inflict serious injury on your opponent, and we feel that we must have a total ban on boxing."[59] Opponents respond that such a position is misguided opinion, stating that amateur boxing is scored solely according to total connecting blows with no award for "injury". They observe that many skilled professional boxers have had rewarding careers without inflicting injury on opponents by accumulating scoring blows and avoiding punches winning rounds scored 10-9 by the 10-point must system, and they note that there are many other sports where concussions are much more prevalent.[60]
In 2007, one study of amateur boxers showed that protective headgear did not prevent brain damage,[61] and another found that amateur boxers faced a high risk of brain damage.[62] The Gothenburg study analyzed temporary levels of neurofiliment light in cerebral spinal fluid which they conclude is evidence of damage, even though the levels soon subside. More comprehensive studies of neurologiocal function on larger samples performed by Johns Hopkins University in 1994 and accident rates analyzed by National Safety Council in 2017 show amateur boxing is a comparatively safe sport [63] [64].
In 1997, the American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians was established to create medical protocols through research and education to prevent injuries in boxing.[65][66]
Professional boxing is forbidden in Iceland,[67] Iran, Saudi Arabia and North Korea. It was banned in Sweden until 2007 when the ban was lifted but strict restrictions, including four three-minute rounds for fights, were imposed.[68] It was banned in Albania from 1965 until the fall of Communism in 1991; it is now legal there. Norway legalized professional boxing in December 2014.[69]
Boxing Hall of Fame
Stamp honoring heavyweight champion Gene Tunney
The sport of boxing has two internationally recognized boxing halls of fame; the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF)[70] and the World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF), with the IBHOF being the more widely recognized boxing hall of fame.[71] Since its inception, the WBHOF has never had a permanent location or museum, which has allowed the more recent IBHOF to garner more publicity and prestige. In 2013, The Boxing Hall of Fame Las Vegas opened in Las Vegas, NV founded by Steve Lott, former assistant manager for Mike Tyson.[72]
The WBHF was founded by Everett L. Sanders in 1980. Among the notable names[citation needed] in the WBHF are Ricardo "Finito" Lopez, Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, Michael Carbajal, Khaosai Galaxy, Henry Armstrong, Jack Johnson, Roberto Durán, George Foreman, Ceferino Garcia and Salvador Sanchez. Boxing's International Hall of Fame was inspired by a tribute an American town held for two local heroes in 1982. The town, Canastota, New York, (which is about 15 miles (24 km) east of Syracuse, via the New York State Thruway), honored former world welterweight/middleweight champion Carmen Basilio and his nephew, former world welterweight champion Billy Backus. The people of Canastota raised money for the tribute which inspired the idea of creating an official, annual hall of fame for notable boxers.
The International Boxing Hall of Fame opened in Canastota in 1989. The first inductees in 1990 included Jack Johnson, Benny Leonard, Jack Dempsey, Henry Armstrong, Sugar Ray Robinson, Archie Moore, and Muhammad Ali. Other world-class figures[73] include Salvador Sanchez, Jose Napoles, Roberto "Manos de Piedra" Durán, Ricardo Lopez, Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, Vicente Saldivar, Ismael Laguna, Eusebio Pedroza, Carlos Monzón, Azumah Nelson, Rocky Marciano, Pipino Cuevas and Ken Buchanan. The Hall of Fame's induction ceremony is held every June as part of a four-day event. The fans who come to Canastota for the Induction Weekend are treated to a number of events, including scheduled autograph sessions, boxing exhibitions, a parade featuring past and present inductees, and the induction ceremony itself.
The Boxing Hall of Fame Las Vegas features the $75 million ESPN Classic Sports fight film and tape library and radio broadcast collection. The collection includes the fights of all the great champions including: Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Joe Frazier, Rocky Marciano and Sugar Ray Robinson. It is this exclusive fight film library that will separate the Boxing Hall of Fame Las Vegas from the other halls of fame which do not have rights to any video of their sports. The inaugural inductees included Muhammad Ali, Henry Armstrong, Tony Canzoneri, Ezzard Charles, Julio César Chávez Sr., Jack Dempsey, Roberto Duran, Joe Louis, and Sugar Ray Robinson[74]
Governing and sanctioning bodies
Main article: List of boxing organisations
Former IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight champion, Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko
Governing Bodies
British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC)
European Boxing Union (EBU)
Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC)
Major Sanctioning Bodies
International Boxing Federation (IBF)
World Boxing Association (WBA)
World Boxing Council (WBC)
World Boxing Organization (WBO)
Intermediate
International Boxing Organization (IBO)
Amateur
International Boxing Association (AIBA; now also professional)
Boxing rankings
There are various organization and websites, that rank boxers in both weight class and pound-for-pound manner.
Transnational Boxing Rankings Board (ratings)
ESPN (ratings)
The Ring (ratings)
BoxRec (ratings)
See also
Martial arts portal
Boxing styles and technique
Boxing training
Boxing gloves
List of current world boxing champions
Undisputed champion
List of female boxers
List of male boxers
Weight class in boxing
Milling - military training exercise related to boxing
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Emspak, Jesse (8 February 2012). "Headgear Protects Boxers' Brains, Mostly". DNews. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
"Barry McGuigan explains Cuban boxing success". 18 April 2013 – via www.bbc.com.
"Professional boxers will be allowed to compete at Rio Olympics". The Guardian.
"Feisty USA Boxing President John Brown Sees Better Times Ahead". The Sweet Science.
"WBC forbids its champions and ranked fighters from going to Olympics". boxingnewsonline.net.
"Pro Boxers at the Olympics: An Opportunity, or a Dangerous Power Grab?".
"Andrew Eisele (2005). Olympic Boxing Rules, About.com". Boxing.about.com. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
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"Learn about the different boxing styles. BoxingBeginners.com, the main source of Boxing for Beginners, learn how to box!". Archived from the original on 11 March 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
James Roberts and Alexander Skutt, The Boxing Register, 1999, p.162
James Roberts and Alexander Skutt, The Boxing Register, 1999, p.254
James Roberts and Alexander Skutt, The Boxing Register, 1999, p.384
"The 15 Greatest Composite Punchers of All Time". Boxing.com. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
James Roberts and Alexander Skutt, The Boxing Register, 1999, p.337
James Roberts and Alexander Skutt, The Boxing Register, 1999, p.120
James Roberts and Alexander Skutt, Joe Frazier, The Boxing Register, 1999, p.204
James Roberts and Alexander Skutt, The Boxing Register, 1999, p.403
James Roberts and Alexander Skutt, The Boxing Register, 1999, p.353,
James Roberts and Alexander Skutt, The Boxing Register, 1999, p.75
James Roberts, Alexander Skutt, The Boxing Register, 1999, p.98, 99
James Roberts and Alexander Skutt, The Boxing Register, 1999, p.339, 340
Dempsey, Jack, 'Footwork' in Championship Fighting Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense, 1950
Dempsey, Jack, 'Stance' in Championship Fighting Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense, 1950
Patterson, Jeff. "Boxing for Fitness: Straight Right". nwfighting.com. Northwest Fighting Arts. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
Goldman, Herbert G. (2012). Boxing: A Worldwide Record of Bouts and Boxers. NC, USA: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-6054-0. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
"Phrases.org". Phrases.org. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
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Carter, Neil (June 2006). "Better and Safer Boxing: Ringside and Boardroom Medical Control of Boxing Careers in the Twentieth Century". Dora.dmu.ac.uk. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
Svinth, Joseph R. "Death Under the Spotlight" Electronic Journals of Martial Arts and Sciences, Accessed 25 November 2007
John Noble Wilford (January 14, 1983). "Physicians' Journal Calls for a Ban on Boxing". The New York Times. pp. A1, A23. Editorials in today's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association urged the banning of boxing in light of new evidence suggesting the chronic brain damage was prevalent among fighters ... New evidence of the correlation between boxing and brain damage was reported in the journal by a team of Ohio doctors, led by Dr. Ronald J. Ross, a radiologist in Mayfield Heights, Ohio ... [The AMA] concluded that for the time being [banning boxing] 'is not a realistic solution.' Instead, urging stricter medical supervision of the sport, it recommended establishment of a National Registry of Boxers ... Another recommendation was that all states provide for a ringside physician who would be 'authorized to stop any bout'.
Lundberg, George D. (1983). "Boxing should be banned in civilized countries". Journal of the American Medical Association. Jama.jamanetwork.com. 249 (2): 249–250. doi:10.1001/jama.1983.03330260068037.
BMA.org.uk Archived 8 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
"Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2007.
Australian Medical Association. "CMA.ca". Ama.com.au. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
"UK | BMA renews call for boxing ban". BBC News. 3 May 1998. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
"Football Concussion Controversy: Brain Damage, Tests, and More". Webmd.com. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
"Amateur boxers suffer brain damage too". New Scientist (2602): 4. 8 May 2007.
"Does Amateur Boxing Cause Brain Damage?". American Academy of Neurology. 2 May 2007. Archived from the original on 27 June 2007.
Stewart, W. F.; Gordon, B.; Selnes, O.; Bandeen-Roche, K.; Zeger, S.; Tusa, R. J.; Celentano, D. D.; Shechter, A.; Liberman, J. (15 March 1994). "Prospective study of central nervous system function in amateur boxers in the United States". American Journal of Epidemiology. 139 (6): 573–588. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a117047. ISSN 0002-9262. PMID 8172169.
"National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS)". CPSC.gov. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
"American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians". Aaprp.org. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
Hauser, Thomas. "Medical Issues and the AAPRP" Archived 10 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine SecondsOut.com, Accessed 25 November 2007
"Bouncing back". The Economist. The Economist. 15 January 2015.
Fish, Jim (26 June 2007). "Boxers bounce back in Sweden". BBC News.
Rudd, S.; Hodge, J.; Finley, R.; Lewis, P.; Wang, M. (2016). "Should We Ban Boxing?". British Medical Journal (Online). 352 – via ProQuest.
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"Inductee Index". www.ibhof.com. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
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Fleischer, Nat, Sam Andre, Nigel Collins, Dan Rafael (2002). An Illustrated History of Boxing. Citadel Press. ISBN 0-8065-2201-1
Fox, James A. (2001). Boxing. Stewart, Tabori and Chang. ISBN 1-58479-133-0
Gunn M, Ormerod D. The legality of boxing. Legal Studies. 1995;15:181.
Halbert, Christy (2003). The Ultimate Boxer: Understanding the Sport and Skills of Boxing. Impact Seminars, Inc. ISBN 0-9630968-5-0
Hatmaker, Mark (2004). Boxing Mastery: Advanced Technique, Tactics, and Strategies from the Sweet Science. Tracks Publishing. ISBN 1-884654-21-5
McIlvanney, Hugh (2001). The Hardest Game: McIlvanney on Boxing. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-658-02154-0
Myler, Patrick (1997). A Century of Boxing Greats: Inside the Ring with the Hundred Best Boxers. Robson Books (UK) / Parkwest Publications (US). ISBN 1-86105-258-8.
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Robert Anasi (2003). The Gloves: A Boxing Chronicle. North Point Press. ISBN 0-86547-652-7
Schulberg, Budd (2007). Ringside: A Treasury of Boxing Reportage. Ivan R. Dee. ISBN 1-56663-749-X
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1. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III, Oct 1, 1975.
“It will be a Killa and a Thrilla and a Chilla when I get The Gorilla in Manila.“
Ali made $9 million and Frazier about $5 million. The Philippines was under Martial Law when the bout occurred. Ali later admitted, “Frazier quit just before I did. I didn’t think I could fight any more.” A member of Ali’s corner has said that Ali was telling them to “cut (my gloves) off, cut ’em off“. ESPN’s SportsCentury named the Thrilla in Manila the 5th greatest sporting event of the 20th century. The Philippines’ first major shopping mall was named after Muhammad Ali and is found right beside the Araneta Coliseum.
2. Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns I, September 16, 1981.
Angelo Dundee, told Leonard, “You’re blowing it, son. You’re blowing it.“
Attendance of 23,618. Leonard made $11 million & Hearns $8 million for this 1981 Super Fight. Tickets were priced from $50 to $500. According to Sugar Ray Leonard “Everything was proceeding according to plan until, about two weeks before the bout, one of my sparring partners, Odell Hadley, accidentally struck me on my left eye with his elbow. . . . By the next morning, my eye started to swell, and there was talk of possibly postponing the fight. . . . There would be no postponement. I was determined to fight on September 16 as long as I could breathe.“
3. Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Meldrick Taylor I, March 17, 1990.
Among the most controversial fights of all-time. Ring Magazine Fight of the Decade for the 1990s. This was both Meldrick Taylor’s finest & most tragic hour. He would never be the same fighter after this brutal & ever so tight loss to the Mexican icon Chavez.
4. Aaron Pryor vs. Alexis Arguello I. November 12, 1982.
Pryor was due to challenge Sugar Ray Leonard for the Undisputed Welterweight Championship when Leonard was forced into retirement by a detached retina. Pryor vs. Arguello was thus the fall back option. Arguello was the 12-5 favorite in a timeless classic clash between two all-time greats of the sport.
5. Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns, April 15, 1985.
“The most electrifying eight minutes ever“
“The War” was the promotional name given to this clash by Bob Arum. The Motorcity Cobra had recently moved up from welterweight to junior middleweight then to middleweight. Hearns was seen as one of the hardest punchers ever, scoring knock outs in 30 of his first 32 professional bouts.
6. Rocky Marciano vs. Jersey Joe Walcott. September 23, 1952.
Rocky Marciano was trailing on points going into the 13th when an atomic right that was destined for boxing folklore put Jersey Joe Walcott down and out.
7. George Foreman vs. Ron Lyle. January 24, 1976.
George Foreman was down twice in the 4th round. Ron Lyle went down in both the 4th and 5th rounds. Ring Magazine Fight of the Year for 1976 (& that’s saying something). This was timeless high-octane heavyweight fare.
8. Larry Holmes vs. Ken Norton. June 9, 1978.
Ring magazine makes the 15th round of Holmes vs. Norton 7 on their list of “The Most Exciting Rounds In Boxing History.” The same publication had Holmes 5th and Norton 22nd on the listing of “The 50 Greatest Heavyweights of All Time.“
9. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier I. March 8, 1971.
“Fight of the Century“
“You know, you’re in here with the God tonight” – Ali’s to Frazier
“If you are God, you’re in the wrong place tonight” – Frazier’s reply
10. Micky Ward vs. Arturo Gatti I, May 18, 2002.
“We told you it might be a candidate for fight of the year. We didn’t know it might be a candidate for fight of the century.” Jim Lampley
Gains points for the incredible all action displays from both fighters.
11. Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Marvin Hagler. April 6, 1987.
The decision was exceptionally controversial. Jose Guerra’s score of 118-110 for Leonard was widely criticized. “JoJo Guerra should be put in jail,” said Pat Petronelli, Hagler’s co-trainer. Having watched the fight myself perhaps 30 or 40 times & submitted it to a 9 hour review I’m of the opinion that, ironically, it was Guerra’s card which was the most accurate of all. Hagler lost the first four rounds, almost beyond question, leaving himself a mountain to climb in the final 8 rounds – needing to win 7 of those 8 to win on the cards in the absence of a knock down. No knock down & no true revival was offered up as Leonard fought to a smarter strategy & implemented that game-plan to near perfection. It is often called the most controversial judging call in living memory – which is a harsh disservice to even mild injustices seen the world over every other week.
12. Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo I. May 7, 2005.
Both warriors sustained tremendous punishment in an all-time classic slugfest.
13. Henry Armstrong vs. Lou Ambers. August 17, 1938.
Ranked #12 Greatest Title Fight of All-Time by The Ring Magazine in 1996.
14. Riddick Bowe vs. Evander Holyfield I. November 13, 1992.
900,000 pay-per-view buys
1992 Fight of the Year (Ring Magazine)
Round 10 named Round of the Year (Ring Magazine)
Total Punches Holyfield Bowe
Landed 242 357
Thrown 475 711
Percent 51% 50%
15. Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman. October 30, 1974.
#1 contender Muhammad Ali becomes the second man to regain the World Heavyweight Championship. Don King‘s first major boxing promotion. The Rumble in the Jungle was shown on closed-circuit television throughout North America and was broadcast in 100 countries. The fight was meant to start at 4:00 a.m. Zaire time to accommodate North American television audiences.
16. Joe Gans vs. Battling Nelson. September 3, 1906.
With President Teddy Roosevelt’s son Kermit in attendance two of the greats of their era put on a 42 round classic under the Nevada sun with Gans earning $11,000 to Nelson’s $22,500.
17. Rocky Graziano vs. Tony Zale II, July 16, 1947.
Tony Zale took over thirty largely unanswered punches on the ropes, forcing the referee to stop the fight.
18. Joe Louis vs. Billy Conn. June 18, 1941.
The Brown Bomber was trailing on points on two of the three judges scorecards going into the 13th.
19. Nigel Benn vs. Gerald McClellan. February 25, 1995.
KO Magazine Fight of the Year 1995.
20. Willie Pep vs. Sandy Saddler II. February 11, 1949.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year for 1949.
21. Roberto Duran vs. Sugar Ray Leonard I. June 20, 1980.
Joe Frazier, ringside, was asked if Duran reminded him of anybody. It was a leading question, assuming that Duran’s ferocity would remind Frazier of himself. “Yeah,” Joe replied. “He reminds me of Charles Manson.“
Roberto Duran: “He is the best I have fought. He hit me hard a couple of times, but I was never in bad shape. He was pretty good, but he had to be because he was fighting me.”
Sugar Ray Leonard: “People questioned whether I could take the big punch. I showed them. I have to give Duran a lot of credit. He is the toughest man I’ve ever fought.“
Angelo Dundee: “You never fight to a guy’s strength. You try to offset it, and Ray didn’t. Duran was being Duran, and Ray was going with him.“
22. Dwight Muhammad Qawi vs. Evander Holyfield. July 12, 1986.
Considered perhaps the last great fifteen round title fight.
23. Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Erik Morales III. November 27, 2004.
Round 11 Ring Magazine Round of the Year
2004 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year
2004 Boxing Writers Association of America Fight of the Year
24. Carmen Basilio vs. Sugar Ray Robinson. September 23, 1957.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1957.
25. Nigel Benn vs. Chris Eubank I. November 18, 1990.
‘Whatever I may think of Chris Eubank, I have nothing but respect for the way he worked tonight‘ Nigel Benn.
26. Jim Jeffries vs. Tom Sharkey II. November 3, 1899.
Coney Island A.C., Brooklyn, New York, USA
“The battle was probably the fiercest that the American fight-going public ever witnessed.” New York Times.
27. Jersey Joe Walcott vs. Ezzard Charles III. July 18, 1951.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1951.
28. Ad Wolgast vs. Joe Rivers. July 4, 1912.
With simultaneous blows, Rivers & Wolgast knocked each other out. Both men were counted out but the win was given to Wolgast as he was deemed to have started to rise before the ten count. #11 Best Title Fight of All-Time according to Ring Magazine (1996).
29. Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Jake LaMotta VI. February 14, 1951.
The final clash between these two legends of the sport would come to be known as the “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.“
30. Cassius Clay vs. Sonny Liston I. February 25, 1964.
Clay would later remarked, “Liston’s not afraid of me, but he’s afraid of a nut.“
“If Sonny Liston whups me, I’ll kiss his feet in the ring, crawl out of the ring on my knees, tell him he’s the greatest, and catch the next jet out of the country.” – Clay, pre-fight.
“Eat your words!” – Clay to reporters after the fight.
Clay subsequently announced his membership of the Nation of Islam. Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1964, Fight of the Decade 1960’s and Upset of the Decade 1960’s.
31. Terry McGovern vs. George Dixon. January 9, 1900.
The singular highlight of Terry McGovern‘s stellar career and the beginning of the end of Dixon’s.
32. Matthew Saad Muhammad vs. Yaqui Lopez. July 13, 1980.
33. Carmen Basilio vs. Johnny Saxton II. September 12, 1956.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1956.
34. Tony Zale vs. Rocky Graziano I. September 27, 1946.
“[Zale] looked like a man who had been in hand-to-hand combat with a buzzsaw.”
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1946.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Decade for the 1940s.
35. Jack Dempsey vs. Luis Firpo. September 24, 1923.
Eleven knockdowns. Firpo down seven times in the first round alone.
“In the shortest and fiercest battle ever fought between heavyweights, Jack Dempsey knocked out Luis Firpo at the Polo Grounds. But no champion ever had a closer call.” New York Times.
36. Tony Canzoneri vs. Kid Chocolate. November 20, 1931.
“….One of the greatest lightweight championship battles in local ring annals.” New York Times.
37. James Toney vs. Vassiliy Jirov. April 26, 2003.
Harold Lederman had the 2003 Boxing Writers Association of America Fight of the Year even (113-113) though James Toney picked up the unanimous win in what was nothing short of a modern boxing classic.
38. Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward III. June 7, 2003.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 2003. A fitting finale to an historic trilogy.
39. Azumah Nelson vs. Salvador Sanchez. July 21, 1982.
Sanchez progressively gained the upper hand over Nelson during the late rounds and closed the show in emphatic fashion in the 15th round. Less than a month later Sanchez would die in a motorcycle accident in what remains one of the most tragic events in 20th century boxing history.
40. Gene Fullmer vs. Carmen Basilio. August 28, 1959.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1959
Sugar Ray Robinson‘s title became vacant due to inactivity.
41. Jack Johnson vs. Stanley Ketchel. October 16, 1909.
Jack Johnson apparently said, “He crossed me and I made him pay for it.“
25th Greatest Title Fight All-Time by Ring Magazine (1996).
42. Jimmy Young vs. George Foreman. March 17, 1977.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1977
Round 12 was Ring Magazine Round of the Year 1977
43. Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez II. August 4, 2007.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 2007
Round 3 was Ring Magazine Round of the Year 2007.
44. Ivan Robinson vs. Arturo Gatti I. August 22, 1998.
Total Punches Gatti Robinson
Landed 274 400
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year and Upset of the Year 1998.
45. Carmen Basilio vs. Tony DeMarco II. November 30, 1955.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1955.
46. Tony Lopez vs. Rocky Lockridge. July 23, 1988.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1988.
47. Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton III. September 28, 1976.
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, USA
48. Roberto Duran vs. Iran Barkley. February 24, 1989.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1989.
49. Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez. March 1, 2008.
Boxing Writers Association of America Fight of the Year 2008.
50. Victor Ortiz vs. Andre Berto. April 16, 2008.
Judge: Julie Lederman 111-114
Judge: Glenn Feldman 112-114
Judge: Clark Sammartino 110-115
51. Danny Lopez vs. Mike Ayala. June 17, 1979.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1979.
52. Michael Carbajal vs. Humberto Gonzalez. March 13, 1993.
With just one second left in round 7 and behind on all scorecards, Carbajal sensationally knocks Gonzalez out with a left hook. Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1993.
53. Rocky Marciano vs. Ezzard Charles. September 17, 1954.
“One of the greatest action heavyweight championship bouts of all-time“
54. Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera I. February 19, 2000.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 2000
Judge: Carol Castellano 114-113
Judge: Duane Ford 113-114
Judge: Dalby Shirley 115-112
55. Floyd Patterson vs. George Chuvalo. February 1, 1965.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1965.
56. Steve Cruz vs. Barry McGuigan. June 23, 1986.
Barry McGuigan was ahead before he was knocked down twice in the very last round.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1986.
57. Arnold Taylor vs. Romeo Anaya. November 3, 1973.
#15 Greatest Title Fight of All-Time (Ring Magazine 1996).
Ring Magazine’s #1 Bantamweight Fight of the Last 80 Years (1922-2002).
58. Ted Lewis vs. Jack Britton. August 31, 1915.
The first of 20 bouts between the two legendary fighters.
59. Somsak Sithchatchawal vs. Mahyar Monshipour. March 18, 2006.
2006 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year
2006 Boxing Writers Association of America Fight of the Year
2006 ESPN.com Fight of the Year
10th Round was named Ring Magazine Round of the Year
9th Round was named ESPN.com Round of the Year
60. Tommy Ryan vs. Tommy West. March 4, 1901.
#18 Greatest Title Fight of All-Time (Ring Magazine 1996).
61. Bobby Chacon vs. Cornelius Boza-Edwards. May 15, 1983.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1983.
Judge: Duane Ford 113-115
Judge: Lou Tabat 112-115
Judge: Dave Moretti 111-117
62. Joey Giardello vs. Henry Hank. January 30, 1962.
“This is the worst I’ve ever been hit in 14 years. This man hit like a mule. But I won by a slight edge.” Joey Giardello
63. Chartchai Chionoi vs. Efren Torres I. January 28, 1968.
“Thailand’s Chartchai Chionoi retained his world flyweight boxing championship in a blood-drenched duel Sunday.” United Press International.
64. Benny Leonard vs. Richie Mitchell. January 14, 1921.
Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
65. Max Schmeling vs. Joe Louis I. June 19, 1936.
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, USA
66. Stanley Ketchel vs. Billy Papke. July 4, 1909.
67. Jim Braddock vs. Max Baer. June 13, 1935.
Baer was a 10-to-1 favorite to win this bout.
68. Saman Sorgaturong vs. Humberto Gonzalez. July 15, 1995.
69. Paulie Ayala vs. Johnny Tapia. June 26, 1999.
Chaos followed the fight as the Tapia camp was livid at the decision. Tapia’s brother-in-law punched Todd DuBoef of Top Rank in the aftermath.
70. Nino Benvenuti vs. Emile Griffith. April 17, 1967.
71. Jake LaMotta vs. Laurent Dauthuille. September 13, 1950.
“All Dauthuille required when he bell sounded for the final round was to play safe, and had he boxed he would have come through triumphantly.“
72. Kid Gavilan vs. Carmen Basilio. September 18, 1953.
War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, USA
“I licked him. I licked him good. I want to fight him again as soon as I can. He never hurt me but he stuck his thumb in my eye with one of those bolos.” Carmen Basilio
73. Floyd Patterson vs. Ingemar Johansson III. March 13, 1961.
Patterson was knocked down twice in the 1st. Johansson also down once in the same round. Johansson was KO’d in the 6th.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1960.
74. Archie Moore vs. Yvon Durelle. December 10, 1958.
Canadian Press “Sporting Event of the Year” 1958.
75. Erik Morales vs. Paulie Ayala. November 16, 2002.
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Judge: John Keane 117-111
Judge: Burt A. Clements 117-111
Judge: Anek Hongtongkam 116-112
76. Dick Tiger vs. Gene Fullmer. October 23, 1962.
77. Giovani Segura vs. Ivan Calderon. August 28, 2010.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 2010.
78. Jeff Harding vs. Dennis Andries. June 24, 1989.
Mike Tyson, Jeff Fenech, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams and Maury Wills were all in the crowd that night.
“What amazes me with Harding, being that much taller, is that he’s coming in very close to Andries and throwing some tremendous body shots. For the public watching it they don’t look like they are devastating punches but they’re hurting him and for a man of that age it must be weakening.” – Alan Minter, ex-middleweight champion.
79. Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito I. July 26, 2008.
Total Punches Cotto Margarito
Landed 280 267
80. Jermain Taylor vs. Kelly Pavlik I. September 29, 2007.
“What a performance by young Pavlik. To get off the floor, the difference in this fight, one man got off the floor, the other man didn’t.” Larry Merchant
81. Arturo Gatti vs. Wilson Rodriguez. March 23, 1996.
It took over a minute for Rodriguez to get off the canvas and regain his senses.
82. Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield I. November 9, 1996.
Tyson started as a 25-1 favorite with bookmakers, but the odds were 6-1 by the time the fight went down. The Real Deal had lost two of his previous four outings – but this was to be perhaps his greatest hour as he tore down the myth of Mike Tyson. A fight five years in the making proved well worth the wait.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year and Upset of the Year 1996.
83. Arturo Gatti vs. Gabriel Ruelas. October 4, 1997.
Ring Magazine Knockout of the Year and Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1997.
84. Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Juan Diaz II. February 28, 2009.
“What you just saw was a really good young fighter knocked out by a great old fighter.” Max Kellerman
“February twenty-eighth is a little early to proclaim something the Fight of the Year, but good luck to the rest of the sport in producing something that good or that significant.” Jim Lampley
Boxing Writers Association of America Fight of the Year 2009
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 2009
85. Bob Foster vs. Chris Finnegan. September 26, 1972.
Empire Pool, Wembley, London, United Kingdom
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1972.
86. Orlando Salido vs. Juan Manuel Lopez II. March 10, 2012.
87. Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Wilfred Benitez. November 30, 1979.
“From a technical standpoint, there was more done in this fight than I’ve seen done for a long time. You saw two smart, scientific fighters—two champions in the ring at the same time. They brought the best out of each other.” Angelo Dundee
88. Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez I. May 8, 2004.
Judge: John Stewart 115-110
Judge: Burt A. Clements 113-113
Judge: Guy Jutras 110-115
89. Robert Quiroga vs. Akeem Anifowoshe. June 15, 1991.
“Even though Robert won the fight and proved that he was a real world champion, he was never the same after this fight. He just could never relentlessly attack another opponent after what had happened to Kid Akeem. He never admitted it, but I knew that he had lost his killer instinct in the ring.”
90. Rafael Limon vs. Bobby Chacon IV. December 11, 1982.
91. Wilfredo Gomez vs. Lupe Pintor. December 3, 1982.
92. Alexis Arguello vs. Ruben Olivares. November 23, 1974.
93. Mike Weaver vs. John Tate. March 31, 1980.
94. Naseem Hamed vs. Kevin Kelley. December 19, 1997.
Hamed down in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th. Kelley down once in the 2nd and twice in the 4th. This was a smack-down brawl.
95. Ruben Olivares vs. Chucho Castillo. April 18, 1970.
“Only two other men have gone the distance against me and tonight was the first time I’ve ever gone 15 rounds. I don’t like Chucho, but he’s not a bad little boxer. He gave me the worst round of my life when he put me on the floor in the 3rd round.” Ruben Olivares.
96. Aaron Pryor vs. Alexis Arguello II. September 9, 1983.
Alexis Arguello was down in each of rounds one, four and, finally, ten.
97. Carlos Monzon vs. Rodrigo Valdes. July 30, 1977.
Monzón won a sensational 15 round battle by scores of 144-141, 145-143 and 147-144.
98. Barney Ross vs. Jimmy McLarnin. May 28, 1934.
99. Harry Greb vs. Mickey Walker. July 2, 1925.
100. Jorge Fernando Castro vs. John David Jackson. December 10, 1994.
Ring Magazine Fight of the Year 1994.
Honourable Mentions:
Carlos Monzon vs. Nino Benvenuti
Quartey vs. De La Hoya
Bobo Olson vs. Kid Gavilan
Michael Moorer vs. Bert Cooper
Holyfield vs. Bowe III
Alejandro Gonzalez vs. Kevin Kelley
Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Kennedy Mckinney
Buster Douglas vs. Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Mike-Tyson
Boxer
Born June 30, 1966
Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality American
Mike Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight world champion boxer. As of the year 2012, he remains the youngest man to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) titles at the age of 20. He was also the first to hold all three titles concurrently.
Early Years
Michael Gerard “Mike” Tyson was born on June 30, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York. His father was listed on his birth certificate as Percell Tyson, but Mike considers Jimmy Kirkpatrick his true father because Kirkpatrick was living with his mother, Lorna Smith Tyson, at the time of his birth. Shortly thereafter, Kirkpatrick abandoned Mike, along with his mother, brother, and sister.
Mike Tyson was exposed to a criminal element early in his life while living in high crime areas. He indulged in petty thefts and fighting. His high voice and lisp were a frequent catalyst to engage in fisticuffs on the street, which he did often. By the time he was 13, he had been arrested more than three dozen times. He was reprimanded to the custody of a juvenile detention center in Johnstown, N.Y., where he began to hone his boxing skills.
Family Tragedies
When Mike as only 16, his mother passed away and he was all but left in the custody of Cus D’Amato, someone who became a true father figure to him. D’Amato was a boxing trainer who took young Mike under his wing, seeing the potential in the future champ.
Tyson’s sister died of a heart attack at the age of 24. His brother went on to become a doctor’s assistant at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. He and Mike have remained in contact with one another, although their visits are infrequent. He also considers Jimmie Lee Kirkpatrick, son of Jimmy Kirkpatrick, his half brother.
Amateur Career
In 1981 and 1982, Mike Tyson won Gold Medals at the Junior Olympics. He was also the 1984 National Golden Gloves Champion, although he did lose two amateur bouts to Henry Tillman, who eventually won the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Tyson’s Professional Career
mike-tysonMike Tyson’s professional debut was as an 18 year old boxer in 1985. His first 19 professional bouts all resulted in wins, with 12 of them being decided in the first round. He went on to win 26 of his first 28 professional bouts by knockout or technical knockout, with 16 of those being in the fight’s initial round.
Tyson’s first title bout was for the WBC Championship in 1986. His opponent was Trevor Berbick, whom he easily knocked out in the second round. He added the WBA belt with a unanimous decision over James Smith in 1987 and added to the collection by defeating IBF champ Tony Tucker by another unanimous conclusion.
Due to these title fights and his success, Tyson was named Ring Magazine’s Fighter of the Year and both 1986 and 1988.
Tyson Builds a Reputation
Tyson’s positive notoriety began with a 91-second knockout of reigning heavyweight champion Michael Spinks in 1988. He went on to defend that crown successfully on nine more occasions. These included triumphs over Frank Bruno, a renowned fighter from Britain, and Larry Holmes, who went on to compile a career mark of 69-6 with 44 KO’s.
Tyson’s life took a turn for the worse when he was upset by James “Buster” Douglas in a 1990 championship match. Douglas pummeled Tyson into submission and a round 10 knockout. Afterwards, the now former world champion attempted a comeback. He beat Donovan Ruddock twice in 1991, but then had to withdraw from a scheduled bout with the reigning heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield due to an injury.
Tyson’s Fall from Grace
Less than a year later, Tyson was charged and convicted of rape and served three years of a six year sentence. Another comeback attempt followed his release and he once again captured the WBC and WBA titles by defeating Frank Bruno again and Bruce Seldon.
Even after a somewhat successful comeback after being released from prison, Mike Tyson could not escape the negative public perception of him following his 1992 rape conviction. Allegations of continued abuse toward women followed him, including during his first marriage to actress Robin Givens.
Tyson was again incarcerated for a year after being convicted of assaulting two motorists during a road rage incident in Las Vegas. He has been convicted of at least two DUIs and other minor drug possession charges during his fall from grace.
He filed for bankruptcy in 2003 and officially retired from professional boxing in 2006, following another comeback attempt.
Later Professional Career
Two of Tyson’s most memorable fights involved Evander Holyfield. In 1996, the heavily favored Tyson lost to Holyfield and in the 1997 rematch, Tyson was disqualified for biting off part of Holyfield’s ear.
After being stripped of the WBC crown and losing the WBA to Evander Holyfield in 1996 and 1997, “Iron Mike” who had began his career as “Kid Dynamite” was no longer “The Baddest Man on the Planet”.