Boxing (
pugilism,
prize fighting,
the sweet science or in
Greek pygmachia) is a
combat sport in which two people engage in a contest of strength, speed, reflexes, endurance, and will, by throwing
punches with
gloved hands against each other.
Amateur boxing is both an
Olympic and
Commonwealth
sport and is a common fixture in most of the major international
games—it also has its own World Championships. Boxing is supervised 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, resigns by
throwing in a towel, or is pronounced the winner or loser based on the judges' scorecards at the end of the contest.
The origin of boxing may be its acceptance by the
ancient Greeks as an
Olympic game
in BCE 688. Boxing evolved from 16th- and 18th-century prizefights,
largely in Great Britain, to the forerunner of modern boxing in the
mid-19th century, again initially in Great Britain and later in the
United States.
Early history
See also Ancient Greek boxing
First depicted in
ancient Egyptian relief from the
2nd millennium BC depicts both fist-fighters and spectators.
[1] Both depictions show bare-fisted contests.
[1] Other depictions in the 2nd millennium BC can be seen in reliefs from the
Mesopotamian nations of
Assyria and
Babylonia, and in
Hittite art from
Asia Minor. The earliest evidence for fist fighting with any kind of gloves can be found on
Minoan Crete (c. 1500–900 BC), and on
Sardinia, if we consider the
boxing statues of Prama mountains (c. 2000–1000 BC).
[1]
Early boxing
Boxing was originally nothing more than bare fist fighting between
two willing and sometimes unwilling competitors. As a sport, fighting
has been around for thousands of years where it first arose in parts of
Africa, including Ancient Egypt before spreading to parts of Southern
Europe. The Ancient Greeks believed that fighting was a game played by
the Gods on Olympus.
The
Romans had a keen interest in the sport and fighting soon became a common spectator
sport. 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 which then led to a more sinister weapon called the myrmex (‘limb piercer’). 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 393
AD, during the Roman
gladiator
period, boxing was abolished due to excessive brutality. It was not
until the late 17th century that boxing re-surfaced in London.
Modern boxing
Broughton's rules (1743)
A straight right demonstrated in
Edmund Price's
The Science of Defense: 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.
[2]
This is also the time when the word "boxing" first came to be used. It
should be noted, that 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.
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.
[3]
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 also invented and
encouraged the use of "mufflers", a form of padded gloves, which were
used in training and exhibitions. The first paper on boxing was
published in the early 1700s by a successful Cornish Wrestler from
Bunnyip, Cornwall, named
Sir Thomas Parkyns, who was also a Physics student of Sir
Isaac Newton.
The paper was actually a single page in his extensive Wrestling &
Fencing manual that entailed a system of headbutting, punching, eye
gouging, chokes, and hard throws not common in modern Boxing.
[4] Parkyns added the techniques described in his paper to his own fighting style.
These rules did allow the fighters an advantage not enjoyed by
today's boxers; they permitted the fighter to drop to one knee to begin a
30-second count at any time. Thus a fighter realizing he was in trouble
had an opportunity to recover. However, this was considered "unmanly"
[5] and was frequently disallowed by additional rules negotiated by the Seconds of the Boxers.
[6]
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 as almost all
period manuals have powerful straight punches with the whole body
behind them to the face (including forehead) as the basic blows.
[7][8]
London Prize Ring rules (1838)
In
1838, the London Prize Ring rules were codified. Later revised in 1853, they stipulated the following:
[9]
- Fights occurred in a 24 feet (7.3 m)-square ring surrounded by ropes.
- If a fighter were knocked down, he had to rise within 30 seconds under his own power to be allowed to continue.
- Biting, headbutting and hitting below the belt were declared illegal.
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.
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.
[10] 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 were 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.
[11]
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.
Modern
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.
[12]
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.
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.
[13]
Throughout the early twentieth century, boxers struggled to achieve legitimacy, aided by the influence of promoters like
Tex Rickard and the popularity of great champions from John L. Sullivan to
David Olivas.
Rules
The
Marquess of Queensberry rules have been the general rules governing modern boxing since their publication in 1867.
A boxing match typically consists of a determined number of
three-minute rounds, a total of up to 12 rounds (formerly 15). 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 that connect,
defense, knockdowns, 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 signaled 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.
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
knock-out
(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 feels may be in danger, even if
no knockdown has taken place. After counting the referee will observe
the fighter, and decide if he is fit to continue. For scoring purposes, a
standing eight count is treated as a knockdown.
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 neck or head
(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 these days, 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
Throughout the 17th through 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.
[14]
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.
Amateur boxing
-
Main article:
Amateur boxing
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. 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.
[15]
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
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-
[16] and three-round professional bouts,
[17]
especially in Australia. Through the early twentieth 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 twentieth century until the
early 1980s, when the
death of boxer Duk Koo Kim 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, however, 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.
[18]
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 it is determined by
that individual's physical and mental attributes. There are three main
styles in boxing:
out-fighter ("boxer"),
brawler (or "slugger"), and
In-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, swarmer beats boxer, and brawler beats swarmer.
[19]
Boxer/out-fighter
Heavyweight champion
Muhammad Ali is 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.
[20] Out-fighters need reach, hand speed, reflexes, and footwork.
Notable out-fighters include
Muhammad Ali,
Larry Holmes,
Joe Calzaghe,
Floyd Mayweather Jr.,
Wilfredo Gómez,
Salvador Sanchez,
Cecilia Brækhus,
Gene Tunney,
[21] Ezzard Charles,
[22] Willie Pep,
[23] Meldrick Taylor,
Ricardo Lopez,
Roy Jones, Jr., and
Sugar Ray Leonard. 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),
[24]
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
Manny Pacquiao,
Wladimir Klitschko,
Lennox Lewis,
Joe Louis,
[25] Wilfredo Gómez,
Oscar de la Hoya,
Archie Moore,
Miguel Cotto,
Nonito Donaire,
Sam Langford,
[26] Henry Armstrong,
[27] Sugar Ray Robinson,
[28] Tony Zale,
Carlos Monzón,
[29] Alexis Argüello,
Erik Morales,
Terry Norris,
Marco Antonio Barrera,
Naseem Hamed,
Thomas Hearns and
Victor Ortiz.
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 ones 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
Vitali Klitschko,
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.,
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,
Roger Mayweather,
Pernell Whitaker and
Sergio Gabriel Martinez.
Counter punchers usually wear their opponents down by causing them to
miss their punches. The more the opponent misses, the faster they'll
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
A brawler is a fighter who generally lacks finesse and footwork in
the ring, but makes up for it through sheer punching power. Mainly
Irish,
Irish-American,
Puerto Rican,
Mexican, and
Mexican-American
boxers popularized this style. 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 favour 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,
Danny García,
Wilfredo Gómez,
Sonny Liston,
John L. Sullivan,
Max Baer,
Prince Naseem Hamed,
Ray Mancini,
David Tua,
Arturo Gatti,
Micky Ward,
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
Undefeated heavyweight champion
Rocky Marciano was an excellent swarmer and in-fighter but also had the power of a brawler.
In-fighters/swarmers (sometimes called "pressure fighters") attempt
to stay close to an opponent, throwing intense flurries and combinations
of
hooks and uppercuts. 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 utilize 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, 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 where 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
Julio César Chávez,
Miguel Cotto,
Joe Frazier,
Danny García,
Mike Tyson,
Manny Pacquiao,
Saúl Álvarez,
Rocky Marciano,
Jack Dempsey,
[30] Wayne McCullough,
Harry Greb,
[31][32] David Tua and
Ricky Hatton.
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.
Style matchups
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 utilize 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.
A mouth guard 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 two basic 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. In addition to these distinctive pieces of
equipment, boxers also utilize sport-nonspecific training equipment to
build strength, speed, agility, and stamina. Common training equipment
includes free weights, rowing machines,
jump rope, and
medicine balls.
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
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.
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 offcenter.
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.
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.
Modern boxers can sometimes be seen tapping their cheeks or foreheads
with their fists in order to remind themselves to keep their hands up
(which becomes difficult during long bouts). Boxers are taught to push
off with their feet in order to move effectively. Forward motion
involves lifting the lead leg and pushing with the rear leg. Rearward
motion involves lifting the rear leg and pushing with the lead leg.
During lateral motion the leg in the direction of the movement moves
first while the opposite leg provides the force needed to move the body.
Punches
There are four basic punches in boxing: the jab, cross, hook and
uppercut. 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.
-
-
Cross - in counter-punch with a looping
-
-
- Jab
– A quick, straight punch thrown with the lead hand from the guard
position. The jab is accompanied by a small, clockwise rotation of the
torso and hips, while the fist rotates 90 degrees, becoming horizontal
upon impact. As the punch reaches full extension, the lead shoulder 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.[33]
- Weight is also transferred from the rear foot to the lead foot,
resulting in the rear heel turning outwards as it acts as a fulcrum for
the transfer of weight. Body rotation and the sudden weight transfer is
what gives the cross its power. Like the jab, a half-step forward may be
added. After the cross is thrown, the hand is retracted quickly and the
guard position resumed. It can be used to 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 (knuckles pointing forward) and the elbow bent. The
rear hand is tucked firmly against the jaw to protect the chin. The
torso and hips are rotated clockwise, propelling the fist through a
tight, clockwise arc across the front of the body and connecting with
the target.
- At the same time, the lead foot pivots clockwise, turning the left
heel outwards. Upon contact, the hook's circular path ends abruptly and
the lead hand is pulled quickly back into the guard position. A hook may
also target the lower body 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 and Mike Tyson.
- 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", 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.
Defense
There are several basic maneuvers a boxer can use in order to evade or block punches, depicted and discussed below.
- 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.
- A slipper will also most likely be a good counter puncher.
Most of the time a slipper will immediately strike their opponent back.
- 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 defense
which intentionally takes the incoming punch on the palm portion of the
defender's glove. Floyd Mayweather Jr., is a master of this technique.
- 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.
Philly Shell or Shoulder roll defense -This is actually a variation
of the cross-arm defense. The lead arm (left for an orthodox fighter and
right for a southpaw) is placed across the torso usually somewhere in
between the belly button and chest and the lead hand rests on the
opposite side of the fighter's torso. The back hand is placed on the
side of the face (right side for orthodox fighters and left side for
southpaws). The lead shoulder is brought in tight against the side of
the face (left side for orthodox fighters and right side for southpaws).
This style is used by fighters who like to counterpunch.
[35]
To execute this guard a fighter must be very athletic and
experienced. This style is so effective for counterpunching because it
allows fighters to slip punches by rotating and dipping their upper body
and causing blows to glance off the fighter. After the punch glances
off, the fighter's back hand is in perfect position to hit their
out-of-position opponent. The shoulder lean is used in this stance. To
execute the shoulder lean a fighter rotates and ducks (to the right for
orthodox fighters and to the left for southpaws) when their opponents
punch is coming towards them and then rotates back towards their
opponent while their opponent is bringing their hand back.
The fighter will throw a punch with their back hand as they are
rotating towards their undefended opponent. The weakness to this style
is that when a fighter is stationary and not rotating they are open to
be hit so a fighter must be athletic and well conditioned to effectively
execute this style. To beat this style, fighters like to jab their
opponents shoulder causing the shoulder and arm to be in pain and to
demobilize that arm. Fighters that used this defense include Sugar Ray
Robinson, Ken Norton (also used this defense), Pernell Whitaker, James
Toney, and Floyd Mayweather Jr.. Floyd Mayweather Jr., is considered to
be the master of this technique.
Less common 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 they 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.
- 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 Gavilan. Middleweight champion Ceferino Garcia is regarded as the inventor of the bolo punch.
- Overhand right :
The overhand right is a punch not found in every boxer's arsenal.
Unlike the right cross, which has a trajectory parallel to the ground,
the overhand right 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 right has become a popular weapon in other tournaments that involve fist striking.
- 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. Hatton managed to get himself to his feet after the
knockdown but was clearly dazed and it was only a matter of moments
before Mayweather landed a flurry of punches which sent Hatton crashing
to the canvas, giving Mayweather a TKO victory in the 10th round and
handing Hatton his first defeat.
Ring corner
Boxer Yusuf Ahmed in corner of the ring.
In boxing, each fighter is given a corner of the ring where he rests
in between rounds 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 and
blood. This is of particular importance because many fights are stopped
because of cuts 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).
[36] 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
Knocking a person unconscious or even causing
concussion may cause permanent
brain damage.
[37] There is no clear division between the force required to knock a person out and the force likely to kill a person.
[38] Since 1980, more than 200 amateur boxers, professional boxers and
Toughman fighters have died due to ring or training injuries.
[39] In 1983, the
Journal of the American Medical Association
called for a ban on boxing. The editor, Dr. George Lundberg, called
boxing an "obscenity" that "should not be sanctioned by any civilized
society."
[40] Since then, the British,
[41] Canadian
[42] and Australian
[43] Medical Associations also 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."
[44]
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.
[45] In 2007, one study of amateur boxers showed that protective headgear did not prevent brain damage,
[46] and another found that amateur boxers faced a high risk of brain damage.
[47]
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 and accident rates analyzed by National Safety Council show
amateur boxing is a comparatively safe sport.
In 1997, the American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians
was established to create medical protocols through research and
education to prevent injuries in boxing.
[48][49]
Professional boxing is forbidden in
Norway,
Iceland,
Iran and
North Korea. It was banned in
Sweden until 2007
[50] when the ban was lifted but strict restrictions, including four three-minute rounds for fights, were imposed.
[citation needed] It was banned in Albania from 1965 till the fall of Communism in 1991; it is now legal.
Boxing Hall of Fame
Stamp honoring undefeated heavyweight champion
Gene Tunney
The sport of boxing has two internationally recognized boxing halls of fame; the
International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) and the
World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF), with the IBHOF being the more widely recognized boxing hall of fame.
The WBHF was founded by Everett L. Sanders in 1980. 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.
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
[citation needed] include Salvador Sanchez, Fabio Martella, 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.
Governing and sanctioning bodies
- Governing Bodies
- Sanctioning Bodies
- Amateur
