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Boxing, also known as pugilism or the sweet science, has roots that go all the way back to
ancient Greece and Rome. Back then fights would take place without gloves but with just
leather taped on to the hands. This resulted in even more gruesome, deadly battles.
The first documented "boxing match" took place in 1681 in Britian when the Duke of
Albemarle engineered a bout between his butler and his butcher.
In the coming years, bare-knuckle boxing contests would be held in ampitheatres all over
England. Jack Boughton, also known as "the Father of Boxing," developed the first set of
rules for the sport and published them in 1743 as a result from a bout where he killed his
opponent in 1741.
The most revolutionary change in the sport came in 1865 when John Sholto
Douglass, the Eighth Marquess of Queensbury, drew up new rules of boxing which basically
transformed the sport into what it is today. He is regarded as the "Patron Saint" of boxing and
some of the most significant changes were three-minute roundsand the regulated use of approved
boxing gloves. You can read the whole set of 12 rules here.
man fails to come to the scratch in the ten seconds allowed, it shall be in the power of the referee
to give his awart in favour of the other man.
5. A man hanging on the ropes in a helpless state, with his toes off the ground, shall be
considered down.
6. No seconds or any other person to be allowed in the ring during the rounds.
7. Should the contest be stopped by any unavoidable interference, the referee (is) to name the
time and place as soon as possible for finishing the contest, to that the match can be won and
lost, unless the backers of the men agree to draw the stakes.
8. The gloves to be fair-sized boxing gloves of the best quality and new.
9. Should a glove burst, or come off, it must be replaced to the referee's satisfaction.
10. A man on one knee is considered down, and if struck is entitled to the stakes.
11. No shoes or boots with springs allowed.
12. The contest in all other respects to be governed by the revised rules of the London Prize
Ring.
At this point the popularity of boxing continued to spread. It was included in the St. Louis
Olympic Games in 1904 for the first time ever. From here on, talented fighters from all over the
world would meet and fight for sanctioned titles all throughout the 20th Century and into the
21st.
In 1927 the National Boxing Association (NBA) became the first "sanctioning body" to
govern over the sport. These sanctioning bodies ranked fighters and arranged matches between
champions and the most deserving challengers, all for a healthy sanctioning fee of course. Today,
three "recognized" sanctioning bodies control the world of boxing. The WBC, IBF andWBA are
the only bodies whos titlists are recognized worldwide as "champions."
By Joseph R. Svinth
Copyright Joseph R. Svinth 2001. All rights reserved. The assistance of Pat Baptiste, Hank
Kaplan, Paul Lou, Eric Madis, Curtis Narimatsu, John Ochs, Michael Machado, and Kevin
Smith is gratefully acknowledged.
On June 18, 1923, Francisco "Pancho Villa" Guilledo beat Jimmy Wilde to become the world
flyweight boxing champion, an accomplishment that was (and remains) a matter of great pride to
people of Filipino descent. Unfortunately, while there has been some documentation of the many
excellent Filipino boxers who subsequently followed Guilledo to the United States, there has not
been as much attention paid to documenting the origins of boxing in the Philippines. This article
represents a step toward correcting that omission. People with additional information or
corrections are invited to contact the author at jsvinth@ejmas.com.
Casualties in these battles were heavy and one-sided: US casualties were listed as 4,243 killed
and 2,818 wounded in action while Filipino casualties are estimated at 16,000 killed, plus
another several hundred thousand dead from famine or disease (generally cholera). However,
after Theodore Roosevelts unilateral declaration of victory in July 1902, US commanders began
thinking about how to reduce the rates of desertion, suicide, sexually transmitted diseases, drug
abuse, and drunkenness among their soldiers and sailors.
Boxing was offered as a potential solution. The reason was that boxers in training were taught to
avoid tobacco, alcohol, and sexual activity. Furthermore, explained writer Charles L. Clay in
1887, "Boxing also makes a man self-reliant and resourceful when assailed by sudden or
unexpected dangers or difficulties." This, in turn, said a YMCA director named C.H. Jackson in
1909, made young men "Christlike and manly." So, in 1902, Major Elijah Halford (a former
secretary to President Benjamin Harrison) asked philanthropists for $200,000 to construct a
YMCA in Manila, and by 1904, Army officers such as Edmund Butts were extolling the virtues
of boxing in tropical environments such as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
US Military Boxers
On November 18, 1899, soldiers of the 11th US Cavalry reported finding a pair of boxing gloves
made by Sol Levinson of San Francisco abandoned in the Luzon village of San Mateo.
According to Damon Runyon, writing in October 1925, Filipino prisoners reported that the
"gloves had been brought in by a renegade soldier from the negro Twenty-fourth Infantry, and
that he had been schooling the Filipinos in their use."
Many early boxers in the Philippines were African American, as the all-black 9th and 10th US
Cavalry, 24th and 25th US Infantry, and 48th and 49th US Volunteer Infantry formed a
significant percentage of the American soldiers serving in the Philippines between 1899 and
1902. Following Roosevelts declaration of peace, most of the black troops were sent back to the
United States but in 1913, the 25th was in Hawaii. There the Honolulu Advertiser noted:
The Twenty-fifth is proud of its colored ringmasters and particularly of Hollie
Giles, a welterweight of 155 pounds, who is described by the men as a
whirlwind fighter; Morgan, a heavyweight at 190 pounds; Carson, a light
heavyweight, and Ananias Harris, a light heavyweight.
Meanwhile, from 1913 until 1917, the 24th was in the Philippines, serving at Camp McGrath
(Batangas) and Fort Mills (Corregidor). Noted African American fighters from this period
included the middleweights Joe Blackburn, "Craps" Johnson, and "Demon" White.
Of course, there were also white soldiers who boxed in the Philippines. The most famous was
New Jerseys Mike Ballerino. "Ballerino had a chip on his shoulder," Pancho Villa recalled in
early 1925. "He dared any of the Filipinos to knock it off." So Pancho Villa did, fighting
Ballerino ten times during 1920-1921, winning nine and drawing one. Nonetheless, Ballerino
returned to the United States under the management of Frank Churchill, and in December 1925
he became the world junior lightweight champion.
Between 1881 and 1942, the Pacific Fleet enlisted blacks primarily for service as cooks and mess
stewards, and the Marines did not enlist them at all. Therefore most sailors and all Marines
fighting in the Philippines were white. Examples of white fighters who served in the Philippines
include Harvey "Heinie" Miller, a sailor assigned to the USS Wilmington who boxed (and beat) a
Japanese jujutsuka during a Manila festival held in 1908 or 1909. Earlier, Miller had fought
Jimmy Dwyer for a Pacific Fleet lightweight title. Their fight was a 45-round affair with fourounce gloves, and Miller won by knockout in the thirteenth, despite a broken nose, cuts around
the eyes, a broken rib, and a broken hand.
After 1902, however, the Pacific Fleet began replacing its Japanese cooks and mess stewards
with Filipinos, and some of these latter men took up shipboard boxing. For example, in 1903, a
20-year-old Filipino named Eddie Duarte and another forty Filipinos enlisted for service aboard
the US Army cable-laying ship Burnside. (Army is correct; in those days, most ships designated
for logistical support belonged to the Army rather than the Navy.) Between 1903 and
1904, Burnside laid telegraph cable between Manila and Seattle, and subsequently it laid cable
from San Francisco to Valdez, Alaska. "Every evening when the sailors were at leisure," Carroll
Alcott wrote in The Ring in October 1928, "some of the boys would don the gloves and a
youthful Eddie made up his mind to have at try Eddie made his first public appearance at the
Olympic club, of Tacoma, Washington. He fought an American Indian and won the decision in
four rounds. In that fight, he tipped the beams at 128 pounds, a weight he fought at the remainder
of his boxing days. The Indian weighed in at 148. In the following years, Eddie fought in Alaska,
Canada, and the United States."
Of course, this naval boxing was not horribly sophisticated. The boxers "meet on deck when the
spirit moves," the Honolulu Advertiser noted in October 1911, "take up the good natured
challenges of their shipmates as they feel inclined, and go at it, to the intense entertainment of
their comrades." As a result, no Filipino naval boxers became more than locally prominent until
after World War I. So, as the US Naval Academys boxing coach, Doc Dougherty, wrote in an
article carried by the Honolulu Advertiser in August 1924:
It was as recently as 1920 before a Filipino boxer, Manuel Soriano, got as far as
the finals for the Fleet title. This happened when Harry Gordon, now of New
York, defeated Soriano for the Bantam Fleet belt in Madison Square Garden in
December of the year mentioned.
The very next year, however, Jose Javier, Filipino flash from the U.S.S. South
Dakota, won the flyweight championship of the Atlantic and Pacific fleets
combined.
And now comes the tiniest of them all, Young Dencio, of the U.S.S. Mayflower.
This lad weighs but an even 100 pounds. At times he is as low as 98. Yet this
fellow boxes boys weighing as heavy as 116 and gets away with it.
Other early naval boxers included Juan "Johnny" Candelaria, who fought in Honolulu in 1919
and Manila in 1920.
McFadden, and Bud Walters. However, starting in 1918, he also began fighting Filipinos, to
include Enrique Zuzuarregui on October 4 and Dencio Cabenela on October 19. In 1919 Turner
continued fighting a combination of foreign and local talent: Harry Holmes on February 8 and
July 12; Sylvino Jamito on June 7; Pug Macarino on November 6; and Francisco Flores on
November 29. His last known fight was in Pasay on October 29, 1921; the opponent was Jimmy
West, and the result was an 8-round draw.
Of course, Filipino gamblers were generally not interested in watching Americans and
Australians fight one another. Furthermore, with the Australian entry into World War I in 1914
and the US mobilizations of 1916, competent Australian and American boxers became
increasingly hard to get. So, by 1914 there were Filipino fighters in the preliminaries, and by
1919 there were a number of Filipino main event fighters.
Unsurprisingly, one of the first Filipinos to fight a main event at the Olympic was the former
Army boxer, Eddie Duarte. According to Alcott, writing in The Ring:
Eventually Duarte returned to the Philippines. He was regarded as a hero and after
a number of battles at the Manila Stadium, he was matched to meet Antonio
Zuzuarrigue, a welter, who had gained distinction while Eddie was roaming
around the world. Eddie weighed 129 pounds and won the verdict at the end of
ten slashing rounds.
Old age finally exacted its toll and in 1916 Eddie went down to defeat against
the youthful Ramon Sanchez. The old veteran is now [1928] 45 years old and
enjoys his advancing years by watching the fruits of his early endeavor spring into
champions and powerful contenders
Technically, many of these Filipino main event fighters were not very good. As Norris Mills, the
former sports editor of the Manila Daily Bulletin put it in 1925, "Many have been ruined due to
the management rushing them into the main event class before they were ready. This rushing
process was usually due to a shortage of fighters of top notch timber or the popularity of the
scrapper." Frank Churchill indirectly corroborated this observation, saying in 1924:
There were a great many ambitious Filipino lads who craved ring glory, even at
the expense of a broken beezer or a vegetable ear. These boys would storm the
club on Wednesday night, begging for a chance to go on. Many of them didnt
have money enough to buy an outfit of ring togs, so we always kept a supply of
trunks, shoes, etc., available for them. Lots of em wouldnt use shoes. They were
accustomed to going barefoot and shoes cramped their style.
Nevertheless, several Filipino fighters of the era were excellent, and the best of them all was the
future world flyweight champion Francisco "Pancho Villa" Guilledo. Born at Iloilo, Philippines,
on August 1, 1901, Guilledo took up boxing in 1917, turned professional in 1919, and died in
July 1925 after fighting a bout in the United States despite impacted wisdom teeth. Standing 51"
tall, his best weight was 110-115. Technically, he was described as "a tireless offensive fighter
with a strong punch in either left or right." He was also a consummate showman. For example,
he always had an open camp where he entertained paying fans with his expert rope skipping, and
once, after knocking an opponent down, he astonished onlookers by jumping on the neutral
corner post to await the count.
Other well-regarded bootleg boxers include:
Dencio Cabanela. Cabanela was of Igoroto ancestry and in 1920, at age 20, he weighed
128 pounds and had a 17-inch neck. On July 2, 1921, he became the first of three
Filipinos managed by Frank Churchill to die of ring-related causes. (The other two were
Pancho Villa and Inocencio "Clever Sencio" Moldes.)
The Flores brothers (Francisco, Elino, Macario, and Ireneo). All of them started fighting
professionally while aged 13 or 14, all of them fought in the US or Australia, and all were
managed by their mother. "I can hit harder when mother is at the ringside," explained
Macario Flores in 1922.
Macario Villon (lightweight). Around 1921, Villon fought a 20-round fight with Bud
Taylor in Manila, and gave him a solid whipping. In 1922, he defeated Jerry Monohan in
Manila. However, in 1923 he lost a couple 15-round decisions to Sylvino Jamito and
Ireneo Flores. Villon later fought in San Francisco, where Frankie Farren knocked him
out on June 2, 1925.
Other early Filipino fighters about whom less is known are Frisco Concepcion, Cowboy Reyes,
and Johnny Hill; the latter was the son of an African American sailor and a Filipino woman.
Legalization
In 1921, boxing was legalized in the Philippines. The idea was that this would satisfy "the
Filipinos natural love of sport which formerly found its expression in cock-fighting and other
vicious sports of like nature."
The code adopted was similar to New Yorks Walker Law, with the exception that the Philippines
allowed 20-round fights and paid almost no attention to weight classes. As The Ring noted in its
June 1923 edition:
The Philippine code permits twenty round bouts to a decision, which goes the
Empire State five better. Every champion of the Islands is obliged to defend his
title every six months unless something beyond his control prevents him. If he
fails to meet an accredited challenger within that period, the challenger acquires
the title.
There is one peculiar item in the code which may be due to an error in typing.
One of the clauses reads: There shall be a difference of no more than 18 pounds
between two contestants except in the case of the light-heavyweights and
heavyweights.
If this is true, all the good derived from the new law is nullified because such
difference in weight invites casualties.
Collegiate Boxing
Filipino collegiate boxing dates to 1923. Once again, driving forces included the US Army. As
quoted in The Ring by Pablo Anido, the Philippines Governor General, Maj. Gen. Leonard
Wood, stated that he wanted "to see the Filipino youth master the manly arts of self-defense
wrestling and boxing."
Why? Simply because our beloved Governor realizes from experience that both
sports develop he-men who become high class citizens. The Governor in the
course of his remarks declared that if every young man would think of his health
and physical welfare, and then take up boxing and wrestling as a pastime, the
world would have better men and better citizens. That this is so, often has been
proven. Boxing develops every muscle in the human body, quickens the brain,
sharpens the wits, imparts force, and, above all, it teaches self-control.
The time when it was popular to be a fop and dandy when it was considered
a sign of good breeding to be able to show delicate and well manicured,
effeminate hands, is past.
One cannot be successful in life unless one is in constant fighting trim. One must
be in condition to go and keep going at top speed. Hence the reason for
introducing boxing in the University of Manila where it will soon become a major
sport.
That said, the true inspiration was not the army, but Pancho Villa, and in 1930 the Filipinos sent a
collegiate team to Tokyo to box in the Far Eastern Championship Games. Members included
flyweight, Villanueva; bantamweight, John Gray and Guillermo Lazaro; featherweight, Oscar de
la Rosa; lightweight, Alejandro Florentino; and welterweight, Carlos Padilla. Although faring
well in this contest, the Filipino team eventually withdrew to protest the Japanese referees
allegedly arbitrary rulings. But of course the Filipinos were not averse to making arbitrary
rulings of their own, and four years later 5,000 Japanese rioted in Manila following an equally
questionable call involving a Korean student fighting under Japanese colors.
Filipinos in Hawaii before Legalization
Filipinos also fought in Hawaii prior to legalization. Under Section 320 of the US Code,
prizefighting was illegal in the Territory of Hawaii until 1929. In practice, however, this portion
of the Federal code was widely ignored. For example, in October 1915 the Judge Advocate
General of the Army ruled that soldiers could box in garrison provided that there were no
admission charges, no challenges from the ring, no decisions announced at the conclusion of
fights, and no obvious gambling. At Schofield Barracks, early promoters of military boxing
included Tommy Marlowe and Lieutenant Barnard of the 5th US Cavalry, and Sergeant John
Stone of the Ordnance Department. At Fort DeRussey, promoters included Sergeant Anthony
Biddle of the 17th US Cavalry. The Navy took a similar view, and as result, throughout the 1920s
the 14th Naval District Submarine Division held monthly smokers at Pearl Harbor.
As in Manila, the military fights were not always open to civilian spectators, and due to
restrictions against soldiers fighting civilians, the fighters were almost entirely military. This of
course annoyed civilian boxing fans, and as a result, from 1915 to 1929, there was also bootleg
boxing in Hawaii.
The legal fiction used to circumvent the law was that the fights were not prizefights, but instead
3 or 4-round exhibitions held solely for the amusement of members of private clubs. As
the Honolulu Advertiser explained the practice in July 1927, "Membership cards were sold on
the night of the fight in buildings across the street." Examples of clubs that organized bootleg
fights included Honolulus Kewalo Athletic Club and International Athletic Association, and
Hilos National Athletic Club. The YMCA also offered boxing in some of its youth programs,
saying, "Wholesome athletics act as mental tonic in the formation of a boys character."
The reason the law could be flaunted was a case in December 1915 in which US Attorney
Jefferson McCarn had filed charges against a promoter and some boxers, and the defense counsel
turned out to be the former Honolulu district attorney Robert W. Breckons. Meanwhile, witnesses
for the defense included the sitting US Circuit Judge T.B. Stuart. Said the jurist, who admitted
sitting in the twelfth row of seats:
I saw these two men engage in sparring on the stage. I think it was three rounds
one minute each and half a minute between. Yes, they had gloves on. Well, they
made several demonstrations; I would not call it striking. They would spar and tap
each other, just like that They would, of course, touch each other, care being
used not to hurt each other.
Following this slap in the face, the US Attorney refused to try future cases, and so it wasnt until
1927 that anyone else was indicted, let alone convicted, on charges of promoting prizefighting in
Hawaii. (And even then the charges owed more to pressure from womens temperance leagues
than any governmental desire to prosecute boxers or promoters.)
Like the communities from which they recruited, Hawaiian bootleg fight clubs were racially
segregated. The one that attracted the most Filipinos was Honolulus Rizal Athletic Club. The
Rizal club held its first smoker in July 1922, and a standard card of this era featured Kid Parco
fighting Al "Alky" Dawson or Patsy Fernandez during the main event or Kid Carpenterio during
the semi-main. Other Filipinos who fought in Hawaii prior to legalization included Battling
Bolo, Young Malicio, Clever Feder, Pedro Suerta, Moniz, Santiago, and Cabayon.
Excepting small gate receipts, the only money to be made through boxing in Hawaii was through
side betting. This was unsatisfactory to Filipinos, partly because the working-class fighters
wanted to be paid for their pains, and mostly because people from all walks of life wanted to see
fights featuring the Filipino pugilists passing through Honolulu on their way to and from San
Francisco. As a result, in 1926 the "pugilistic propensity of the Filipino population of Hawaii"
was a stated motivation for Governor Wallace Farringtons testimony to Congress urging the
legalization of prizefighting in Hawaii. Said the governor:
At the present time a large and growing Filipino population has very little
amusement, and it is a real problem to keep them out of trouble. Their interest in
boxing is not surpassed by their interest in any other sport. At every show given,
there have been thousands of Filipinos denied admission because the shows were
not open to the general public. Boxing will bring them into closer relations with
the other races and tend to make better citizens out of them.
In the meantime, Filipino fighters such as Carpenterio tried earning money by participating in
exhibition bouts with wrestlers and judoka. For example, on May 12, 1923, he met judoka S.
Takahashi during a mixed match. "Carpenterio boxed and the professor used jiu jitsu," said
the Advertiser. "The first two-minute round was a draw. Thirty seconds after the second round
started Carpenterio was down with an ankle hold and the stuff was off."
the
Champion
/
________________________________________________________
and
the
Co/
_____________________________________________________________
Co-Challenger
Challenger
on _____._____.20_____ (Day/Month/Year).
Championship contests shall be governed by these Rules & Regulations and will be supervised by
the designated World Boxing Federation Supervisor. The World Boxing Federation Supervisor
must be given a center seat in the technical zone at ringside and shall conduct the tabulation of the
scoring and will be the sole arbiter regarding the interpretation of the Rules & Regulations. The
World Boxing Federation Supervisor must be in attendance at every weigh-in and has full
authority to administer the Rules & Regulations.
The following Rules & Regulations must be respected, applied and adhered to in order to have the
official recognition and licence of the World Boxing Federation as a championship contest. These
Rules & Regulations are also available on www.worldboxingfederation.net and by signing of
these by the authorized representatives, the boxers, managers, trainers or any other agents are
subsequently bound by its provisions. By accepting these Rules & Regulations, the parties further
agree to be bound by the World Boxing Federation Constitution, By-Laws, and rulings of the
World Boxing Federation Executive and Championship Committees.
Each round shall consist of a three (3)-minute (Females: two (2)-minute) duration, with a
one (1)-minute rest period between rounds.
1.2.
1.3.
Any World Boxing Federation World Champion must defend his/her title within nine (9)
months, any WBF Intercontinental, International or Regional Champion must defend
his/her title within six (6) months, otherwise the title may be declared vacant in the
discretion of the World Boxing Federation.
1.4.
Any World Boxing Federation Champion that participates in a title bout not sanctioned
by the World Boxing Federation or any non-title bout without the approval of the World
Boxing Federation will be subject, in the discretion of the World Boxing Federation, to
his/her title being declared vacant. Notwithstanding the above, the World Boxing
Federation Championship Committee may also vacate a title in case of serious violations
of these Rules & Regulations or if the actions of a World Boxing Federation Champion are
deemed harmful to the reputation of professional boxing and/or the World Boxing
Federation.
1.5.
Boxers for a World Boxing Federation championship contest shall weigh-in between
16.00 h and 20.00 h (local time) on the day prior to the scheduled match at a place
approved by the local commission and in the presence of the World Boxing Federation
Supervisor on calibrated scales. These scales must be available to both boxers at least two
(2) hours prior to the official weigh-in. The weigh-in time may be altered at the discretion
of the World Boxing Federation Supervisor.
2.2.
Weight determines championships; if either boxer fails to make the prescribed weight by
the official weigh-in, either of them have two (2) hours from that time to make the
prescribed weight in the presence of the World Boxing Federation Supervisor. If either or
both boxers fail to make the prescribed weight within the additional two (2) hour period,
these Rules & Regulations remain in full force and effect and the contest shall be held as
an overweight championship contest or a non-title contest as the case may be.
2.3.
If a World Boxing Federation Champion fails to make the prescribed weight and the
Challenger makes weight, the World Boxing Federation Champion shall lose the title at the
scales, and the championship shall then and there be declared vacant. The championship
may not, however, be won at the scales. The contest shall go forward, and if the
Challenger, having made the weight, wins, he shall be the successor of the championship;
but if the prior World Boxing Federation Champion, whose championship was vacated at
the scales, wins, the championship shall remain vacant.
2.4.
If the World Boxing Federation Champion makes the weight and the Challenger fails to
do so, the World Boxing Federation Champion shall retain the title, regardless of the result
of the contest.
2.5.
If both the World Boxing Federation Champion and the Challenger fail to make weight,
the championship shall not be vacated at the scales and the contest will go forward as a
non-title contest and the World Boxing Federation Champion shall retain the title,
regardless of the result of the contest.
2.6.
If the contest is for a vacant title and one of the Co-Challengers fails to make the weight,
the contest will go forward as a championship contest, however, only the boxer who has
made the weight can win the title if he/she wins the contest.
2.7.
Maximum Weight
Heavyweight
Cruiserweight
Lightheavyweight
Supermiddleweight
Middleweight
Superwelterweight
Welterweight
Lightwelterweight
Lightweight
Superfeatherweight
Featherweight
Superbantamweight
Bantamweight
Superflyweight
Flyweight
Lightflyweight
Strawweight
In order to encourage the preservation and protection of the health and welfare of the
boxers, both must submit all medical reports as required by the local commission having
jurisdiction over the contest.
3.2.
Prior to the contest each boxer must also receive a physical examination and approval by
the physician appointed by the local commission. This examination shall either meet the
standards and criteria as dictated by the local commission and it is their sole responsibility
to assure these standards and criteria are met or the standards and criteria as outlined in
The General Medical Guidelines for World Boxing Federation Championship Contests
as published onwww.worldboxingfederation.net.
3.3.
At least two physicians shall be present at ringside and be seated in close proximity to
each boxers corner.
3.4.
The promoter and/or the local commission acknowledge that if the contest takes place in
the United States of America, they have complied with and met the safety standard
requirements as promulgated by the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 and herein
indemnify the World Boxing Federation against any failure to do so.
A boxer shall be considered down when, as a result of a legal blow as ruled by the
referee, who is the only person authorized to determine this, any part of their body other
than their feet are on the canvas, or if they are hanging helplessly over the ropes, or if they
are still rising from the down position and not standing upright.
4.2.
The Mandatory Eight (8) Count after knockdowns will be standard procedure in all
World Boxing Federation championship contests. There is no Standing Eight (8) Count;
there is no Three (3) Knockdown Rule. If in the referees judgement the knockdowns have
been indecisive and clearly with no injurious effect upon the boxer, the contest may be
continued but with good sense and judgement and the boxers welfare always paramount.
4.3.
When a boxer is knocked down, the referee shall audibly announce the count as he
motions with his right arm downward indicating the end of each sound of the count. If the
boxer taking the count is still down when the referee calls the count of ten (10), the referee
shall wave both arms indicating that the boxer has been knocked out.
4.4.
When a boxer is knocked down, the referee shall order the opponent to the farthest
neutral corner of the ring and pick up the count from the timekeeper or the official
counting for knockdowns. Should the opponent fail to stay in the corner as directed by the
referee, the referee shall stop the count and redirect the boxer to go back to the corner and
resume the count at the point that it was interrupted. In the event of any knockdown, the
timekeepers count will cease when picked up by the referee whose count shall prevail and
be relied on by the boxers.
4.5.
A boxer shall receive a twenty (20) second count if the boxer is knocked out of the ring
and onto the floor. The boxer is to be unassisted by spectators or his/her seconds. If
assisted by anyone, the boxer may lose points or be disqualified with such a decision being
within the sole discretion of the referee.
4.6.
A boxer who has been knocked down cannot be saved by the bell in any round. If a
boxer is down and the round has terminated, the referee shall continue the count until the
boxer rises or is counted out. If a boxer fails to rise before the count of ten (10), he shall be
declared the loser by knockout in the round just concluded.
The referee is the sole arbiter in all championship contests and the only person
authorized to stop a contest at any stage if he considers it to be one-sided or if either boxer
is in such condition that to continue might subject them to serious injury.
5.2.
Before any championship contest begins, the referee shall identify the chief second of
each boxer and shall hold said chief second responsible for the conduct of their respective
corner. Shaking hands by the boxers is recommanded immediately following the referees
instructions and prior to the commencement of the final round.
5.3.
The referee (or the World Boxing Federation Supervisor) shall examine the bandages and
gloves of each boxer before the contest begins to make sure that the gloves are free of any
extraneous substance that could be harmful to the opponent, and that the bandages of each
boxer are in conformity with the World Boxing Federation Rules & Regulations.
5.4.
The referee shall be the only person authorized to determine if injuries were the result of
legal blows, accidental fouls or intentional fouls.
5.5.
The referee may stop the contest and consult with the ringside physician on the medical
advisability of a boxers ability to continue. However, the referee is the only person
permitted to signal the end of a contest.
5.6.
The referee and the boxers acknowledge that the referee is not to be an agent, servant or
employee of the World Boxing Federation.
6.2.
The Ten (10) Point Must System will be the standard system of scoring a contest. Under
no circumstances the scoring will be less than 10:6 exclusive of penalty point deductions.
Scoring even rounds is not recommanded, the judges must take effort to pick a winner of
each round.
6.3.
The scorecards will be picked up after each round and the tally made by the World
Boxing Federation Supervisor. The judges are not allowed to keep a running score.
6.4.
In the event the contest is stopped and determined by the scorecards, the judges will
score the round in which it has been stopped.
The ringside physician may enter the ring during the course of a round only at the
request of the referee.
7.2.
The ringside physician may enter the ring between rounds on their own and advise the
referee about the condition of either boxer.
8.2.
Ten (10) seconds before the interval minutes are up, the timekeeper will sound an
arcustic signal and announce seconds out.
8.3.
The timekeeper shall indicate the last ten (10) seconds remaining in each round by
knocking loudly on a table with a hammer or a similar instrument.
8.4.
When a boxer is down the knockdown timekeeper shall immediately start counting the
elapsed seconds in a loud, clear voice. He shall indicate each elapsed second with
progressive upraised fingers until the referee has either taken up his count or told the
boxers to box.
8.5.
8.6.
When the referee orders and signals time, the timekeeper shall stop the watch and only
restart it when the referee orders box. The timekeeper must always be alert to accept any
signals from the referee.
Each boxer in a championship contest shall be allowed no more than four (4) seconds.
One of these seconds shall be designated the chief second, responsible for the conduct of
the corner during the contest. Only one (1) of these seconds is allowed to enter the ring
between rounds.
If a boxer sustains an injury from a fair blow and the injury is severe enough to terminate
the contest, the injured boxer shall lose by technical knockout (TKO).
Injuries sustained by fouls:
(a) Intentional Fouls
1.
2.
3.
If an intentional foul causes an injury, and the injury results in the contest
being stopped in a later round, the injured boxer will win by TECHNICAL
DECISION if he is ahead on the scorecards; and the contest will result in
a TECHNICAL DRAW if the injured boxer is behind or even on the scorecards.
4.
5.
10.3.
2.
3.
A boxer who is hit with an accidental low blow must continue after a reasonable amount
of time, but no more than five (5) minutes, or he/she will lose the contest.
The use of illegal or performance enhancing drugs or other stimulants before or during
the contest by any of the boxers shall be sufficient cause for disqualification of the boxer
guilty of said use.
11.2.
Only plain water or approved electrolyte drinks may be given to a boxer in the course of
the contest. For the purpose of this paragraph, approved electrolyte drinks shall mean
common sports drinks such as Gatorade, Powerade, Accelerade, Cytomax, and G Push, or
any other sports drink not expressly prohibited by the International Olympic Committee
(IOC).
11.3.
Lubricants around the eyes is allowed in amounts with the referees discretion; the use of
lubricants, or any other substance on a boxers arms, legs and body is prohibited.
11.4.
11.5.
Ant-doping testing is mandatory if stipulated in the rules and regulations of the local
boxing commission. The World Boxing Federation encourages all local boxing
commissions to conduct anti-doping tests before or after the fight. If the local boxing
commission conducts the tests, they shall be administered in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the local boxing commission.
11.6.
The boxer shall indicate at the time of the rules meeting if he is under medication. If the
boxer is under medication, he shall provide evidence that he is using it for therapeutic
purposes by means of medical certification and such medication must not be prohibited by
the local commission. Any drugs prohibited by the local commission or the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) shall be considered illegal drugs, whether considered
performance enhancing or not and shall subject the violator to loss of title and/or fines at
the sole and absolute discretion of the World Boxing Federation.
11.7.
The General Medical Guidelines for World Boxing Federation Championship Contests as
published on www.worldboxingfederation.net shall apply for all championship contests.
12.) BANDAGES
12.1.
In all weight divisions hand bandages shall be restricted to twelve (12) yards (10,973 m)
of soft gauze bandage per hand, not more than two (2) inches (0,051 m) in width, held in
place by not more than eight (8) feet (2,438 m) of adhesive tape of one-and-a-half (1 )
inches (0,038 m) of width.
12.2.
Adhesive tape shall not cover any part of the knuckles when the hand is clenched to make
a fist.
13.) GLOVES
13.1.
13.2.
The weight of gloves to be used is determined by the weight classifications at the official
weigh-in, not the weight of the boxers at the time of the contest.
13.3.
The boxers may, by agreement, determine which brand of gloves are to be used. The
boxers may agree that different brands of gloves may be used by each boxer. In the
absence of agreement, the promoter shall be responsible to provide no less than four (4)
identical pairs of new gloves to be selected by the boxers for use in the championship
contest and for back-up. The World Boxing Federation Supervisor shall be the final
authority in any disputes and his ruled shall be binding.
14.) RING
14.1.
14.2.
The local commission shall verify before the contest that rings used shall be no less than
18 feet (5,486 m) nor more than 24 feet (7,315 m) by side within the ropes.
Four (4) ropes are mandatory for World Boxing Federation championship contests.
The protective cups and mouthpieces shall be compulsory for all boxers participating in
championship contests. It is the responsibility of the boxer and the chief second to ensure
that the boxer is fitted with the appropriate protection devices before each championship
contest.
15.2.
15.3.
All boxers are required to have two (2) mouthpieces at the start of the contest. No round
can begin without mouthpiece. If the mouthpiece is dislodged during competition, the
referee will call time and have it replaced at the first opportune moment without interfering
with the immediate action. Points may be deducted by the referee if he feels the
mouthpiece is being purposely spit out.
16.) MISCELLANEOUS
16.1.
The champion will wear the World Boxing Federation Championship Belt when coming
into the ring, which will be given to the referee by the champion and passed to the World
Boxing Federation Supervisor ringside. At the end of the contest, before the result is
announced, the World Boxing Federation Supervisor shall be invited into the ring to
immediately proceed with the championship belt ceremony.
16.2.
The World Boxing Federation does not arrange, promote, organize or produce
championship contests. It merely promulgates rules governing the contests, licences the
use of its name and awards the World Boxing Federation Championship Belt to the winner.
16.3.
promoters under the supervision and control and in accordance with the rules of the local
commission. It is the obligation of the promoter and/or the local commission to meet all
governmental standards and to pay for any such service provided at the contest.
16.4.
These Rules & Regulations are to be interpreted in conformity with the laws of
Luxembourg. All participants agree and consent that the exclusive venue for any and all
legal action in which the World Boxing Federation is made a party, whether it is to enforce,
interpret or declare the application of these Rules & Regulations or to appeal from any
determination of the World Boxing Federation, may be maintained only in the Superior
Court of Luxembourg.
The parties undersigned hereby agree to participate in the contest and hereby release, discharge
and indemnify and keep indemnified the World Boxing Federation, its officers, agents, and
employees, from all claims, actions, demands, judgements and executions which the undersigned,
its heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns may have, or claim to have, against the World
Boxing Federation, its officers, agents, and employees from all personal injuries, known or
unknown, and injuries to property, real or personal, caused either directly or indirectly, or arising
out of the above sporting activities.
We the undersigned explicitly and unequivocally agree that we have read and understood the
World Boxing Federation Rules & Regulations contained herein and shall adhere to these Rules &
Regulations. We understand fully the inherent risks involved with the above sporting activity and
fully waive all our rights and claims towards the World Boxing Federation, cause of actions and
assume all responsibilities and risks.
We hereby sign these Rules & Regulations freely and voluntarily with complete understanding
and knowledge of its significance.
Promoter: _________________________________________________________________
Contestant: ________________________________________________________________
(or Representative)
Contestant: ________________________________________________________________
(or Representative)
Supervisor: ____________________________________________________________
The sport of boxing has a long and illustrious history. Some of the events that have taken place
over the years range from amazing to unbelievable. Some interesting boxing facts, records and
trivia include:
Wilfredo Benitez of Puerto Rico was the youngest professional world champion when he
won the Jr. welterweight title in 1976 at the age of 17 years and 173 days.
The first world title fight under the Queensbury rules took place in New York on July 30,
1884 when middleweights Jack Dempsey of Ireland and American George Fulljames
went at it.
At seven feet tall and 328 lbs., Russian Nikolai Valuev is the tallest and heaviest boxer to
ever hold a professional world title.
On Oct. 7th, 2006 Russian Nikolai Valuev (328 lbs.) outweighed his American opponent
Monte Barret (222) by 106 lbs. This is the biggest weight advantage ever in modern day
boxing. Valuev TKOd Barret in the 11thround.
Archie Moore had the most knockouts in pro boxing with 145.
The longest reigning pro heavyweight champion was Joe Louis at 11 years and seven
months.
American Rocky Marciano, at 49-0, with 43 KOs was the only undefeated heavyweight
champion in pro boxing history. Marciano died in a plane crash at the age of 45.
In the 1890s, Charles "Kid" McCoy used to trick his opponents into thinking he was ill or
in trouble in the ring. Opponents werent sure if he was actually hurt or just faking it.
This is how the expression "the real McCoy" was born.
French boxer Georges Carpentier reportedly started his career at the age of 14 as a
flyweight and ended up as 32-year-old heavyweight. He fought in every weight class pro
boxing had from 1908 to 1926.
Former pro heavyweight champion Max Baer was the father of Max Baer Jr., who played
country bumpkin Jethro Bodine on the 60s hit TV show The Beverly Hillbillies.
Actor and talk show host Tony Danza had a brief but successful pro boxing career as a
middleweight from 1976 to 1979 with a record of 9-3, with 9 KOs.
Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke went 6-0-2, with 5 KOs between 1991-1994.
Former heavyweight champions Bob Fitzsimmons and Jack Johnson were both 50 when
they fought their last pro fights.
Sam Langford and Harry Wills fought each other as professionals 17 times.
The first boxing club was formed in London, England in 1814. It was called the Pugilistic
Club.
The first boxing stadium, Figgs Amphitheatre, was built in London, England in 1917.
The first pro fight broadcast over the radio was Jack Dempsey vs. Jess Willard in 1919.
The first televised fight was between Benny Leonard and Mickey Walker in 1931.
Heavyweights Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson earned the first million dollar paydays
when Liston KOd Patterson in 1963.
Bob Fitzsimmons was the first pro fighter to win world titles in three different weight
divisions: middleweight (1891), heavyweight (1897), light heavyweight (1903).
Michael Spinks was the first light heavyweight to win the heavyweight title as he
defeated Larry Holmes in 1985.
All time boxing great Muhammad Ali was once asked by a flight attendant to fasten his
seat belt. Ali replied, "Superman dont need no seat belt." The witty attendant answered
back, "Superman dont need no airplane!"
The first mouth piece was used in 1915 in a pro bout between Ted "Kid" Lewis and Jack
Britton.
Former pro boxer Victor McLaglen went on to win an Academy Award for his role in the
movie "The Informer."
The longest bare-knuckle fight was six hours and 15 minutes long, as James Kelly and
Jonathan Smith battled it out in 1855.
The most recorded bare-knuckle rounds numbered 276 (four hours and 30 minutes in
1825). A round ended when one boxer was knocked down.
The 1956 heavyweight Olympic boxing champion Pete Rademacher fought for the world
title in his very first pro bout and was KOd by Floyd Patterson.
Thomas Hearns won championships in five different weight classes. These were
welterweight, Jr. middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and
cruiserweight. Hearns fought for a sixth title but was beaten by middleweight champ
Marvin Hagler in a now-classic bout.
The most famous boxer in the world doesnt necessarily have to be the best boxer. But, as
boxing fans know the two quite often coincide to some degree.
The truth is no one can say for sure who the best boxer is, this will always be a matter of
opinion.
There are a number of general metrics that are often pointed at when choosing the best
boxer the two must common are quality of opponents and the amount of fights that have
been fought by a fighter.
Here I will list the most famous boxers from 10 to 1, as I see it, I think this is probably one of
the best ways of indirectly determining who our, best boxers are? In any case lets begin
shall we
also before I begin, this list will not be taking into consideration different weight classes,
so you can expect to see light weights all the way up to heavy weight.
And remember this is really a famous boxer list even though I will make mention of boxing
achievements, which I do think have a part to play in determining a boxers fame status.
Willie is best known for his long list of wins, he fought 229 times and only lost 11 of them.
He was an impressive feather weight that went 61 fights before actually loosing.
Pep still went on to won 71 fights in a row after loosing his 62nd fight. He was a pioneer in
his day and famous for drawing full crowds which was only common at heavyweight and
middleweight fights at the time.
Record: won 229 (KO 65) + lost 11 (KO 6) +drawn 1 = 241
Hagler was a supreme fight in his day and is well known by boxing fans today because of it.
Marvin has the highest knockout percentage of all time for middle weights at 78%, which is
astounding!
He also defended his title 12 times and was champiom between 1980 and 1987, making
him the second longest holder of this title second only to Tony Zale, who was inactive 4
years because of World War II.
Record: won 62 (KO 52) + lost 3 (KO 0) +drawn 2 = 67
What can we say about this guy? If youre a boxing fan youll know that Chavez is the
mexican standard. But hes also a great standard for boxing in general.
Chavez is not to be confused with his son, who is also a very good fighter himself. Its not
often that you get to great fighters from the same family.
Chavez was know for having great power punches and for his attack on the body of his
opponents. His general ring toughness was also one of his many ring attributes.
Record: won 107 (KO 86) + lost 6 (KO 4) +drawn 2 = 115
Robinsons record speaks for its self this man won 3 and even 4 times more fights tham
most of the modern boxers have actually had, 173 to be exact.
Many called Robinson the greatest fighter of all time it was his performances in the
welterweight and middleweight divisions that created the pound for pound, which is a
basically a way of comparing boxers equally in their respective weight classes.
Between 1943 and 1951 he fought 91 fights without loosing.
Sadly Sugar Ray died broke after all his efforts as a great boxer, because he spent all the
money that he made as a boxer (many may think that its own fault, and maybe theres
some truth to that, but it is still sad to see nonetheless).
Record: won 173 (KO 108) + lost 19 (KO 1) +drawn 6 = 200
6- Rocky Marciano
Rocky Marciano is definitely a famous boxer today. If you ask anyone their top 10 list of
boxers, the name Rocky Marciano is more than like going to be part of that discussion.
Whats so impressive about him is that he retained his heavy weight title through out his
entire career, a total of 4 years from 1952 to 1956.
This achievement and the fact that he was undefeated his whole career has made him
famous to lots of boxing fans when they choice their best ever fighters.
What most people never mention is that there is an argument for Marciano, loosing. In 1947
Marciano fought as a pro and won, but in 1948 he fought as an amateur and lost to Coley
Williams in the Golden gloves tournament.
Record: won 49 (KO 43) + lost 0 (KO 0) +drawn 0 = 49
Roy Jones is one of the greatest fighters of our modern era, and still going, although he is a
shadow of his former self these days.
Roy had the ability to knock out opponents at the blink of an eye in his prime.
Roys fame is a product of his boxing achievements which consists of winning world titles in
various weight divisions i.e. the middleweight, super middleweight,light heavyweight and
heavyweight divisions.
Roy won the heavy weight WBA title after going up in weight . This had not been done in
over 100 years prior.
He was named Fighter of the Decade by the Boxing Writers Association of America during
the 1990s.
Record: won 57 (KO 40) + lost 8 (KO 4) +drawn 0 = 65
4 Nassem Hamed
Without out a doubt Nassem hamed was one of thee most famous boxers and flamboyant
feather weights to grace the boxing scene.
Best known for his no-defence southpaw style, over elaborate ring entrances which
included the finale a flip over the top rope into the ring.
Naseem Hamed was a world of entertainment all by himself. I put him at number 10,
because although he was definitely a good fighter I dont know if he can be considered elite.
Naz had his toughest fight when he fought the Marco Antonio Barrera.
There was no shame in this loss as it was his only loss and Marco Antonio Barrera went on
to fight in higher weight classes, with good success.
Record: won 36 (KO 31) + lost 1 (KO 0) +drawn 0 = 37
3- Mike Tyson
What can be said about this man and the fame he achieved and still has today? The
youngest heavyweight in the history of the sport, winning the WBA,IBF and WBC at age 20.
The boxing style Mike Tyson had was loved by all boxing fans, best known for his compact
hard hitting knockout mentality. Tyson was one to watch if you wanted to see a knock out,
especially in his hayday.
There has been lots of contraversy that has sorrounded Tyson, which has further increased
his popularity.
Tysons appeal is his genuine nature openness and willingness to change his life around, as
well as the killer instincts he showed in the ring during his prime.
Record: won 50 (KO 44) + lost 6 (KO 5) +drawn 0 = 58
2- Floyd Mayweather jr
Undoubtedly the most famous boxer today. He holds the record for the most pay per view
buys. He also reportedly makes no less than 100 million dollars a fight.
Mayweather is know for his all round boxing style, not good at any one thing, but has the
ability to adapt his boxing style in the ring to beat his opponents.
Floyd is definitely the epitome of what fame is in the 21st century.
Record: won 45 (KO 26) + lost 0 (KO 0) + drawn 0 = 45
1- Muhammad Ali
What can we say about the fame of this man. To me and many others he is undoubtedly the
most famous boxer and the greatest.
Muhammad Ali, was known much more than for his boxing, he is seen as political activist
and a symbol of hope and freedom for many.
Most people associated and unassociated with boxing would have heard the phrase float
like a butterfly and sting like a bee, a famous quote, which made reference to how he was
going to beat Sonny Liston, and take the heavyweight championship at age 22 in 1964,
which he did.
Alis personality and magnetism cant be denied. So he is my number one pick for the Most
famous boxer.
Record: won 56 (KO 37) + lost 5 (KO 1) +drawn 0 = 61
Sources:
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/spring03/bueneventura/history.htm
http://www.guide2boxing.com/why/facts-records-and-trivia.aspx
http://fightnights.com/upcoming-boxing-schedule
http://boxingschedule.boxingsociety.com/
http://www.worldboxingfederation.net/wbfrulesandregulations.htm
http://www.ejmas.com/jcs/jcsart_svinth_0701.htm