What's it all about?

A guide to Boxing

Sport of fighting with fists, also called pugilism and prizefighting. Boxers compete in a roped-off area, or ring, about 20 ft (6.1 m) square, and fight for a prescribed number of 3-min rounds, separated by 1-min rest periods.

Bouts may be decided by a knockout, when a floored contestant is unable to rise within 10 sec, or by the decision of the officials. Professional boxers are divided into eight weight classes, ranging from flyweight (under 112 lb/50.81 kg) to heavyweight (over 175 lb/79.38 kg).

One of the oldest forms of competition known, boxing died out after the fall of Rome but was revived in England in the early 18th cent. Modern boxing began with the code of rules introduced (1865) by the marquess of Queensberry, which called for the use of gloves.

In the U.S., boxing was illegal for many years before New York became the first state to legalize it (1896). Today professional boxing is regulated in each state by an athletic or boxing commission. Boxing has been an Olympic sport since 1904.

Famous Boxers

Mohammed Ali Follow young Ali, still named Cassius Clay, as he enters the professional boxing and slowly but surely works his way towards the fearsome Sonny Liston!

Prince Naseem Hamed Five Time National Schoolboy Champion Twice Junior ABA Champion Former Undefeated Bantamweight Champion of Europe Former Undefeated WBC international Super-Bantamweight Champion Former Undefeated IBF Featherweight Champion of the World. Enough said.

Nigel Benn Born in London, England. Super Middleweight Titles: Former WBC Super Middleweight Champion Former WBO Middleweight Champion