Boxing or 'Pugilism'
Boxing is an ancient sport that predates the Roman Empire. The Latin term for the sport "pugil" or "pugilism" literally means "boxing". The sport was included in the original Olympic Games and remains so even today.
The actual "art" of boxing has remained practically unchanged in over two thousand years. The main objectives, to defeat your opponent by means of delivering a disabling blow or "knock-out".
In the Roman form of boxing, the pugilists had a particularly nasty piece of equipment called the "cestus" which was worn over the fist. It was made primarily of leather which had a number of metal studs embedded into it. A blow from one of these terrible weapons could inflict terrible maiming injuries or even kill the opponent.
Boxing was often combined with other gladiatorial contests, perhaps as a warm up to the main event. Modern professional boxing is the closest example of a sport that would be recognisable in ancient Rome.
When the Roman Empire collapsed in the fifth century, the sport of boxing, like horse and chariot racing also went into decline. Unlike horse racing boxing would require a thousand years to recover the same kind of status and popularity.
Boxing was officially revived in England in 1681 by the duke of Albemarle who organised a fight between two members of his household. Boxing though took the form of bare-knuckle prizefights in which the contestants fought for money as the spectators gambled on the outcome of the match.
John Sholto Douglas, the eighth marquis of Queensbury, devised the rules which modern boxing is based upon in 1857. From that time on, the regulations have always been known as the "Queensbury Rules". The Queensbury Rules tried to emphasise skill and agility rather than mere physical strength and to eliminate wrestling from boxing contests. The rules had a "civilising" effect on the sport and prohibited certain practices like:
An ancient boxer would recognise modern boxing but would perhaps feel constrained by the rules and the various authorities that claim to control and speak for the sport. Boxing remains the only sport in modern society that intentionally aims to injure the opponent and deaths within the ring are not infrequent and have yet to be eliminated. However in the event of a boxer's death, the boxer is mourned rather than jeered. The aim of modern boxing is to incapacitate rather than maim or kill. Unfortunately, accidents do happen.
Modern boxers are often referred to as gladiators and a particularly competitive contest as gladiatorial. Whether the gladiators of ancient Rome would agree is a matter of opinion.
Tasks:
1) What was the Latin term for the sport of boxing?
2) What is the main objective of boxing?
3) Explain what a "cestus" is and the types of injuries it could deliver?
4) Why is modern boxing the most similar sport to those of ancient Rome?
5) When was boxing officially revived in England and by whom?
6) What contribution to the sport did John Sholto Douglas make?
7) What is significant about the sport of boxing in the modern world?