An Overview of Boxing

Riley Oller

October 8, 2021

Muhammad Ali in 1966 (Photo: Dutch National Archives).

Boxing is a combat sport in which two people fight, usually wearing protective gloves and other equipment. The two throw punches at each other for a predetermined amount of time in a boxing ring. Boxing was created in 688 BC in Ancient Greece. Boxing first appeared in the 23rd olympiad. The first fighting contests happened before boxing.

The earliest visual evidence of boxing appears to be in Sumerian relief carvings from the 3rd millennium. The best boxers of all time were, Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Jack Dempsey, and Joe Lewis. To be good at boxing it takes about 1-3 years as long as you are athletic and coordinated. Joining boxing classes can help you improve your technique by receiving training.

The country most known for boxing is the USA. With 431 world champions in its history and 11 current WBA champions, the United States of America is the most powerful boxing nation in the world today. Over 500 boxers have died from boxing. 22 boxers died in 1953 alone. The last time someone died from boxing was in November of 2018. The 49 year old was in a World Boxing Council title fight in Thailand when he was knocked down twice in the 12th and final round of the match. He was taken to a hospital and died a couple days later.

Some local gyms and places in my area to box are The Short North Muay Thai, Sweat Box Fitness and Pilger’s Old Skool Boxing & Fitness Academy.

Joe Frazier in 1971 (Photo: Dutch National Archives).

The side effects of boxing include risk for acute injuries to the head, heart and skeleton. Other symptoms include impaired hearing, nausea, unstable gait and forgetfulness. While boxing has risks it also offers some benefits.

Boxing improves balance. Boxing will help your posture. Boxing strengthens the upper-body and core. Boxing boosts endurance. Boxing may increase alertness and improve mood. Boxing improves hand-eye coordination. According to Gordon Marino, a professor of philosophy at St. Olaf College, "Boxing is a rough sport, which may explain why it is used so often as a metaphor for life. It requires being able to move forward, take blows, and rise from the canvas. It demands acute self-awareness and respect for others''.

Boxing is such a monumental sport and I do not believe it should be banned. As I stated in my quote above many people relate boxing to their way of life. When you get knocked down in life you can't stay down. You have to try your best to get back up on your feet and learn the reason why you were knocked down so that it doesn't happen again.

The sport of boxing is my favorite sport of all time. I have been watching boxing ever since I could remember and I have done extensive research about the sport. The three reasons why the sport of boxing should not be banned is because it is entertaining, it gives troubled children a chance to get away from their problems, and also it has an extensive history behind it. The sport of boxing is very entertaining. There is nothing like paying your hard earned money to watch two people go in the ring and slug it out to see who the better fighter is.