Boxing has been popular in the US for so long that it can be easy to forget it didn't originate here. In fact, boxing began thousands of years ago in Greece. Ancient Greeks, believing that boxing was a sport of the Gods, included it in the Olympics. There are theories that boxing started even before the Greeks, beginning in 4000 BC in North Africa, but it is widely held that the Greeks can be thanked for this sport.
Ancient Romans also had a hand in the start of boxing. They used boxing matches as a means of determining the freedom of prisoners and slaves. A match between two slaves or prisoners would decide who got to go home and, sometimes, who died.
However it started, the popularity of boxing waned when Augustus, the first Roman emperor, banned it. Its popularity remained low until the early eighteenth century when James Figg, an Englishman, brought it into the spotlight again. He was a tough, bare-knuckle fighter who drew attention worldwide for his abilities.
Boxing began to get some structure in 1743. Jack Boughtonis, known as the "Father of Boxing," recorded the first set of official boxing rules after one of his opponents died after a match. These rules were designed to reduce the violence in boxing, concentrating on skill and fitness. It wasn't until 1866 though, that modern rules such as three-minute rounds and mandatory boxing gloves were introduced by the Marquess of Queensberry (though they were actually written by a man named John Chambers).
The Industrial Revolution made boxing well-liked in the US. This unorganized version of the sport kept working class Americans entertained and occupied. The National Boxing Association (NBA), now known as the World Boxing Association (WBA), was created in 1927 by representatives from thirteen US states. The NBA was the first organization to set up championships between top boxers. Its role was to watch over the sport, ensuring that rules were being followed.
Today the WBA is one of three official boxing organizations recognized world-wide. The others are the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and the World Boxing Council (WBC). Though these three organizations are attempting to reduce the amount of serious injury that occurs during boxing, it remains one of the most violent and dangerous sports in the world. Still, it maintains a strong following and is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
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