Thread: Not the Latest But the First Boxing Talk

As a former history teacher I have noted, thanks to Wikipedia, that the birth hour of boxing as a sport may be its acceptance by the ancient Greeks as an Olympic game as early as 688 BC. 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. In 2004 boxing was ranked as the most difficult sport in the world, again according to a Wikipedia post on the subject.

I used to teach Greek history as well as early modern history, but boxing never got a look-in in the syllabi. If 688 is correct that makes boxing 2701 years old. One writer whose name is Monte occasionally gets requests from high school students doing research material on the history of boxing; instead of writing out several long replies a year Monte has made this link as an information resource for a student to build on: wellhellobigboy.com

I don't buy that, surely the Bahais were talking about boxing well before they were walking up right, let alone by the continental divide.

It all started with John L Sullivan.

Belated thanks for your responses folks. Just to continue with Wikipedia's story.....-Ron
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Boxing (pugilism, prize fighting, the sweet science[1] 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 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....for more go to: Boxing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia