Boxing and wrestling are among the most ancient forms of martial arts. Both were featured in the ancient Olympic Games, but their fates diverged.
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Boxing lost its popularity and for a long time was considered a «masculine diversion.» However, with the introduction of the Marquess of Queensberry rules in 1867, boxing began regaining lost ground. Many great athletes emerged from the ring, captivating audiences not only with powerful punches but also with exquisite technique. Furthermore, the significance of certain bouts—for example, Muhammad Ali’s fights in Zaire and on the Philippines—extended far beyond purely athletic competition.
688 год до н. э.
1. Pugilistic Fight
Boxer, or «Quirinal Warrior.» Bronze. Ancient Greece. 1st Century BCE.
Marco Dente. Boxing match between Ettel and Daret. Engraving. 1498–1532
John Hopper. Richard Humphries, boxer. Oil, canvas. 18th Century
Samuel William Forbes. The famous battle between Richard Humphries and Daniel Mendoza. 1788
Wrestling was officially included in the list of ancient Olympic Games competitions.
1867 год
2. The Queensberry Labeling Guidelines
Marquis Queensberry. 1896
Thomas Rowlandson (attributed). The famous battle between Thomas Johnson and Michael Ryan, February 11, 1789. Colored engraving.
Boxing match for 200 guineas between Dutch Sam and Medley, held on May 31, 1810, at Moulsey-Hurst near Hampton. June 5, 1810. Colored engraving.
The Queensberry Rules were the precursor to modern boxing regulations. They were the first to mandate the use of gloves. If a boxer went down, they were given ten seconds to rise; otherwise, a knockout was recorded.
John Lawrence Sullivan. November 1887. Lithograph
John Lawrence Sullivan. Chromolithography. 1889
Fight between Jack Kilrain and John Lawrence Sullivan, 1889. Engraving
Charles Curry. Boxing match between Jack Johnson and Tommy Burns at Sydney Stadium. Rushcutters Bay, Sydney. December 26, 1908. Photograph
American John Sullivan was the first boxing superstar. He is the last world champion in heavyweight boxing without gloves in history. He was the first American athlete to earn over $1 million. During his tours across the United States, he knocked out anywhere from four to five hundred opponents, depending on the assessment. He offered $1,000 to anyone willing to fight him and last for at least four rounds. No one succeeded.
1908 год
4. First Black World Champion
Jack Johnson is captured in his classic fighting stance: his left arm is stretched far forward for a punch, and his right arm shields his chest. Circa 1910. Photograph.
Jack Johnson. Full-body portrait in boxer shorts and gloves. Desirable silver print. 1910
Boxing match in Las Vegas (New Mexico). In the photo: Marty Cutler (left), Tommy Burns (center, as referee), Jack Johnson (right). June 19, 1914
The first Black heavyweight world champion was «Galveston Giant» Jack Johnson. He held the title until 1915, when he lost to Jesse Willard in Havana. There is a common belief that Johnson «folded» to Willard to avoid jail time. He paved the way to fame for other Black boxers.
Jack Dempsey (left) shakes hands with Tommy Gibbons before the boxing match on July 4, 1923, in Shelby, Montana.
The fight between Jack Dempsey and Tommy Gibbons. Dempsey lands a left hook during the boxing match on July 4, 1923, in Shelby, Montana.
Jack Dempsey (on the right) in the ring. 1920s
«The Roaring Twenties» marked the Golden Age of American sports. Dempsey was one of its embodiments, much like Babe Ruth in baseball. He was characterized by a hyper-aggressive style—even by American standards—earning him the nickname «The Manassa Butcher.» He unquestionably reigned in the heavyweight division from 1919 to 1926, only losing on points to Gene Tunney in the latter year. Mike Tyson said of Dempsey: «He was a very, very brutal person. He fought like he hadn’t eaten in five days. Savage and wild.»