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Welcome back fight fans! This week we’ll be looking at boxing from the beginning of the 1900s until the present day and meeting some true sporting legends along the way.
In the early 1900’s boxing was extremely popular with the American public. However, the sport was illegal at that time and it wasn’t until 1920 that New York passed the ‘Walker Law’ permitting prize fighting, and boxing entered its ‘Golden age’. The two bouts between Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney best represented this era.
It was a classic match up, Dempsey was a brawler, who had learned how to fight in the saloons in the West and, Tunney was a tactician, a man who used his brain not his brawn.
The first bout was seen by 120,000 spectators in Philadelphia and took $1.8 million. Tunney out-boxed the champion in all 10 rounds and took the belt. The public demanded a rematch and a year later spectators paid $2.65 million to see Tunney emerge victorious again. Tunney later retired as champion in 1928. During the Golden age boxing was big business and just like in England in the late 1800s, the profile of the crowd had changed. During the Tunney/Dempsey bout the promoter of the fight said “Kid, if the earth came up and the sky came down and wiped out my first 10 rows, it would be the end of everything. Because I've got in those 10 rows all the world's wealth, all the world's big men, all the world's brains and production talent. Just in them 10 rows, kid. And you and me have never seen nothing like it."
After Tunney retired, the world needed a great heavyweight champion and in 1937 Jo “The brown bomber” Louis arrived. Not only was Louis a superb fighter but also, being black made him a powerful political symbol. Firstly, his gentlemanly behaviour inside and outside the ring helped to reduce racism in the US. Secondly in 1938 he had to defend his title against German Max Schmelling. At that time America was entering war with Germany and the bout was promoted as a battle between democracy and fascism. During the bout Louis threw lightening-fast combinations while The German only threw two punches. The fight was stopped in the first round. Louis went on to hold the heavyweight crown for 12 years (a record to this day).
With the introduction of TV the popularity of the sport began to decline and it wasn’t until the 1960’s that it took off again. Sonny Liston was the heavyweight champion and was feared for both his punching power and his mafia connections. The challenger, new-comer Muhammad Ali, was seen by most as an underdog who had no chance of winning. However, with his unorthodox style and his motto “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” Ali beat Liston by TKO introducing the world to one of the most celebrated sporting icons.
Not only was Ali amazing to watch inside the ring, his combination of charisma and support for civil rights made him more than just a sporting legend. He was an inspiration to black youth worldwide. He also refused to fight in the Vietnam War and his title of heavyweight champion and boxing license were taken away until 1970. Perhaps his finest moment was the “Rumble in The Jungle” fight against George Foreman which took place in Zaire, Africa. Ali invented new tactics known as ‘rope-a-dope’ in which he allowed Foreman to attack for 8 rounds without counterattacking then scored a stunning knock out. Ali lost to Larry Holmes in 1981, retired, and now tragically suffers from Parkinson’s disease.
In the 1980’s boxing fans became cynical. The introduction of three organizations, the WBA, the WBC and the IBF meant that there could now be three different champions at any one time. This meant many real contenders could not get a shot at the title. Promoters like the notorious Don King gained more and more power and fighters were at their mercy. Cries to outlaw the sport were also heard. Another reason why boxing lost popularity was the fact that the heavyweight division became unexciting. In the mid 80’s the middleweights became the most exciting division. The Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980 and Montreal in 1976 produced some superb fighters and the fights between Hagler, Hearns, Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard are some of the very best in boxing history. Most took place at the famous Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, a venue that all aspiring champions dream of fighting at.
The heavyweights needed an injection of fresh hungry fighters and Mike Tyson provided just what the sport needed. Tyson’s story is a classic boxing fairytale, a street kid rescued from crime by boxing trainer Cus D’amato. Tyson was a very fast, strong and aggressive fighter who became the youngest heavyweight champion at 20. Most of his opponents were knocked out in the first round and he was the first to unify the heavyweight division. However after losing in 1990 to Buster Douglas and following the death of his trainer and mentor D’amato, Tyson had a series of problems. He received a three year jail sentence for rape and after returning to the ring he was notorious for unsportsmanlike behaviour in and out the ring (like biting Evander Holyfield’s ear).
Since Tyson boxing fans have looked to the lighter weights for the best action. Hispanics like Oscar De La Hoya, Eric Morales and Antonio Barrera have displayed skill, power and heart to win the respect of even the most demanding fan. Another important development is the rise of women’s boxing. Most see boxing as one of the most masculine sports but women in the ring have become more common during the 90’s. Two of the best heavy weights Ali and Jo Frazier both have daughters in the heavy weight division and look better after every fight. The movie ‘million dollar baby’ also shows that boxing isn’t just for the men.
So whether you love it or hate it boxing has a fascinating history spanning almost 2000 years. It has evolved from a gruesome and primitive spectacle with no rules into one of the world’s most testing sports, requiring skill, strength, speed and stamina. If you are still not convinced try finding some classic fights on DVD and video to appreciate what every boxer must master before entering the ring. If not track down some movies like “Raging bull”, “Ali”, or “Million Dollar Baby” to get a taste of the courage and determination that a boxer must find to become a world champion. Better still go and find a boxing gym, buy some gloves and give it a go yourself.
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Now you know the history of boxing, what do you think its future will be like? Please let us know.
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