Modern boxing

 

[ London Prize Ring rules (1743)

 

   Main article: London Prize Ring rules

 

A straight right demonstrated in Edmund Price's The Science of Self Defense: A Treatise on Sparring and Wrestling, 1867

 

Records of Classical boxing activity disappeared after the fall of the Roman Empire. 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 Fistfight. The sport would later resurface in England during the early 18th 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.

 

Early fighting had no written rules. There were no weight divisions or round limits, and no referee. In general, it was very chaotic. The first boxing rules, called the London Prize Ring rules, were introduced by heavyweight champion Jack Brought on in 1743 to protect fighters in the ring where deaths sometimes occurred.[8] 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. Brought on also invented and encouraged the use of "mufflers", a form of padded gloves, which were used in training and exhibitions. The first ' boxing paper' was published in the late 18th century by successful Birmingham boxer ' William Futrell' who remained undefeated until his one hour and seventeen minute fight at Smitham Bottom, Croydon, on July 9, 1788 against a much younger "Gentleman" John Jackson which was attended by the Prince of Wales.

 

Although bare-knuckle fighting was in almost every aspect far more brutal than modern boxing, it did allow the fighters a single advantage not enjoyed by today's boxers: The London Prize Rules 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. 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, a certain amount of restraint was required when striking the head.

 

In 1838, the London Prize Ring rules were expanded in detail. 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 was 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 fouls.

 

Through the late nineteenth century, 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. 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.

 

 

Boxing (sometimes also known as Western boxing or pugilism) is a combat sport where two participants, generally of similar weight, fight each other with their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee and is typically engaged in during a series of one to three-minute intervals called rounds. Victory is achieved if the opponent is knocked down and unable to get up before the referee counts to ten seconds (a Knockout, or KO) or if the opponent is deemed too injured to continue (a Technical Knockout, or TKO). If there is no stoppage of the fight before an agreed number of rounds, a winner is determined either by the referee's decision or by judges' scorecards.

 

Although fighting with fists comes naturally to people, evidence of fist-fighting contests first appear on ancient Sumerian, Egyptian and Minoan reliefs. The ancient Greeks provide us our first historical records of boxing as a formal sport; they codified a set of rules and staged tournaments with professionals. The birth hour of boxing as a sport may be its acceptance as an Olympic game as early as 688 BC. Modern boxing evolved in Europe, particularly Great Britain.

 

In some countries with their own fighting sports, the sport is referred to as "English Boxing" (e.g. in France to contrast with French boxing, or in Burma with Burmese boxing and in Thailand with Thai boxing). There are numerous different styles of boxing practiced around the world.

 

Early history

Minoan youths boxing, Knossos fresco. Earliest documented use of 'gloves'.

 

Fist fighting is depicted in Sumerian relief carvings in the 3rd millennium BC, while an ancient Egyptian relief from the 2nd millenium BC depicts both boxers and spectators.[1] Both depictions show bare-fisted contests.[1] In 1927 Dr. E. A. Speiser, an archaeologist, discovered a Mesopotamian stone tablet in Baghdad, Iraq depicting two men getting ready for a prize fight. The tablet is believed to be 7,000 years old.[2] Fist-fighting or boxing is also described in several ancient Indian texts such as the Vedas, Ramayana and Mahabharata. Evidence was also found in excavations at the Indus Valley cities of Mohenjadaro and Harappa.[3] The earliest evidence for fist fighting with a 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]

 

Ancient Greek boxing

 

The lebo and the Etruscans called boxing pugilism (a term now synonymous with boxing). The Greeks and Etruscans were not the first to give rules to the sport, if we consider Mediterranean peoples who preceded them, such as the Shardana and the Egyptians. In the Mediterranean area while clinching was strictly forbidden, there were (unlike in modern boxing) no weight classes. Fights were not separated into rounds and had no time limit. They ended at a knockout, or at a fighter abandoning the fight, or sometimes at the death of one of the fighters.[1] Although gloves were used in practice,[1] in competition fighters wrapped their hands in strips of hardened leather which protected the fist and caused unpleasant injuries for the opponent.[1]

 

Homer's Iliad (ca. 675 BC) contains the first detailed account of a boxing fight (Book XXIII).[4] According to the Iliad, Mycenaean warriors included boxing among their competitions honoring the fallen, though it is possible that the Homeric epics reflect later culture. Another legend holds that the heroic ruler Theseus, said to have lived around the 9th century BC, invented a form of boxing in which two men sat face to face and beat each other with their fists until one of them was killed. In time, the boxers began to fight while standing and wearing gloves (with spikes) and wrappings on their arms below the elbows, although otherwise they competed naked.

 

Boxing was first accepted as an Olympic sport in 688 BC, being called Pygme or Pygmachia. Participants trained on punching bags (called a korykos). Fighters wore leather straps (called himantes) over their hands, wrists, and sometimes breast, to protect them from injury. The straps left their fingers free. Legend had it that the Spartans were the first to box as a way to prepare for sword and shield fighting.

 

Ancient Roman boxing

 

In ancient Rome, there were two forms of boxing both coming from Etruscan boxing. The athletic form of boxing remained popular throughout the Roman world. The other form of boxing was gladiatorial. Fighters were usually criminals and slaves who hoped to become champions and gain their freedom; however, free men, women, and even aristocrats also fought. Gladiators wore lead "cestae" over their knuckles and heavy leather straps on their forearms to protect against blows. The deeply scarred and cauliflower eared figure of the Boxer of Quirinal show what a brutal sport it could be (matches often ending in the death or maiming of an opponent).Eventually, fist fighting became so popular that even emperors started fighting, and the practice was promoted by Caesar Neronis. A fight between the agile Dares and the towering Entellus is described at length in the Roman national epic Aeneid (1st century BC).[5]

In 393 A.D., the Olympics were banned by the Christian emperor Theodosius, and in 500 A.D., boxing was banned altogether by Theodoric the Great as being an insult to God because it disfigures the face, the image of God. However, this edict had little effect outside the major cities of the Eastern Empire.[6] By this time, western Europe was no longer part of the Roman Empire. Boxing remained popular in Europe throughout the Middle Ages and beyond. It should be noted that wrestling, fencing and racing (both chariot and foot) were never banned by the late Romans, as they did not cause disfigurement.

A straight right demonstrated in Edmund Price's The Science of Self Defense: A Treatise on Sparring and Wrestling, 186

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.

 

There were twelve rules in all, and they specified that fights should be "a fair stand-up boxing match" in a 24-foot-square ring. Rounds were three minutes long 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.[10] 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 more modern stance in which the torso is tilted forward and the hands are held closer to the face.

 

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.[11]

 

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 Jack Dempsey. Shortly after this era, boxing commissions and other sanctioning bodies were established to regulate the sport and establish universally recognized champions.

 

   Further information: Professional boxing

 

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 predetermined number of three-minute rounds, a total of up 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 that connect, defense, knockdowns, and other, more subjective, measures. 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 knockout; 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 knockout (KO). A "technical knockout" (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 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, in which the referee counts no higher than eight to a boxer who regains his or her footing after a knockdown, allowing the referee time to assess if the boxer is able to continue.

 

In general, boxers are prohibited from hitting below the belt, holding, tripping, pushing, biting, spitting or wrestling. The boxer's shorts are raised so the opponent is not allowed to hit to the groin area. 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 nearest 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 decision" 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.

 

 

 

 

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), but instead of winning by decision, they tend to wear their opponents down using combinations and then move in to score the knockout. For a boxer to be effective using this style, she or he must be well rounded.

 

Notable punchers include Sam Langford,[20] Henry Armstrong[21] Joe Louis,[22] Sugar Ray Robinson,[23] Tony Zale, Carlos Monzon[24] and Khaosai Galaxy

 

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. 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. A brawler's most important assets are power and chin (the ability to absorb punishment while remaining able to continue boxing).

 

Notable brawlers include Stanley Ketchel,[25] Max Baer,[26] Rocky Graziano,[27] Sonny Liston[28] .

 

Swarmers/In-fighter

 

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 due to intense training resulting in superior endurance. Generally swarmers lack technique due to losing control of their emotions and the difficulty of maintaining finesse when constantly throwing punches. 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. Some in-fighters have been known for being notoriously hard to hit. The key to a swarmer is aggression, endurance, chin, and bobbing-and-weaving.

 

Notable swarmers include Harry Greb,[29] Jack Dempsey,[30] Rocky Marciano[31], Joe Frazier,Francisco Guilledo

 

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 puncher, and a puncher has an advantage over an in-fighter. 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."

 

Punchers 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 puncher, 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.

 

 

Headgear is mandatory in modern amateur boxing

Professional vs. amateur boxing

 

Throughout the 17th through 19th centuries, boxing bouts were motivated by money, as the fighters competed for prizes, 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. 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

 

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 four rounds of two minutes in the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, and three rounds of two 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 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 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.[12] 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[13] and three rounds professional bouts[14], 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 late 1980s, when the death of boxer Duk Koo Kim reduced the limit to twelve.

 

Headgear is not permitted in professional bouts, and boxers are generally allowed to take much more punishment 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.

Boxing style terminology

 

In boxing, no two fighters' styles are identical. A boxer's style evolves as he or she applies what they learn in practice, and performs in such a way as to suit him or herself. Nonetheless, many terms are used which broadly describe a boxer's style. Note that a boxer is not necessarily limited to being described by one of these terms. A fighter may be accomplished at both in-fighting and out-fighting, a good example of this being Bernard Hopkins.

 

Boxer/Out-fighter

Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali

 

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 (such as Lennox Lewis) 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. Out-fighters need reach, hand speed, reflexes, and footwork.

 

Notable out-fighters include Gene Tunney,[16] Billy Conn,[17] Willie Pep,[18] Muhammad Ali.[19]

Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali

Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali

Although in-fighters struggle against heavy punchers, 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. Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney and Ali are considered to be in the same group as the greatest heavyweight fighters ever.

 

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 and Lennox Lewis, enjoyed their best successes against sluggers.

 

Heavyweight undefeated champion Gene Tunney

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 hand/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.

 

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 or a synthetic substitute is used to practice power punching and body blows. In addition to these distinctive pieces of equipment, boxers also utilize more general use training equipment to build strength, speed, and agility. Common training equipment includes free weights, rowing machines, jump rope, and medicine balls.

 

Headgear, required in amateur boxing and used by professionals when sparring, protects against cuts, scrapes, and swelling.

 

History of ABAE

 

In 1880, 'Mr R Frost - Smith' arranged a meeting at the offices of 'The Referee' (in London) on 21st January with a view to organising a sports governing body for amateur boxing. The Meeting formed the idea of establishing the 'Amateur Boxing Association' (ABA). Those in attendance were:

 

   * H. Sampson J.G Chambers

   * R. Frost-Smith J.H Douglas

   * T. Anderson G.J Garland

   * E.T Campbell R. Wakefield

    * J.B Angle                       

 

At the meeting of the 21st January 1880) it was agreed to call a further general meeting to put into action their idea.  At this 'General Meeting' Mr Frost-Smith was appointed as the ABA's first ever 'Honorary Secretary' he would also go on to become the first ever 'ABA National Heavyweight Champion'. A truly remarkable man. From this small gathering grew the sport of amateur boxing, not just in England but throughout the world.

 

A set of 12 rules were agreed to govern the sport of boxing (these rules have continued to evolve and develop up to the present day).

 

Original 12 rules:

 

  1. In all open competitions the ring shall be roped, and of not less than 12 ft or more than 24 ft square.

  2. Competitors to box in light boots or shoes (without spikes), or in socks, with knickerbockers, breeches or trousers, and jerseys.

  3. Weights to be, for Championship Competitions - Bantam, not exceeding 8st 4lb; Feather, not exceeding 9st; Light, not exceeding 10st; Middle, not exceeding 11st 4lb; Heavy, any weight.  Competitors to weigh on the day of competition in boxing costume, without gloves.  For all other competitions weights to be decided by the Association or Club promoting the same.

  4. In all open competitions the number of rounds to be contested shall be three.  The duration of the first two rounds shall be three minutes, and of the final round four minutes, and the interval between each round shall be one minute.

  5. Where a competitor draws a bye, such competitor shall be bound to spar such bye for the specified time, and with such opponent as the judges of such competition may approve.

  6. Each competitor shall be entitled to the assistance of one second only, and no advice or coaching shall be given to any competitor by his second, or by any other person, during the progress of any round.

  7. In all open competitions the result shall be decided by two judges and a referee, who shall be stationed part.  The judges shall award, at the end of each of the first two rounds, five marks, and, at the end of the third round, seven marks to the best man, and a proportionate number to the other competitor.  At the end of each bout the judges' papers are collected by an official appointed for the purpose.  In the case where the judges agree, such official shall announce the name of the winner, but in cases where the judges disagree, such official shall so inform the referee, who shall thereupon himself decide.  Two opinions must agree as to a winner, otherwise a further round of two minutes be ordered by the Referee.

  8. In all competitions the decision shall be given in favour of the competitor who displays the best style and obtains the greatest number of points.  The points shall be for "attack", direct clean hits with the knuckles of either hand on any part of the front or sides of head, or body above the belt; "defence", guarding, slipping, ducking, counter-hitting, or getting away.  Where points are otherwise equal, consideration to be given to the man who does most of the leading off.

  9. The Referee shall have power to stop a round if in his opinion a man is unfit to continue, and that man shall be deemed to have lost the bout.  In the event of a competitor being down, his opponent shall retire out of distance, and shall not re-commence boxing until told to do so by the Referee.

 10. The Referee may disqualify a competitor for delivering a foul blow, whether intentionally or otherwise, and, after cautioning the offender, he may also disqualify any competitor who is boxing unfairly by flicking or hitting with the open glove, by hitting with the inside or "butt" of the hand, the wrist, shoulder, or elbow, or by wrestling or roughing.

 11. In all competitions any competitor failing to come up when time is called shall lose the bout.

 12. That the decision of the judges or referee, as the case may be, shall be final and without appeal.           

 

1884 witnessed the first recognised President of the ABA, Mr Frost-Smith (1894-1888) who was affiliated to Clayton ABC.  Lord Oaksey being the last post-holder (1973-1993).  This post continues to the present day and will soon be appointed to.  The annual Club Fee was one guinea.

 

In 1892 the Army Boxing Association was formed, followed by the Royal Navy in 1895 and the RAF in 1919.

 

Since 1880 the rules evolved.  For example In 1895 a further rule was added (4th January) "no amateur shall (without the permission of the Association) spar in public with a professional, except at an Assault-at-Arms or Entertainment promoted by one of the affiliated clubs".

 

The 'ABA' continued to go from strength to strength.  International 'matches' were being arranged and 'Great Britain' teams being represented at the London Olympics in 1908.  

 

The administration of boxing was beginning to develop.  In 1911 the Midland Counties were formed followed in 1914 by the Northern Counties.

 

1918 Metropolitan Police Boxing Club formed.

 

In 1920 the ABA added (3) additional weights to the existing (5).  Also 'London' was split into (4) Divisions to accommodate the number of ABA entries, so Divisional Championships were born!  1920 witnessed the birth of the 'Schoolboy Championships'.  Split between 'Junior' and 'Senior' across (4) weights in juniors and (5) across seniors.  The first Championships took place in February 1920 and the second in December 1920!  The London Schools ABA was formed the following year.

 

In 1920 the newly formed Federation Internalise de Boxe Amateur and later to become (AIBA) adopted the 'ABA's' rules of boxing for the World Sport.

 

It was 1924 when the European Championships were launched.  However no-one boxed!  It was agreed the title would be awarded to the highest placed European in the Olympic Games (Paris Olympics).  Great Britain won titles at the 1925 Championships (Stockholm, Sweden) but did not send a team in 1927 (Berlin, Germany) due to cost concerns!

 

The first Patron of the ABA was announced in 1929 with the appointment of His Royal Highness Prince of Wales (1929 - 1936).  Today the ABAE Patron is His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh (since 1953).

 

In 1930 the ABA sent a full team to the then British Empire Games, held in the City of Hamilton (Canada).  The start of a long tradition of the (now) Commonwealth Games.

 

In 1931 the ABA appointed Mr Bert Brundle to the post of 'Chief Clerk to the Council'.  A post he served in from 1931 until 1963! A lifetime commitment to the sport.

 

In 1932 the ABA appointed its first Life President, Mr Val Barker (Belsize ABC) who served from 1932 until his death in 1941.  The award presented at every Olympic Games since 1936 to the most stylish boxer at the Games is names the Val Barker Trophy in his honour.  Mr Barker had been the ABA Honorary Secretary 1911 - 1926.

 

The ABA continued to grow.  The Western Counties was formed in 1933 followed by the Southern Counties in 1945 and London County in 1950.  Northern County split in 1957 (1914 - 1957) to become the North West County and North East County.  The remaining Counties formed in 1968 (Home County) and 1970 (Eastern County).  In 2005 North East County split into Yorkshire County and Tyne, Tees and Wear County to complete the nine Associations.

 

In 1997 the ABA recommended the use of gumshields for sparring and all contests.

 

The sport did not stand still, with new championships being established; Senior Novice ABAs, Female Senior ABAs, and the most recent Golden Belt (2004).  Rules and Regulations likewise have continued to develop such as

 

   * compulsory retirement of boxers at 35 (1985)

    * drug testing (1985)

   * wearing of headguards (1991).                       

 

The road however has not always been a smooth one.  In 1993 Scottish and Welsh boxers were excluded from the ABA National Championships as they became an 'all England' affair.  It was around this time the 'ABA' became under increasing political and financial pressures.  In 1993, an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) was held on the 3rd April (at the Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, (Oxford) following a vote of no confidence at a EGM where a decision was taken to form an Emergency Steering Committee to formulate plans for the development of the sport.  At this time it was feared that the ABA was heading for bankruptcy.  This followed a vote of no confidence on the 13th March 1993.  After a stormy meeting the resolution was passed 49 votes to 5.

 

On the 14th May 1993 a limited company was formed - The Amateur Boxing Association of England.  The ABAE moved from its long time headquarters to Crystal Palace to reduce expenditure.  Affiliation fees were introduced.  The sport witnessed a decline in popularity and in participation.  The sport did not enjoy full public support and faced continuous calls for its abolition on health grounds inspite of the weight of medical evidence which demonstrates the safety of amateur boxing.

 

Internationally, the sport did not fulfil its potential.  It wasn't until the Sydney Olympic Games (Australia) in 2000 did England once again produce an Olympic Champion (Audley Harrison, Heavyweight Repton ABC).  For these games only two English boxers qualified.  For the Athens Olympic Games (Greece) in 2004 only (1) boxer qualified.

 

The sport had not always lived up to its potential during the nineties and in 2005 the entire Board of the ABAE (now over thirty members) resigned to allow a new Constitution, Governance Structure and Articles of Association (PDF [7.4Mb]. Download time 29 minutes 18 seconds based on a 56k modem. Will open a new browser window.) to be established.  This brave decision assisted in the publication of the 'Whole Sports Plan' to be put in to place.

 

The ABAE will now be judged by its international and domestic success in terms of

 

    * participation at grass-roots

   * quality of delivery, and

   * international success.                       

 

A good start has been made but a lot remains to be delivered.  The bronze medal (Neil Perkins 69kg, Kirdale AB) at the 2005 World Games held in China was a good indicator.  The 2006 Commonwealth Games proved successful with five Gold, one silver and one bronze medal.  A bronze medal at the 2006 European Championships continues to demonstrate progress.  Backed up with schoolboy, female and cadet, European and world medals.

 

Journey of the ABAE

 

Introduction

 

Scroll through the rich history of the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) (1993) and the former Amateur Boxing Association (1880 - 1993).   This 'snap shot' over time highlights the development of the sport, the introduction of key rules and regulation, and the establishment of major domestic and international tournaments.   We hope you enjoy the journey ......

 

 

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