When Did Boxing Start Using Gloves?
The origins of boxing gloves can be traced back to the ancient Greek sport of pankration, which allowed the use of both fists and feet. Pankratiasts sometimes dipped their hands in resin or wrapped them in leather straps for protection, but these rudimentary forms of gloves were not widely adopted in other fighting sports until much later.
In the early 18th century, English prizefighting bouts were typically fought bare-knuckle, resulting in severe injuries and even deaths. The first recorded use of boxing gloves in a prizefight occurred in 1743, when Jack Broughton, the reigning champion, proposed a set of rules to increase safety in the sport. Rule seven of the Broughton Rules stipulated that "no person is to hit his adversary when he is down, or seize him by the hair, or any part below the waist; a man is reckoned down when he is incapable of defending himself."
However, gloves were not universally adopted in boxing until the mid-19th century. The Marquess of Queensberry Rules, which were established in 1865, required boxers to wear gloves weighing between 5 and 8 ounces during all fights. This rule change dramatically reduced the incidence of severe injuries and helped to make boxing a more civilized sport.
Related Questions
- When was the first recorded use of boxing gloves in a prizefight? 1743
- What were the Broughton Rules? A set of rules established in 1743 to increase safety in prizefighting, including a rule requiring the use of gloves.
- When were the Marquess of Queensberry Rules established? 1865
- What was the weight range for boxing gloves required by the Marquess of Queensberry Rules? 5-8 ounces
- How did the adoption of boxing gloves impact the sport? It dramatically reduced the incidence of severe injuries and helped to make boxing more civilized.
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