Luis Ángel Firpo sends Jack Dempsey outside the ring; painting
by George Bellows |Also known as||Pugilism, English boxing,
Western Boxing, Sweet Science, Gentleman's Sport| |Country of
origin||Greece (Ancient Boxing) United Kingdom (Modern Boxing)
|Olympic sport||Since 698 B.C.| Boxing (pugilism, prize
fighting, the sweet science or in Greek pygmachia) is a martial
art and combat sport in which two people engage in a contest of
strength, speed, reflexes, endurance, and will by throwing
punches with gloved hands against another opponent. Amateur
boxing is an Olympic and Commonwealth sport and is a common
fixture in most of the major international games - it also has
its own World Championships. Boxing is supervised by a referee
over a series of one- to three-minute intervals called rounds.
The result is decided when an opponent is deemed incapable to
continue by a referee, is disqualified for breaking a rule,
resigns by throwing in a towel, or is pronounced the winner or
loser based on the judges' scorecards a