PROFESSOR TURNS ON “WAY BACK MACHINE”
Professor Chuck Marbry
Charlotte, NC– “Foul…fair…protect yourself at all times… sorry referee…head butts…sucker punches…if I was 50 years younger…I have heard it all this weekend.” As far back as 1743, when Jack Broughton wrote the first London Prize Ring Rules, there was the rule “no fighter is to hit his adversary when he is down.” Later the Marquess of Queensbury Rules, from which the rules of modern boxing come, takes the above mentioned rule and adds, “no hugging or wrestling” would be allowed.
“SPORT OF KINGS” TITLE IS STILL APPLICABLE
There was a time when boxing was “The Sport of Kings” for a reason; the ideals of human competition and sportsmanship could be found in most of its competetors. By the time boxing really begain to find mainstream popularity in America, “Gentleman” Jim Corbett had defeated John L. Sullivan for the heavyweight championship of the world, and had developed his boxing style, which he called “Scientific Boxing.”
CORBETT STRATEGY STILL A BRILLIANT ONE!
Hit and don’t be hit; stragety, tactic, and speed over sheer brute stregnth. And with Jim Corbett, his style, and boxings popularity came (perhaps subliminally) the idea that hitting a man while he was down, cheating and cheap-shots, in the ring or in life was unacceptable.
BOXING JARGON BECAME COMMON METAPHORS
Boxings ideals in that day even found its way into common language usage; “having someone in your corner” was a good thing; “standing toe-to-toe” became became the ideal for how to handle adversity; being a “straight puncher” even replaced “straight shooter” for a while as someone who was forthright and honest.
PROFESSOR’S PARTING SHOTS…
But now, in the days of self-absorbed, spoiled, egoists in and around boxing and sports in general, cheapshot artists and bullies abound. And we pay to watch them. Im not sure who is the “worse for wear.”
Boxing Professor Chuck Marbry