-
First Ever Heavy Weight Champion 1892
In 1892 John L. Sullivan better known as the "Boston Strong Boy" became the first-ever heavyweight champion of the world of gloved boxing -
First Ever Recorded Amature Boxing Match In 1894
The first-ever boxing match held in the United States was an amateur fight between Mike Leonard and Jack Cushing in 1894. -
The Mouth Guard Was Introduced
In 1902 the boxing mouthpiece was introduced for boxers so that they don't lose their teeth They also added gloves so that boxers don't break their hand -
Boxing Becomes A Sport In America In 1888
In 1920 boxing became a legal sport and a professional sport It started as an amateur sport in 1888 before it became a professional one. -
Golden Gloves Games Are Introduced
In 1926 the “Chicago Tribune” arranged the “Golden Gloves” amateur competitions with the status of national championship, which were competing with bouts arranged by AAU. The law forbidding the AAU to control more than one Olympic sport was passed in 1978 in the USA. This resulted in the establishment of the USA Amateur Boxing Federation (USA/ABF) -
The National Boxing Association
In 1927 the National Boxing Association became the first to govern the sport. These sanctioning bodies ranked fighters and arranged matches between champions and the best challengers. -
The Controversial Revival of Boxing
In 1946 professional boxing was revived, and Jacobs remained king, a position he maintained until poor health forced him into semiretirement at the end of 1947. By that time Madison Square Garden revenues alone were $1.25 million per year. -
The 12 Round Rule
on June 4th, 1988 the IBF voted to change its title fights from 15 rounds to 12 rounds making it the last match to do so, and making all title fights a standard 12 rounds. -
Boxing's Biggest Upset
Buster DouglasIn the greatest upset in boxing history, Buster Douglas, a 42-1 underdog, gets off the deck in the eight round, to KO Mike Tyson, 10 rounds, Tokyo, to win heavyweight title. -
The Greatest Boxing Comeback
In of the greatest comebacks in boxing history, Arturo Gatti, down, battered and with both eyes almost swollen shut, comes back to KO Wilson Rodriguez, six rounds, New York, to retain IBF jr. lightweight title. -
The Boxer That Didn't Wake Up
Johnson, a 16-year pro, collapsed minutes after taking a one-sided beating from Chavez. Johnson was rushed to the hospital, and within 40 minutes was undergoing emergency surgery to relieve pressure from a subdural hematoma, or bleeding on the brain. He was placed in a medically induced coma, from which he never awoke.