Boxing Culture Issues - Research Paper Example

? BOXING CULTURE Boxing, or otherwise known as pugilism or sweet science, is a sport that’s come to be very famous worldwide. People like to refer toit as “the manly art of self-defense”. It is a sport in which two competitors try to hit each other with their glove-encased fists while trying to avoid each other’s blows. Just like any other sport, the game is divided into rounds, each being at least three minutes long, and with one-minute rest periods between. This game is usually supervised by a referee and the boxers should generally be the same weight. One way to win is to knockout the opponent and he should be unable to get up before the referee counts to ten, another way is if the opponent is too injured to continue, or if an opponent breaks a rule, and also if there is no slowdown before an agreed number of rounds, then a winner will be determined. Boxing goes as far back as the second and third millennium BC. Archaeologists have found drawings and tablets that suggest that fist fighting was something that begun a long time ago, it may not have been as sophisticated as it is right now, and usually they would result in dangerous and deadly battles. Homer’s Iliad gives a good depiction of a possibly early era boxing fight. He writes it in the Mycenaean era and sometimes they would beat each other with fists until one of them died. (Fleischer) The very first ever boxing match was documented in 1681 and it took place in Britain. This happened when the Duke of Albemarle initiated a fight between his own butler and butcher and offered a prize to the winner. After a few years, boxing began to grow. All over England, matches were held. Years later, a match resulted to an opponent being killed, and this prompted a man known as Jack Boughton to develop the very first set of rules and had them published in 1743. There were twelve prominent rules and this was when wearing of gloves was first brought in. This is where the knockout rule came about that stated that if a man was down and couldn’t continue for thirty seconds, then the fight was over. Broughton’s rules had the welfare of the players in mind. Because of his contribution, he is considered “the Father of Boxing”. The point where boxing really began to revolutionize was in 1865 when John Sholto Douglass, the Eighth Marquess of Queensberry wrote new boxing rules that basically transformed the sport to what it is today. In these new rules, he introduced the time of three minutes per round. He also made the wearing of gloves mandatory and prohibited wrestling during the match. These rules really kicked in when James Corbett defeated John Sullivan with the new established rules. He was the first world heavyweight champion under the Queensberry rules. It was in the early 19th century that boxing was first included in the St. Louis Olympic Games. Beginning with that, many talented fighters all over the world began flocking and they would fight for titles. This went on, really well into the 21st century. In 1927, the National Boxing Association (NBA) was formed. This was the very first authorization body to oversee the sport. The main goal of the NBA was to get talented boxers together to fight, to make sure there were no ethical problems, and to make the sport even more popular than it was at the time. Today, there are three governing bodies over boxing. They are the World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and the World Boxing Association (WBA). (Fox) Today, the Marquis of Queensberry rules are still being used. Some of the rules include that there should be up to three judges at ringside to score the game. Each boxer is also assigned a ring corner where he will take breaks, and enter in at. Another general rule of boxing is that hitting below the belt, biting, pushing or any of the like is prohibited. To avoid this, the boxer should have his shorts pulled up so as to not hit the genitals. A boxer cannot hold the ropes for support while he is punching or drop anywhere below the waist of the opponent while punching. The violation of any of the rules could lead to fouls, warnings, or disqualifications, depending on the severity. Any foul that will cause an injury to an opponent and will prevent the match from continuing will cause the boxer who committed it to be disqualified. In boxing, you must train as tough you will compete against someone better than you. Speed and accuracy is vital. You must always anticipate your opponent’s next move. Early century boxer Jack Dempsey once quoted, “All the time he’s boxing, he’s thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him.” He went on to win the world heavyweight title from 1919 to 1926. Muhammad Ali, one of the biggest boxing legends in history is known for his phrase, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” All boxers agree that the game requires intelligence and courage. You can’t just step into the ring and expect to leave without a scratch. It takes time, effort, and perseverance to topple your opponent, who is as much determined as you are. Preparation takes time and endurance. It requires the development of all aspects, physical, mental, and intellectual. Boxing is at the heart of physical toughness. It’s the barest art of self-defense. It can be the rawest measure of a person. It’s the most basic of competitions where fears are met and overcome or all is lost. It’s the ideal vehicle of unfettered aggression. Short of actual hand-to-hand combat, it’s the ultimate contest between two people. (Werner) There are two types of boxing. The first kind is amateur boxing. In this kind, the boxers wear protective headgear and gloves with a white strip across the knuckles. The boxers are required to wear a mouth guard at all times, protective hand gear, and a shirt to absorb sweat. Female boxers are required to wear breast protectors as well. As you can imagine, amateur boxing is ranked as the safest amongst all contact sports. In contrast, professional boxing, which is the more famous of the two, is more dangerous. There is no protective head gear and the rounds can last way longer than amateur boxing. When learning how to box, the instructor begins by teaching you a proper stance, one that will suit your physique and stature, and which will allow you to avoid and block punches while striking your opponent. There are several stances that one can use, but most boxers use the classic on-guard stance which puts them on the defensive safe side. As you progress, you learn how to use the Peek-a-Boo Guard Stance, which is similar to stance, except you crouch behind your arms so you protect more of your body. The Philly Shell Stance puts the fighter in great positions to throw hooks. While the Cross-Guard Stance provides the best defense position. In the south-east Asian country of the Philippines, boxing is a big sport. It is the most watched game nationwide, together with basketball. Its popularity has widened even to the most remote areas, and not without reason. A Filipino boxing icon by the name of Manny Pacquiao is rapidly rising to power not only within the country, but worldwide. He has won more than ninety percent of his games, defeating big shots like Marquez and De la Hoya. He receives full support from his government and countrymen, and is currently considered the richest Filipino boxer of all time, and has even entered politics as a congressman. He has made his country popular, thus boxing has also served to bring the country together in one common interest. Thousands of poor Filipinos travel great distances just to catch a glimpse of Pacquiao, who is also viewed as a staunch patriot, with only the welfare of his country in mind. Much is expected from him, and he has promised much to his countrymen. He is even expected to run for president someday. Due to the rising popularity of boxing in the Philippines, many young men are entering the field as amateurs, hoping to make big names in the boxing arena like their Filipino hero, Pacquiao. (Chua-Eoan) An opportunity opened to sit down to chat with a young Filipino man in his early twenties. His boxing fervor was impressive. When asked why he was so interested in a sport that had nothing to do with him, he confidently replied and said that if it wasn’t for Pacquiao, he would have never heard or cared about the sport. Pacquiao gave boxing a good image in the Philippines. He donated much of the money he earned from his victories to the poor, thus winning many fans and supporters over to his side. He became the talk of the towns. Wherever he goes, people love him. Even small children know about him. The young man went further to explain how much boxing has become a thriving culture in his country. He mentioned the name of Muhammad Ali as one of the people who made the sport famous in the Philippines. Back in the seventies when Ali was gained the victory over Joe Frazier at the Araneta Coliseum in Manila, the Filipinos loved him so much that they named their first multi-level commercial shopping mall after him. (Remnick) He was asked why boxing had made such a big impact in the country. He replied and said that Pacquiao has given the Philippines a good image abroad, and whenever he wins a fight, Filipinos feel that they have also won. He said that boys his age now aspire to make it big like Pacquiao, not only for the fame, but especially for the money. Boxers are among the most highly paid players. In a third-world country like the Philippines, where poverty is rife and the gap between the rich and poor widens each year, it can be understood why young men are pursuing a boxing career. It’s not a simple career, Pacquiao did not get famous overnight, but they are determined to strike big wins abroad, that is, if they make it big locally. Competition is tough, and only the strong will emerge as victors, to represent their country in the world arena. Many boys are training to become professional boxers, and the government offers their full support. The Philippines is one of the few countries that sees hope in boxing. It has molded and shaped people’s attitudes to conform to the sport. They all share a common optimistic attitude about it. It has become a culture that people don’t want to let go of, and Pacquiao has played a big part in this. Pacquiao’s boxing career has become part of the Filipino culture, and soon his promising political career may as well. The benefits the country may reap from this game are obscure at the moment, but many experts expect the country to produce more professional boxers, who in turn will bring more recognition and aid to the third-world nation. Pacquiao has pledged his support, and is confident that the country is capable. They have talented and promising young men who look up to him as their model and idol. In spite of boxing sweeping a nation by storm, there is currently no sign of it rising to global prominence, but this may not be long. The human spirit naturally enjoys watching violent games that pit one man against an opponent. Sports like wrestling and boxing are one the few, and they receive millions of views and fans. Boxing can easily surpass wrestling in popularity, and may as well evolve from just mere entertainment to a way of life. We have seen it transform a country and its people, and it may not be long till it extends to universal supremacy. The Philippines stands as a beacon of hope in the world of boxing. Amateur boxers in this south-east Asian country have the example of the boxing legend Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. Its influence on society is strong and may well continue to grow. One only has to remember how it conquered the world back in the sixties and seventies. This boxing culture has maintained its hard-earned fame and reputation. The very character of the game speaks to millions worldwide. Bravery, endurance, courage, and determination, all these define the sport and elevate it to a level above all other sports. Famous Boxer Alexis Arguello is quoted saying, “I respect boxing because it has given me so much and that’s why I will never allow anyone to mistreat the sport of boxing if I can help it.” Anyone who understands boxing also understands that it is much more that hits and punches, boxing is an art that impacts society in a fundamental way, and in the near future, may ultimately shape civilization. All it needs is time. WORKS CITED 1. Halbert, Christy L. The Ultimate Boxer: Understanding the Sports and Skills of Boxing. ISI Publishing: Brentwood, Tennessee. 2003. 2. Fox, James A. Boxing. Stewart, Tabori, and Chang Publishers: New York, NY. 3. Chua-Eoan, Howard. The Meaning of Manny. Time Magazine. November 2009. Vol. 19. 4. Remnick, David. King of the World: Muhammad Ali and the Rise of an American Hero. Vintage Books: New York, NY. 1999. 5. Salud, Joel Pablo. A Nation United- for One Day. Philippines Graphic. July 2006. Vol. 17. 6. Werner, Doug. Boxer’s Start-up: A Beginner’s Guide to Boxing. Start-up Sports/Tracks Publishing: Chula Vista, California. 1998. 7. Fleischer, Nat. An Illustrated History of Boxing. Citadel Press: New York, NY. 2002. Read More