Boxing is one of the oldest sports to exist and is growing popular in various parts of the world today. The sport allows people of all shapes and sizes to succeed, depending on their skill level. There are numerous divisions in boxing where boxers of different weights fight. The sport has a rich history and tradition, so there are many things people still don’t know about it.
10) The Longest Boxing fight
The longest boxing fight occurred between Andy Bowen and Jack Burke on April 6, 1893. Both boxers fought for 7 hours and 20 minutes. After 110 rounds, the bout was called a no contest by the referee, as he noticed that both men were completely exhausted. In fact, Burke broke several bones in both of his hands.
9) Robinson refused an Autograph to Muhammad Ali
Both Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson are two of the greatest boxers of all time. They are often discussed together. However, Robinson probably never imagined that Ali would be viewed as his equal or even better. Muhammad Ali was a big fan of Sugar growing up and had a once in lifetime chance to meet his idol. But the meeting turned sour as Robinson declined to give Ali his autograph. Then, disappointed Ali used this as fuel as he hoped to surpass his idol and went on to become the Heavyweight champion.
8) John Graham developed the boxing rules
It was John Graham Chambers who developed the rules that eventually shaped organized boxing. Chambers was a UK sportsman who established the use of gloves during boxing fights as well as a time limit of three minutes for rounds. His creation became known as the Marquess of Queensberry Rules after being approved by the Marquess. The rules of the chambers differed from the bare-knuckle fights taking place at the time, which were essentially anything.
7) The Young Prodigy
British Boxer Nipper Pat Daly was really a prodigy, as he started learning boxing at the age of 7 and was so advanced that he became a professional at 10 years old. He was also a sparring partner for middleweight champion Mickey Walker. At the age of 16, “Wonderboy” was a top-ranked bantamweight contender. During his career, Daly amassed a record of 99 wins and 11 losses. Unfortunately, he was forced to retire from the sport at the age of 18 because of a series of injuries.
6) The First Olympic Gold Medalist at Heavyweight
Samuel Berger was the first ever boxer to win the Heavyweight gold medal at the Olympic Games in St. Louis. He faced light heavyweight champion Jack O’Brien and competed against Heavyweight champion Jim Jeffries. Berger also became a promoter and manager for Jeffries in the first two decades of the 20th century.
5) White Collar Boxing is actually popular
White Collar Boxing is a unique class in which people have no prior boxing experience and are trained to fight for special events. In White Collar Boxing, the fight is usually two-minute rounds. To avoid injuries, boxers wear short gloves, headgear and mouth guards. Many of these are held solely to raise funds. The Boodles Boxing Ball was a popular white-collar event that took place in London. Some events attracted public figures such as Prince Harry, Prince William and Guy Ritchie. Influencers like KSI, Logan Paul, Jake Paul and Tommy Fury have taken part in numerous White Collar Boxing events.
4) The Pioneer of Women’s Boxing
Annie Newton was London’s first female boxer. Her uncle, Andrew Newton, was a World Champion who used to give boxing classes as well. Annie sparred with some men and raised funds for charities. Eventually, Annie became so good that she started giving boxing lessons at her uncle’s gym. She planned to fight in several upcoming exhibitions but was barred due to her gender. Despite being unable to pursue her boxing dreams, Annie claimed that one day women’s boxing would be accepted into the culture and she was right.
3) Sugar Ray helped creating Pound-for-Pound rankings
The Heavyweight Division is the foundation of boxing. Heavyweight champion essentially means “King of the World.” However, being a heavyweight champion doesn’t mean you’re the best boxer in the world. Sugar Ray Robinson’s recognition as the world’s best boxer fighting at middleweight opened the door for non-heavyweight boxers like Roy Jones Jr. and Floyd Mayweather to be crowned pound-for-pound kings.
2) Cuba’s troubled boxing history
Cuba has produced excellent fighters at both amateur and professional levels. However, the government banned boxing for a long time due to the violence. But there was a short period when the ban on professional boxing was lifted, so the government could benefit from the popularity of the sport as a tourist attraction. The country hosted top fighters such as Joe Lewis and Jack Dempsey.
1) Billy Bird has the most knockout wins
The British boxer Billy Bird was one of the most incredible boxers of his time and had a remarkable career. He fought approximately every other week, sometimes multiple times in a week if he won easily. Bird accomplished 139 knockouts during his professional career and holds the record for most knockout wins in boxing history. This is a record that is almost impossible to break in today’s era.
Also Read: 10 Iconic Boxing Records That Will Never Be Broken
