Boxer (Sportsman)

BOXERS IN HISTORY

As a youngster, the Ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras was a fine boxer. He applied science to boxing knocking out men with upper cuts. He philosophised that a sharp blow delivered from the hip was the most effective method.

Bonnie Prince Charlie was a skilled boxer and physically fit. Whilst living in Avignon, he taught the local people how to box.

Daniel Mendoza, champion in the 1790s, introduced a new subtlety in the style of fighting and even wrote a book on the subject (The Art of Boxing, 1789). He was the first important fighter to combine scientific boxing with rapid, rather than hard, punching—a great change from the mauling style used until his time. Mendoza lost his title in 1795 to Gentleman Jackson.  

John Jackson, also known as Gentleman Jackson, was a renowned English bare-knuckle boxer who reigned as the champion of England from 1795 to 1800. He was born in London on September 28, 1769, and is considered one of the pioneers of modern boxing, establishing rules and techniques that would shape the sport for years to come.

Jackson's boxing career began in the late 1780s, and he quickly rose to prominence due to his exceptional skills and gentlemanly demeanor. He was known for his scientific approach to boxing, developing innovative strategies and techniques that emphasized defense, footwork, and timing. These methods set him apart from his more brutish contemporaries, earning him the moniker "Gentleman Jackson."

Jackson at his boxing academy

The poet Lord Byron was a useful boxer, he once sparred with John "Gentleman" Jackson, the former bare knuckled champion in the boxer's Bond Street gym. He was a pupil at the boxing school there.

George Bernard Shaw was fond of prize fighting and indeed he had an expert interest in boxing. The Irish music and drama critic entered the Queensbury amateur boxing championship. He got as far as the programme but not the ring.

The last ever championship bare-knuckle boxing match was held in 1889 when John L. Sullivan defeated Jack Kilrain after 75 rounds. Sullivan never lost a bareknuckle bout.

John L Sullivan was not only the last bare-knuckle boxing champion, he was also the first one to use gloves.

Theodore Roosevelt was a member of the Harvard University boxing team. He was runner-up for the Harvard boxing championship, losing to C.S. Hanks. The sportsmanship Roosevelt showed in that fight was long remembered.

Theodore Roosevelt regularly staged boxing matches in the White House, taking on anyone he could - including professional boxers. He only stopped boxing in 1904 when he was struck in the eye by a punch from his military aide, Col. Daniel T. Moore. His eyesight gradually diminished and by 1908 he was totally blind in one eye.

In the United States the first professional to win national recognition as catch-as-catch-can champion was a heavyweight, Tom Jenkins, of Cleveland, Ohio. He ruled as king of his division from the 1890s until 1908, when he lost to Frank Gotch of Iowa.

The US welterweight boxing champion “Kid” McCoy was once challenged by a man in a bar to prove he really is the boxing champion. McCoy flattened him and when the man came round he declared that he was indeed the real McCoy. From this comes the phrase “the real McCoy”.

Galveston “Jack” Johnson became the first black world heavyweight boxing champion in 1908 when he beat Tommy Burns over 14 rounds in Sydney, Australia. Two years, on July 4, 1910, Jack Johnson knocked out white boxer Jim Jeffries in a heavyweight boxing match, sparking race riots across the United States.

Jack Johnson patented a wrench (U.S. patent #1,413,121) on April 18, 1922. His invention, known as the "Johnson Adjustable Wrench," was designed to be more versatile and user-friendly than existing wrenches. It featured a sliding jaw that could be adjusted to fit different sizes of nuts and bolts, and it also had a built-in ratchet mechanism that made it easier to tighten and loosen fasteners.

With his first professional bout at age 14, Georges Carpentier became welterweight champion of France and of Europe in 1911. He then became middleweight champion of Europe in 1912, and light heavyweight champion of Europe in 1913. On June 1, 1913, he became heavyweight champion of Europe.

In his youth, the French entertainer Maurice Chevalier was a sparring partner to Georges Carpentier.

Sam Langford and Harry Wills were two of the most formidable heavyweight boxers of the early 20th century. Despite their skills and accomplishments, they never received a chance to fight for the world heavyweight championship due to the color bar that was prevalent in boxing at the time. Sam Langford and Harry Wills fought each other 22 times. Wills won 6 times, Langford 2 times and 14 fights ended in no decisions..

Bob Hope, the renowned comedian and actor, had a brief stint as a professional boxer under the pseudonym "Packy East" in 1919. He reportedly fought a handful of bouts, but his boxing career was overshadowed by his comedic talents. Hope's experience as a boxer would later serve as inspiration for his comedic persona. He would often joke about his boxing days, poking fun at his own lack of success in the sport.

The author Ernest Hemingway was an avid boxer. He frequently engaged in sparring matches with local Key West residents, demonstrating his passion for the sport and his desire to hone his boxing skills.

Hemingway's boxing experiences also influenced his writing. He incorporated boxing terminology and concepts into his works, often using boxing metaphors to convey themes of strength, courage, and endurance. His stories often featured characters who were boxers or who embodied the spirit of boxing.

The American boxer Henry Armstrong, (1912-88) is the only professional boxer ever to hold three world titles simultaneously in three different weight classifications: He won the featherweight crown in 1937, and in 1938 he added both the welterweight and lightweight championship.

Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the Worl,d Max Baer, wore a Star of David during his title match against Hitler's favorite fighter, Max Schmeling. Baer won the bout and continued wearing the Star of David throughout the remainder of his career.

Preparing to take on Al Couture at Lewiston, Maine in 1946, boxer Ralph Walton was knocked out while still adjusting his gum shield. The fight officially ended after ten-and-a-half seconds - that included the 10-second count.

Rocky Marciano began his professional boxing career at the relatively late age of 22, which is considered unusual for heavyweight boxers who typically start their careers in their late teens or early twenties. Despite this late start, Marciano went on to achieve remarkable success in the sport, becoming one of the greatest heavyweight champions of all time. His undefeated record of 49-0, with 43 knockouts, stands as a testament to his exceptional talent, determination, and work ethic.

Idi Amin was the Ugandan light heavyweight boxing champion from 1951 to 1960. He was a skilled and powerful boxer, and his boxing career helped him to gain recognition and respect in Uganda. His athleticism also helped him to rise through the ranks of the Ugandan army, and he eventually became the president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979.

Archie Moore (December 13, 1916 – December 9, 1998) was the longest reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion of all time at nine years, four months and 24 days (December 1952 – May 1962). Moore was a highly skilled and strategic boxer known for his defensive prowess and powerful counterpunches. He had one of the longest professional careers in the history of the sport, fighting professionally for almost 30 years.

Sugar Ray Robinson became the first five-time middleweight winner in 1958. He accomplished this feat by defeating Carmen Basilio to regain the title after previously holding it from 1946 to 1948, 1951 to 1952, 1955 to 1956, and 1957 to 1958.

Nikolai Valuev, nicknamed "The Beast from the East," is the tallest and heaviest world champion in boxing history. Standing at an impressive height of 2.13 meters (7 feet) and weighing in at a peak of 149 kilograms (328 pounds), Valuev's imposing stature gave him a significant physical advantage over most of his opponents. His exceptional reach, combined with his powerful punches, made him a formidable force in the ring. Valuev competed in boxing from 1993 to 2009, and held the WBA heavyweight title twice between 2005 and 2009.

BOXER FUN FACTS

In boxing, a championship belt is awarded to a fighter who wins a British title fight. If he wins three fights in one weight division, he is allowed to keep the belt permanently. The British heavyweight boxer Henry Cooper is the only man to have won three Lonsdale Belts outright.

Joe Frazier is said to have cut his Olympic boxing gold medal into 11 pieces and given a piece to each of his 11 children.

Leon Spinks won the Heavyweight title in only his eighth pro fight.

Puerto Rican fighter Wilfred Benitez was the youngest professional world champion when he won the light welterweight title in 1976 aged 17.

Because of his slight build and strong accent as a boy, Riverdance star Michael Flatley's father enrolled him in boxing lessons so he could learn self-defense. He excelled at the sport and held the Golden Gloves Championship in the featherweight division in 1977.

When Mike Tyson knocked-out Trevor Berbick in the second round on November 22, 1986, he became the youngest ever world heavyweight-boxing champion. (Tyson was 20 years, 4 months old).

Forty-five year old George Foreman became boxing's oldest heavyweight champion on November 5, 1994 when he knocked out Michael Moorer in the 10th round of a Las Vegas fight.  Foreman dedicated his upset win to "all my buddies in the nursing home and all the guys in jail."

Evander Holyfield turned down a role in the movie Rocky 5 purely because his character would be knocked out.

Sources Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia © 1998 The Learning Company, Inc, Europress Family Encyclopedia 1999, 606v2.com/t12024-strange-funny-and-interesting-boxing-facts