How did World War I help change public attitudes toward boxing in the United States?

Prior to World War I, boxing in the United States was widely viewed as a brutal, "outlaw" activity associated with ruffianism and sinister figures, leading many states to pass laws prohibiting the sport.12

The conflict served as a turning point for the sport's public image. In 1917, the U.S. government adopted boxing as a training tool to quickly prepare untrained men for the rigors of military service. This shift helped rebrand the sport, as it was no longer seen merely as a "barbaric" spectacle but as a means to develop courage, self-reliance, physical fitness, and character.12

This newfound legitimacy brought boxing to the attention of its former critics, including religious and civic leaders. Following the war, the sport gained broader public acceptance, and professional boxing began to be viewed as a respectable career path for ambitious young men. Consequently, authorities moved away from outright prohibition, opting instead to sanction and regulate the sport through state athletic commissions. This period also laid the groundwork for the emergence of intercollegiate boxing, as officers who had overseen military training programs introduced the sport to college campuses.213