History of Boxing (Facts, Fights, and Origin)

Here we have our breakdown of the history of boxing with interesting facts, iconic fights, and possible origin.

Boxing history has had many different eras that have shaped the sport into what we know it today. It’s also likely that boxing or some form of it existed since ~3000 BC and has had several different changes over that vast amount of time until now.

Boxing History Facts – At a Glance

When Did Boxing First Start?

• Boxing can be traced back to ancient Sumerian civilization (~3000 BC), with a major adaptation of the sport later seen in ancient Greece (~600 BC)
• Bare-knuckle boxing emerged in the early 16th century in England.
• The first ruleset of boxing was introduced by Jack Broughton in 1743.
• The Marquess of Queensberry rules, crafted in mid-1800s, next revolutionized the sport, laying down the current standard of boxing.
• Boxing is likely one of the oldest sports of all time and possible only surpassed by forms of wrestling

Evolution of Boxing

Believe it or not, boxing is one of the world’s oldest sports.

In this post we attempted to broadly categorize its history into distinct eras, though it’s worth noting that this isn’t a definitive list and different eras of boxing can, of course be argued, by other viewers of boxing historians.

Here is our general breakdown:

1. Ancient Era (circa 3000 BC – 500 AD)
   • Sumaria (Present Day Palestine): Carvings found of two men fighting or punching each other
   • Ancient Egypt: Earliest evidence of fist-fighting as a formalized sport.
   • Ancient Greece: Boxing (Pygmachia) introduced into the Olympic Games in 688 BC.
   • Ancient Rome: Gladiatorial hand-to-hand combat, often with the use of the ‘cestus’, a type of leather hand-wrap sometimes laden with metal.
2. Bare-Knuckle Era (circa 17th – 19th Century)
   • Originating in England, fights were largely unregulated and could go on for countless rounds until one fighter could no longer continue.
   • 1743: Broughton’s Rules, the first attempt to provide some regulations, introduced by boxer Jack Broughton.
   • 1838-1853: The London Prize Ring Rules further codified the sport.
3. Queensberry Era (Late 19th – Early 20th Century)
   • 1867: Marquess of Queensberry Rules introduced, mandating the use of gloves and setting the foundation for modern boxing.
   • Prominent figures like John L. Sullivan, who bridged the transition from bare-knuckle to gloved boxing.
4. Golden Age (1920s – 1950s)
   • Characterized by an immense popularity in boxing and the emergence of legendary figures such as Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Rocky Marciano.
   • The establishment of major boxing commissions and the birth of international sanctioning organizations.
5. Television Era (1950s – 1980s)
   • The rise of televised bouts, making boxing accessible to a broader audience and giving rise to stars like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Roberto Duran.
   • The ‘Four Kings’ of the 1980s: Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, and Roberto Duran, who all fought each other in a series of memorable matches.
6. PPV & Cable Era (1990s – Early 2010s)
   • The rise of Pay-Per-View and cable sports networks, increasing the sport’s revenue.
   • Prominent boxers like Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Manny Pacquiao commanded massive audiences and paydays.
7. Digital & Streaming Era (Late 2010s – Present)
   • The rise of streaming platforms and apps offering boxing content.
   • Boxers maintain more control over their careers with the aid of social media, direct-to-consumer content, and alternative promotion methods.
   • Crossover fights, where celebrities or athletes from other disciplines step into the boxing ring, have gained popularity.

Quick Interesting Boxing Facts

When Was Boxing Invented?

Again, the practice of hand-to-hand combat dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. Numerous pieces of evidence hint at the origin of boxing to be as early as the Sumerian civilization based in ancient Mesopotamia (Modern-day Iraq).

Ancient depictions of two men engaging in fist-fights have been found inscribed on Sumerian carvings and pottery, proving that boxing has existed for thousands of years.

Fast forward to 688 BC, boxing became an official Olympic sport during the 23rd Olympiad in Ancient Greece. However, it wasn’t until the 18th century in England that boxing started to resemble the sport we know today.

Why Was Boxing Developed?

The earliest form of boxing, as we mentioned first embraced by the Sumerians and later, the Greeks, wasn’t simply viewed as a leisure activity. It echoed a deeper societal perception of sportsmanship, valor, strength, skill, and bravery.

Boxing was considered to be a testament to the raw physical prowess of a man and his capacity to endure pain.

The reason for boxing’s resurfacing and development in England during the 18th century was noticeably different. Boxing was molded as an avenue for gambling and entertainment.

Where Did Boxing Originate From?

Some pretty discernible evidence points towards its emergence during the era of the Sumerian civilization around the 3rd millennium BCE.

In What Country Did Boxing Originate?

The genesis of boxing can be traced back to the historic expanse of the African continent, namely, Egypt. It’s the Egyptian civilization, approximately 3000 BC, where the earliest signs of boxing have been identified. Murals on the tombs at Beni Hasan in ancient Egypt depicted scenes of organized boxing matches, with boxers wearing formative forms of gloves and an audience in attendance. This register of the sport’s origin makes Egypt the birthplace of boxing as we’d perceive it today in terms of logistics and audience dynamics.

In What Countries Is Boxing Most Popular?

Boxing is most popular in the United States, Mexico, and the Philippines. Boxing is prominent in other countries like those across the UK and Europe, but these three countries stand at the top.

What Is the Fastest KO in Boxing History?

The fastest knockout punch ever recorded was thrown by Mike Collins in his fight with Pat Brownson in 1947. Collins switched to a south paw stance which confused Brownson. Collins was then able to knockout Brownson with the first punch of the fight which was a left hook.

In more modern times, the fasted knockout on video is recorded at 10 seconds by Phil Williams against Brandon Burke in 2007.

Who Has the Most Knockouts in Boxing History?

Archie Moore holds the record for the highest number of knockouts in boxing history. His professional career, spanning from 1935 to 1963, led him to an impressive victory count of 185, out of which 131 were knockouts.

Who Is the Hardest Puncher in Boxing History?

Based solely off the opinions of training partners and opponents, Earner Shavers is the hardest puncher in boxing history.

If we had to rank the Top 5 hardest punchers in boxing history they would be:

• 1.Earnie Shavers
• 2.George Foreman
• 3.Deontay Wilder
• 4.Sonny Liston
• 5.Wladimir Klitschko

How Much Do Professional Boxers Make?

The average professional boxer’s salary is: ~$40,000/year with the top 1% being the main earners from the sport.

What Professional Boxer Has Made the Most Money from Boxing?

The highest grossing professional boxer is Floyd Mayweather Jr. with total boxing earnings estimated to be ~1.2 billion dollars.

How Much Do Professional Boxers Make When Compared to UFC Fighters?

Here is a table breaking down the top earners from boxing and UFC fighters:

Link: Check out our post here breaking down each fight sport and how much boxers make

Other Boxing History Facts

When Did Boxing First Start?

Boxing dates all the way back to the 3rd millennium BC. We have numerous pieces of evidence hint at the origin of boxing to be as early as the Sumerian civilization based in ancient Mesopotamia (Modern-day Palestine/Iraq).

Who Has the Most Wins in Boxing History?

The boxer with the most wins in boxing history goes to Willie Pep.

Born under the name of Guglielmo Papaleo, Willie Pep had an illustrious career in boxing that ranged from 1940 to 1966. He ended his career with 229 wins, 11 losses and one draw, with 65 wins by knockout.

Who Has the Most Fights in Boxing History?

Next, when it comes to who holds the record for the most fights in boxing history, it goes to British boxer Len Wickwar.

He had a staggering 470 boxing fights between 1928 and 1947, Wickwar’s record was 473 total fights 342 wins 86 losses.

Who Has the Best Record in Boxing History?

As of this writing the boxer with the best record across boxing history goes to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Known for his impeccable precision, unmatched defense, and astute fight IQ, Mayweather boasts an unparalleled professional record of 50 wins and no losses.

Some other fighters with beyond impressive records are:

• Willie Pep had an incredible 229-11-1 professional record
• Julio Cesar Chavez maintained an unbeaten streak for 13 years, with 107 wins, six losses and two draws

Who in the History of Boxing Has Been the Longest Reigning U.S. Heavyweight Champion?

The longest reigning U.S. Heavyweight Champion, based on the length of the title reign, is undisputedly held by one of the greatest boxers of all time – Joe Louis.

Louis held the heavyweight title for an impressive twelve years, from 1937 to 1949.

Who Won the Most Heavyweight Boxing Titles in History?

The most heavyweight titles under his proverbial belt goest to indomitable fighter and sports icon, Joe Louis.

Once again, with 25 successful title defenses, he held the World Heavyweight Championship title from 1937 to 1949. With a remarkable twelve years to his credit, Louis set a record that still remains unparalleled to this day.

What Is the Longest Round of Boxing Match in History?

The longest known round in professional boxing occurred during a heavyweight championship match between Jack Burke and Andy Bowen on April 6, 1893, in New Orleans.

We should mentioned that their epic duel was not marked by the traditional three-minute 12 total rounds of contemporary boxing but was an exhaustive test of endurance in 110 rounds, spanning over seven grueling hours.

Each round was timed at three minutes as per then-existing London Prize Ring Rules, with rounds concluded when a fighter was knocked down or thrown off balance, thus constituting a pretty arcane version of what we now consider a round. The match reached a bleak stalemate when both contenders were reportedly too fatigued to maintain their stances.

Burke, with all bones of both his hands broken, couldn’t raise his arms, and Bowen was rendered punch-drunk, lingering in a daze. Unable to continue, ref John Duffy declared the match a “no contest” after the 110th round.

Zack Nicholas

Zack is an avid jiu jitsu practitioner and martial arts nerd. He currently holds a brown belt in BJJ. When not on the mats or in the gym, he can be found going for walks with his wife, attempting (and often failing) to train his dog, and frequently obsessing over a specific hobby only to forget about it a week later.