The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-11-12
BOXING POPULAR
Centuries Ago

Who was the first boxer? In these
times, when so many thousands take
so deep an interest in the art of box
ing, it might be interesting to know
how old this prize fighting really is,
and in what manner it differed in the
olden times from now. Since the time
when fighting with bare fists was made
unlawful, the tendency of the inter-
probation of the word boxing" has
been to limit its use to exhibitions of
skill, and to use the word puglism
when referring to professional contests
under the old rules and to ancient
gladiators. Modern boxing rules.
known as the .Queensberry Rules,
which govern even professional prize
fights, have done away with the worst
features of the puglism of antiquity,
and effected great Improvement in
modern methods.
The ancient method was to make
the punishment as cruel as possible by
wearing cestus of bronze, several
quicknesses of Eawhide strongly fast
ened together and projecting beyond
the knuckles, and by binding the wrist
and forearm with leather thongs. by
these means adding to the capacity OF
the bare hand to inf1ict injury. The
present custom Of wearing a nadded
glove lessons this capacity. Another
remnant of barbarism was taken from
puglism when wrestling, which PLAYED
an Important part in the contests of
the eighteenth and first half of the
nineteenth centuries, was ruled ont
How late it lasted is testified by the
reports of historic fights in which such
passages as the following were COM
mon:
After a short struggle both men
went down, the Upton Slasher upper
most They then closed, and after
short tussle, the Infant threw his man.
falling heavily upon him."
"Good With His Fists"
How ancient was. the practice of
puglism may be gathered from MANY.
writings of antiquity. In the roll calI
at the siege of Troy. about $500 b. c.
Polenx is described as good with his
fists" There are many interesting
details of it at the funeral of Patroc-
lus including the mention of the beIt
which Is still the emblem OF pugilistic
championships and the habit of having
such contests as a part of a funeral
service has survived to this dav in
Siam. A Roman poet CVirgiD leaves
another classical description of the
sport
Among the English sport sof the
middle ages boxing did not occupy SO
prominent place as cudgelling and
quarterstaff; and Figg may be consid-
efed as the modern father of the emo
Die art of self defense From this
time until 1860, when Savers fought
keenan,, the list of champions is nm
broken Up to this period the science
OF boxing had made little progress and
strength and endurance constitutes the
only recommendations of the practi-
titioners at Smithfield, Moorf1eId and
Southwark Fair, which had long had
booths and rings for the display of
boxing. Broughton, who occupied the
position OF champion, of England, built
theatre In Hanway street, Oxford. in
TAO, for the display Of boxing: adyer-
tisements were issued announcing a.
succession of fights between firts rate
pugilists, who never Quilted the stapA
until one or the other was defeated
the reward Of each man being depend
ent upon and proportioned to the 20
celpts. Broughton was for 18 wears
champion of England. He pronounded
some rules for the regulation of the
ring which remained in authority tiu
1883, or nearly century. They are
mostly spoken OF as the l''oldrules."
Rule is that square OF yard be
chaiKed In the middle of a stage and