Boxing

Histoire

Boxing is one of the oldest sports: it was in the ancient Olympic Games from 688 BC. The modern sport was born in 18th-century England as bare-knuckle prize-fighting. Jack Broughton wrote the first rules in 1743, and the London Prize Ring Rules followed in 1838.

In 1867 the Queensberry Rules, written by John Graham Chambers and backed by the Marquess of Queensberry, brought gloves, three-minute rounds and the ten-second count. Boxing has been in the modern Olympics since 1904 — except Stockholm 1912, as Sweden banned it — and women's boxing joined at London 2012.

Le saviez-vous ?

• The last world heavyweight title fought with bare knuckles was John L. Sullivan vs Jake Kilrain in 1889: 75 rounds.
• Jack Johnson became the first Black world heavyweight champion in 1908.
• Muhammad Ali won Olympic gold in 1960, still under the name Cassius Clay.
• The ring is square but keeps the old name from the circle once drawn on the ground.
• Professional world titles are split between four main bodies: WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO.

Glossaire des techniques

Jab

fast straight punch with the lead hand

Cross

straight punch with the rear hand

Hook

curved punch to the side of the head or body

Uppercut

rising punch

Slip

moving the head off the line of a punch

Bob and weave

ducking and rolling under punches

Clinch

holding to stop the exchange

Southpaw / orthodox

left-handed / right-handed stance

Armes et équipement

Gloves

8–16 oz

Hand wraps

protect the hand bones

Mouthguard

protects teeth and jaw

⚔ In the Arsenal

Saco de boxeLuvas de boxe

☯ Philosophy and quotes

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”— Muhammad Ali, before the Sonny Liston fight (with Drew Bundini Brown) (1964)

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Figures clés

• Daniel Mendoza (1764–1836) — English champion who made defence and footwork a science
• John L. Sullivan (1858–1918) — last bare-knuckle heavyweight champion
• Jack Johnson (1878–1946) — first Black world heavyweight champion
• Joe Louis (1914–1981) — heavyweight champion for almost twelve years
• Sugar Ray Robinson (1921–1989) — often called the best boxer pound for pound
• Muhammad Ali (1942–2016) — three-time world heavyweight champion

Sources: World Boxing · International Olympic Committee · Encyclopaedia Britannica