Boxing is one of the most popular sports in the world. This sport has countless fans, and you can talk about it endlessly. We present to your attention some interesting facts about boxing, and perhaps they will inspire you to devote some of your free time to this martial art.
1. Although the birthplace of modern boxing is considered to be England, the earliest mention of wrestling similar to boxing dates back to the third millennium BC. Images of boxers of that time are found in ancient Egyptian bas-reliefs and even in Sumerian caves.
2. Boxing was also enjoyed by the ancient gods. The patron god of the sport was Apollo, the son of Zeus and Leto. It was said that he defeated Ares, the God оf War, in a boxing match during the first Olympics.
3. The father of modern boxing was an English bare-knuckle fighter Jack Broughton, who devised the first boxing rules, which were adopted on August 16, 1743.
4. In the eighteenth century, boxing was illegal and completely banned in most of the states in the USA, so bare-knuckle fights took place underground in remote areas. Boxing was legalized in New York under the Horton Law only in 1900.
5. There were traditionally eight weight divisions in men’s boxing, some of these weight divisions originated in the United States, others in Great Britain. More divisions were added, and professional governing bodies now recognize a total of 17 weight classes, which had their current names established by the major boxing organizations in 2015.
6. Boxing gloves were used in ancient China and the island of Sardinia more than three thousand years ago. The boxing glove size is given in OZ ( British unit of measure “ounce”) and commonly used worldwide. The “oz” represents the level of protection and corresponds to the boxer’s weight.
7. In 91 seconds of fighting in 1988, Mike Tyson earned twenty million dollars. Just a little over a minute and a half was enough for Tyson to knock out Michael Spinks.
8. The most expensive fight in boxing history took place on May 3, 2015. Two legends met in the ring: Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Floyd won by unanimous decision, his fee was $ 120 million. Manny received $ 80 million for the fight.
9. In the largest city in Kentucky, USA, to honor the achievements of Muhammad Ali, the city in 1978 renamed Walnut Street to Muhammad Ali Boulevard. During the first month, all road signs with the boxer’s name were stolen.
10. Muhammad Ali is the most famous athlete in the United States. In 2016, more than 92% of Americans surveyed over the age of twelve recognized him.
11. On April 6, 1893, Andy Bowen and Jack Burke made headlines for fighting 110 grueling rounds – the longest gloved boxing match in history at the Olympic Club in New Orleans, Louisiana. The boxing match lasted 7 hours.
12. David Tua is a unique boxer since during his 18 years of professional career he has never been knocked down.
