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How did Jack Broughton’s 1743 rules change boxing matches?
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boxing
Manny Pacquiao (right) and Floyd Mayweather, Jr., in their 2015 welterweight bout; Mayweather won in a unanimous decision.
In 1743, Jack Broughton introduced the first formal set of rules for boxing to improve the safety and respectability of the sport, reportedly following the death of an opponent during a match.1
His regulations significantly changed how bouts were conducted:
- Prohibited Actions: It became illegal to hit a downed opponent or to grab an opponent below the waist.1
- Round Structure: A round continued until a fighter went down. Once down, the fighter had 30 seconds to return to the center of the ring and "square off" within a yard of his opponent; failure to do so resulted in a loss.1
- Equipment: Broughton introduced "mufflers," the precursors to modern boxing gloves, designed to protect both the fighter's hands and the opponent's face.21
These rules remained the standard for the sport until they were superseded by the London Prize Ring rules in 1838.31