Rules for bare knuckle boxing came along relatively late and only after centuries of brutality between opponents that often turned into death matches. In fact, it took a death: Rules were created by an 18th century bare knuckles boxer who killed an opponent in the ring, and atoned by creating rules to make the sport safer. Still, it took more than a century before boxing gloves were used.
Ancient Times
As DoghouseBoxing.com explains, the advent of boxing dates back as much as 5,000 years. It became part of the early Olympic Games in 688 B.C. In those days, a boxer's hands were protected only by strips of soft oxhide, known as himantes. Rather than protect the boxer from his opponent's blows, the knuckle area had layers of hard, sharp plastic, which made the blows more lethal. The Romans went further, allowing a form of boxing glove reinforced with iron and lead, which literally turned contests into blood sports. There were no time limits. If the bouts went on too long, the fighters could agree to "klimax," remaining standing and defenseless while trading thunderous blows. Matches ended in submission or death.
1700s
In the early 1700s, boxing became a sport of the gentry in England. The first boxing champion, James Figg, opened a boxing school and changed the sport from a martial arts-style brawl that allowed punching, wrestling and kicking to one emphasizing punching skill. However, this was the only rule of bare knuckle boxing. There were no weight divisions, gloves, established number of rounds or rest periods.
Broughton Rules
A formal set of rules for bare knuckle boxing was promulgated in 1743 by Jack Broughton, a student of Figg, after Broughton killed a man in the ring. Broughton became known as the "Father of English boxing" and his Broughton Rules quickly became the standard for the sport. A round ended when a fighter was knocked down or out of the ring. A bout ended when a fighter was knocked down and couldn't get to his feet within 30 seconds, or when a fighter waved the white flag, figuratively if not literally, in surrender. The Broughton Rules governed the sport for almost a century, when they were supplemented by the London Prize Ring rules of 1839, which formalized the use of a 24-foot-square boxing ring and officially outlawed kicking, gouging, biting, head-butting and hitting below the belt. A fighter who was knocked to the ground had only eight seconds to get back on his feet before his opponent was declared the victor.
Marquis of Queensberry Rules
The end of the bare knuckle era came in 1867, when the Marquis of Queensberry rules were codified and modern boxing was introduced. Padded gloves, also known as mufflers, were required. Three-minute rounds became standard, with a one-minute break between rounds. A 10-second knockdown rule was adopted. The first fight under the modern rules was won by bare knuckles champion John L. Sullivan. The new rules spiked popularity of the sport. Young men from the upper classes were lured to new clubs and gyms to participate in the manly -- and much more civilized -- sport, as boxing matches became a popular event for participants and spectators.
Posted in: Boxing