Professor Chuck Marbry
CLASS TIME FOR REAL FIGHT FANS
Liberty, NC– Many fight fans believe that the gloved era of fisticuffs began when John L. Sullivan was knocked out in the 21st round by “Gentleman Jim” Corbett in New Orleans on September 7, 1892, as that heavyweight championship bout was the first held under the then fairly new Marquess of Queensberry (gloved) rules. However, what many do not know is that John L. fought with gloves as early as 1779, and in fact only fought under the London Prize Ring (bare knuckle) rules three times his whole career against Paddy Ryan 1886, against Charley Mitchel in 1888 and against Jake Kilrain in 1889. It is actually the Kilrain bout in 1889 that is the real turning point from the London Prize Ring rules to the Marquess of Queensberry rules, not the Corbett bout.
HISTORY OF THE LONDON PRIZE RULES & TITLE FIGHTS
Back in 1891 an athletic club in London began to promote professional gloved boxing matches, and this club, the national Sporting Club as it was called, came up with nine additional rules to go along with the Queensberry rules. These additional rules clarified the roles of the referee and judges, as well giving a scoring system for a bout to declare a winner if there were no knockouts. Then in 1919 the British Government gave rise to the British Boxing Board of Control (B.B.B.C.) to oversee the sanctioning and legalities of professional boxing in Britain.
THE BIRTH OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP BELT
By 1907, Hugh Cecil Lowther, who was the fifth Earl of Lonsdale began awarding championship belts to those who were recognized as such by the National Sporting Club. When the Club dis-banned in 1929, the B.B.B.C.continued to recognize British champions and award Lonsdale belts, with the caveat being a fighter had to win three title fights in the same weight division to receive a belt (not a bad idea).
THE POLICE GAZETTE WAS “THE” PERIODICAL
By the early 1900′s in America, the periodical “The Police Gazette” became the recognized authority for ranking fighters and naming champions. Around 1920, a sanctioning body, the National Boxing Association began to sanction title fights, and “The Ring” magazine was founded and began awarding championship belts. In 1962 the National Boxing Association became the World Boxing Association. In 1963, the World Boxing Council was formed. Seeing that the pie was not yet divided enough, in 1983 another “world” body, the International Boxing Federation was formed and soon thereafter the World Boxing Organization. By the time 2011 drew to a close you could add to the mix of world sanctioning bodies top four a conservative 13 sanctioning bodies just here in the States. Why? You know why! One of the lesser known sanctioning bodies posts their sanctioning fees for a card with total purses of up to $100 thousand dollars at a MINIMUM of $17,850.00, plus travel and lodging for commission officials. Almost $18,000.00 to put your name and stamp of approval on a fight card. Hmmm…I think I’m ready to start my own sanctioning body, the Professors Professional Boxing Association. Has a nice ring to it! T.P.P.B.A.
Professor Chuck Marbry