The exchange of punches as a sport has the same birthplace as philosophy and mathematics: ancient Greece. Despite modalities similar to boxing appearing in Sumerian engravings from 3000 BC, the first record of it as something formal, guided by rules, was made by the Greeks. Even so, ancient boxing makes today’s boxing look like a philosopher’s joke. In the first ancient Olympic Games in which it appeared, in 688 BC, it was played without rounds or time limits. Those who couldn’t stand the fight any longer lost, which could last for hours. The only relief was that the battered man was allowed to indicate that he had surrendered by raising his arm. This “Homeric” fighting style would soon change. For the worse. When the Greek peninsula was annexed by the Romans, in the 2nd century BC, the “gloves” used until then – a kind of bandage to protect the bones – were replaced by the so-called caestus. It was basically brass knuckles made of thick leather, coated with iron pieces. Result: the boxing fights became deadly, something for gladiators. Seven centuries later, with the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of Christianity, boxing ended up in limbo. It would only reappear as a “sport” in street tournaments in England in the 17th and 18th centuries. There it was a kind of free-for-all, with no rules. Things like the mandatory use of gloves, the banning of grappling and timed rounds were not established until the second half of the 19th century.
Ancient Greece
The clinch (grabbing the opponent) was prohibited. It was almost a single rule, but an important one, as it differentiated boxing from other sports, such as Greco-Roman wrestling.
17th century
After disappearing in the Middle Ages, the sport resurfaced in England in tournaments without rules: it was worth hitting the opponent on the ground and kicking him. There were no rounds and whoever knocked out won
1743
From here, the opponent could only be grabbed above the waistline. A round followed until someone fell. If the knocked down doesn’t come back in one piece in 30 seconds, he loses
1838
The rings began to be flanked by ropes. The knocked down boxer could rest in his corner and had 38 seconds to get back into the fight.
1867
There were three-minute rounds with a one-minute break between them. The use of padded gloves has become mandatory. The opponent could no longer be grabbed
Early 20th century
A limit of 15 rounds was consolidated for the fights. To balance the fights, eight weight categories were established
The 80s
The fight limit in most tournaments dropped to 12 rounds. The number of weight classes for boxers has stabilized at 17
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– How did kung fu come about?
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