The Harvard Boxing program dates to 1874 when future president Teddy Roosevelt was a student. Roosevelt is one of the first high-profile members of the Harvard Boxing Club. Other prestigious names who were in the ring after class include President JFK and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Norman Miller.
Not many people realize how badass these guys really were. Before JFK was President, he was a World War II hero. Teddy Roosevelt was the leader of the Rough Riders, the most famous American regiment in the Spanish-American War of 1898. He survived the infamous San Juan Hill death trap by leading 500 men headfirst into a charge that ultimately won the battle.
In another demonstration of pure grit, Roosevelt finished a campaign speech with a bullet wound after being shot. Roosevelt also famously had a boxing ring in the White House where he would spar regularly. During one heated bout, he got hit in the eye and tore his retina, eventually losing vision in that eye.