Boxing: From Ancient Greece to Modern Times

One of the favorite sports of North Americans is boxing. In fact it's still growing in popularity. Many other countries also have a number of boxing organizations.

It may surprise you to learn that boxing dates back to around 4000 BC. Boxing matches were going on during the time when ancient Romans and Greeks were fighting one another. The sport undoubtedly had another name in those times, but records of it show that it was more brutal than it is these days.

In modern times boxing though known to get out of hand at times is basically a safe game with rules and regulations to protect the boxers. Back then the game continued till one of the opponents was declared dead. Also instead of boxing gloves the game was fought with metal spikes and fists.

Both amateur and professional boxing requires the use of gloves, without the spikes, as well as a computer generated score that determines the final outcome of the match. Head gear specifically designed for the sport of boxing is also a safety requirement. Boxing, however, remains one of the bare bones hand-to-hand combats that still exist today.

Boxing is fun for the spectators, as they watch two athletic competitors battling it out. In most cases the participants are matched as to skill, weight and strength. The winner of the match is presented with a trophy to keep in honor of the victory.

You will find it hard to believe that the sport that is so popular in North America was not so till 1800's. Nowadays it is Americans who are at the top of most International boxing competitions.

Not only men are adept at the sport of boxing, women have stepped center ring and have become as experienced as the men. Women have yet to find a place in the Olympics, but this can't be far behind.

Boxing has seen many boxers who have emerged from the ranks of amateurs and gone onto become great names such as Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Leon Spinks, Floyd Patterson, and Oscar De La Hoya.

Professional boxing and amateur boxing have some slight differences in the way the boxing match is laid out. Professional boxing consists of four to fifteen rounds, while amateur boxing has only three rounds. The average length of a professional match is twelve rounds.

Boxing winners are announced by the judges who make the final decision as to how many points each competitor has. A knockout, however, will be an automatic win for the boxer who throws the final punch, providing that his opponent is unable to get off the mat after ten seconds.

In the fast paced modern life more and more people are turning towards boxing. People from all ages are becoming its students not only to fight but also to remain fit and healthy and deal with the stress and worries of life.

Men more than women are armchair boxers and continue to make the sport a popular one to watch.

Fred Tresdale is the chief editor for FT Boxing, the #1 source on the internet for information about boxing. For more articles on boxing visit: www.ftboxing.com/articles
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