Brilliant BRILLIANT article about the history and origins of Boxing

[smashup]

People back then had none of lifes comforts like we do.
Tougher lifes = Tougher harder people.
I think a lot of them were given alcohol between rounds too which would have helped numb the pain and one fighter the legendary Daniel Mendoza was said to have trained by punching tree trunks to harden his fists, I've read lots of different stories from various sources that back that up

Also so many phrases we associate with boxing and everyday life today date back 100s of years.

Purse stakes
Seconds
Toeing the line
Up to scratch