Page 108 - Doug Werner Boxer's Start-Up

Chapter Eleven

In the 1850s the concept of weight classes was born.
Until then it was usually just the two biggest brawlers in
town (although it should be noted that talented smaller
fellows sometimes rocked the giants). At first the divi-
sions were simply lightweight, middleweight and heavy-
weight. By 1910 there were nine divisions.Today there
are seventeen classes in professional boxing and twelve
recognized by United States Amateur Boxing, Inc. (USA
Boxing, Inc.).

In 1866 the Marquess of Queensbury created the rules
that revolutionized boxing.The Queensbury Rules:
1) Included a ban on wrestling.
2) Indicated that rounds should last three minutes with
a one-minute break in between.
3) Stated that gloves must be worn.
4) Stipulated that fights should last no more than 20
rounds.
5) Later included a scoring system based on
each fighter’s performance.

America’s Love/Hate Relationship with Boxing
America imported the sport through barnstorming
English boxers, Irish immigrants and perhaps through
the sons of rich American southerners who had gone to
England for their education. It’s thought that perhaps
the latter introduced their slaves to boxing.At any rate,
by the mid-1800s boxing was off and running in the
United States.By the turn of the century America owned
it for good.

As in England, the excitement of fistfighting (and the
gambling that seemed to be such an integral part of it)
proved to be very popular with everyone except those

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