By Pete Allman

The Era of Boxing
“A close up look at boxing"

The first hand-to-hand combat began in ancient civilizations in Egypt then proceeding to the 18th century in England where the first bear-knuckled champions were recognized. The pioneers inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame all fought in the bare-knuckle era. All too soon these champions have been forgotten except for those who are boxing historians. James Fogg of Britain reigns from 1719-1734. Fogg was England’s first champion. Others followed from Jack Broughton who reign from 1738-1750; 24 years later Tom Johnson from 1784-1791. Benjamin Brian’s reign1791-1795, John Jackson 1795; all of which were heavyweights. Then came Dutch Sam, a lightweight from Britain, followed by Jim Belcher, a heavyweight whose reign was from 1802-1803.

The first American to be recognized as a heavyweight was Bill Richmond, but not for long. Britain came back with Hen Pearce, 1803-1806; Tom Cribb shortly after then Tom Molineau.

The list goes on all in Britain’s favor, except for these American fighters: John C. Hanson, John Morrisey, Arthur Chambers, Mike Donovan, Paddy Duffry, and John L. Sullivan, who were all champions.

Boxing began to resemble its modern-day forum more closely when Englishman John Graham Chambers, under the sponsorship of the Marques of Queensbury, devised a new set of rules The Queensbury rules were three-minute rounds with a minutes rest in between, and called for the use of protective gloves. The new rules were universally adopted and last bear-knuckled fight was John L. Sullivan (The Boston Boy) who was the first heavyweight to be crowned under the Queensbury rules.

Meanwhile in America boxing was illegal in the majority of states. Most of the early fights were held in out-of-the-way places to avoid police intervention. In fact, boxing exhibitions were often staged in vaudeville theaters where audiences also included ladies and top-hatted gentlemen.

Imagine for one moment, two fighters fighting for hours. Such was the case with John L. Sullivan, who fought his opponent, John Kilrain for seventy-five rounds in the blistery heat until Kilrain threw in the sponge. This is when the bear-knuckle boxing era-ended.

By the early 20th century, when lightweight classes were established, each division had its own champion.

Today, there’s a potential for 68 champions to hold titles offered by four dominating boxing organizations. The World Boxing Association (WBA) the World Boxing Council (WBC), the International Boxing Federation (IBF) , and the World Boxing Organization (WBO), each has its version of seventeen weight division titles. These have given more opportunity for boxers to earn there class to fame but at the same time has left a question as to who the real heavyweight champion or who the champ is in other weight divisions.

Thank God boxing became regulated after 1891 when Hall of Famer Lord Lousdale helped established the National Sporting Club. The club regulated English boxing for 38 years during which time it helped defined and standardized the light recognized weight class and present Lousdale belts to British Champions. The British Boxing of Control was established approximately in 1930 and continued to regulate boxing in the United Kingdom. The British Board is affiliated with the European Boxing Union (EBU) which in 1946 replaced the International Boxing Union (IBU), which was first formed in 1911 in Paris.

It wasn’t until the 1880s when the United States started to regulate boxing, this followed with Richard K. Fox, publisher of the Police Gazette, who was utilizing the practice of distributing championship belts, boxing became legal in 1920 with the passage of the Walker Law in the state of New York under the purview of the New York Athletic Commission (NYAC). New York then became the center of boxing and served as a model for other states interested in legalizing the sport. In February 1921 representatives of 15 states athletic commissions met in Manhattan to form the National Boxing Association (NBA) which standardized rules and regulations in the sport. Unfortunately New York didn’t want to share its power or potential. As a result both organizations crowned different champions in the same weight class. Then in the 1960’s boxing went to other states for headline fights, licensing in sports, and then crime structured was exposed.

As the years passed World War II came about and boxing gained much ground in Mexico, South America, Australia, Asia, and Africa. Through the expansion the NBA changed its name to the World Boxing Association (WBA) in 1962. Nevertheless, the WBA remained primarily a US organization because of its voting scheme. Each state was granted one vote while each foreign country also had one single vote. This unbalance gave a poor state such as New Hampshire an equal vote with countries like Argentina or Mexico which were home to hundreds of bouts each year. American domination of the WBA led promoters and George Parnassus and others to form the World Boxing Council in 1963. Originally, the WBC consisted of eleven countries organized into continental federations with two votes granted to each federation.

In the 1970’s and 80s both sancuating bodies doubled the number of weight classes, adding to the panoply of champions.

In 1976 fight manager Jose Cordeco, of Puerto Rico, organized changes in the WBA which ended its control by the United States interest.

In 1993, a third major body formed when Bob Lee, head of the United States Boxing Association, (USBA) attempted to gain the presidency of the WBA. When his attempt failed, he took USBA under WBA and formed the International Boxing Federation (IBT) which offers seventeen titles.

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) yet another outgrowth of the WBA was formed when a disgruntled Latin American contingent and some Americans bolted from the WBA.

Other sanctions of bodies have been formed in recent years including the International Boxing (IBA), the International Boxing Organization (IBO), the World Boxing Union, the World Boxing Federation (WBF) and the International Boxing Council (IBC) and the four bodies mention earlier to consider having the most power by the boxing media.

So then, boxing emanated from England, but found its place in America. The end of the bear knuckle fighting era bought the United States as the principle proving ground for ring hopefuls.

From the American west moving east to capture the attractions of the entire country, the United States dominated boxing which became the most popular sport here , than anywhere else in the world.

Boxing legends converge on Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino for "Rocky Balboa" red carpet event
Photo by Stephen Thorburn

With the legalist ration of boxing after 1920 and influential people such as former President Theodore Roosevelt recommending controlled fist cuffs to promote health and fitness, boxing became the legitimate major athlete sport.

In conclusion, James Coffroth became the nation’s first great boxing promoter and in 1910 Tex Richard arranged probably what was considered the most anticipated close up fight to that of Jack Johnson, verses James L. Jeffries heavyweight championship match in Reno, Nevada. There was no question New York was the place where boxing had its foot old with champions such as: Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marcino, Sonny Liston, Archie Moore, Ken Norton, Jersey Joe Walcott, Mohammad Ali, Marvin Hagler, Max Schmeling, Sugar Ray Robinson, Michael Spinks, Joe Frasier, Mike Tyson, and today’s brightest stars: Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Lennox Lewis, Oleg Maskaev, Pretty Boy Floyd ,Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins, Erik Morales, Winky Wright Manny Pacquiao and many other greats.