Boxing in the USA

Boxing in America has developed into a mass-consumed form of entertainment that many people enjoy. Boxing is televised and matches are attended by fans. Although boxing didn't originate in America, movies like Rocky and Raging Bull have planted boxing firmly into the America consciousness.

  1. History

    • The first American boxers were Africans in colonial America. According to Hickocksports.com, Bill Richmond was the first notable American boxer, and he went undefeated against British soldiers. He was soon brought to England in 1777 and enjoyed a long career there. Tom Molineaux was another slave boxer from Virginia who went little noticed in his home country, though enjoyed success overseas. The first official boxing match to use modern rules in America was between Jacob Hyer and Tom Beasley in 1816.

    Development

    • After Jack Broughton developed standardized rules for boxing, including three-minute rounds, more matches took place on American soil, according to Coxscorner.com. Boxing was banned in England in the 19th century, which led to many English fighters moving to America. One such fighter was Yankee Sullivan, who dominated the sport until his defeat to "Great American Hope," Tom Hyer. Boxing became big business when fight pots grew to exceed $20,000, such as in the fight between Sullivan and Hyer.

    Features of American Boxing

    • Along the way, American boxing added new, standardized rules, such as the use of gloves over bare knuckles, and is sanctioned by regional boxing organizations. Fighters must be sanctioned by one of these organizations, such as the North American Boxing Association or North American Boxing Council. In addition to the evolution of rules, American boxing has become an entertainment and media spectacle, as evidenced by the high-profile, big-money matches that occur in famous locations like Las Vegas.

    Famous American Fighters

    • America has been home to many famous boxers. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Jack Johnson was perhaps the most notorious successful boxer, mainly due to the color of his skin and his outspoken pro-black views. Muhammed Ali was a successful boxer in the '60s and '70s, and was nearly as famous for his outspoken views about Vietnam as for his fighting skill. More modern boxers like George Foreman and Mike Tyson have capitalized on other business ventures outside of boxing, including Foreman's eponymous grill and Tyson's acting.

    Famous Matches in America

    • The "fight of the century" occured in 1910, when James Jeffries came out of retirement to face Jack Johnson. This is one of the most famous America fights, not only because of the skill between fighters, but also for the strong racial undercurrent to the match. Johnson emerged victorious. The "Rumble in the Jungle" was a fight that took place in 1974 between Muhammed Ali and George Foreman. Although the match took place in Zaire, it featured two prominent American fighters, resulting in Ali reclaiming the heavyweight championship. Some other fights are more notorious than famous, such as the match between Tyson and Evander Holyfield in 1997 in which Tyson bit a piece of Holyfield's ear off, almost disqualifying him early in the match before referee Mills Lane decided instead to deduct two points from Tyson and move on.