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| "Floats Like a Butterfly, Stings Like a Bee" |
5 June 2016 /US & Canada/Laila Ali
The
74-year-old had been suffering from a respiratory illness, a condition that was
complicated by Parkinson's disease. A
public funeral will be held for the boxer on Friday in his hometown of
Louisville in Kentucky. "He
was a citizen of the world and would want people from all walks of life to be
able to attend his funeral," said the family spokesman, Bob Gunnell. Former
US President Bill Clinton is among those who will give a eulogy at the service,
and was one of many prominent global figures who paid tribute to Ali
on Saturday, saying he lived a life "full of religious and
political convictions that led him to make tough choices and live with the
consequences". The
legendary Brazilian footballer, Pele, said the sporting universe had suffered a
huge loss.
"Muhammad
Ali shook up the world. And the world is better for it," said
US President Barack Obama.
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Boxing is a sport in which two fighters battle each other with their fists. The
boxers wear heavily padded gloves and fight in a square, roped-off area called
a ring. A good bout between two well-matched fighters is a fast,
violent display of strength and skill. The boxers throw powerful punches as
each tries to win the bout on points, knock his opponent unconscious, or force
him to give up the fight. At the same time, each boxer must guard his head and
body against the other's punches by dodging or blocking the blows. The action
may range all over the ring as the fighters weave about or press forward to
create openings for blows. Good boxers must be strong, quick, skillful, and in
excellent physical condition. They also should have the courage and
determination to fight in spite of pain and exhaustion.
Boxers fight as amateurs or professionals.
Most amateurs compete as members of an organization or a team, and some box in
tournaments. Amateurs may not accept money for boxing. Professionals fight for
money and are often called prizefighters.
Boxing began thousands of years ago, and for
much of its history was an extremely brutal sport. Modern boxing enjoyed great
popularity from the 1920's to 1940’s. But spectator interest then
declined. Today, only top professional championship bouts and competitions in the
Olympic Games draw widespread attention.
Boxing has been criticized as a dangerous
sport. Some boxers have suffered permanent injury from blows to the head. A few
boxers have even died as a result of punches that they have received during a
fight.
Boxing regulations
This section describes the boxing rules
followed in international and Olympic Games competitions. The rules differ somewhat
between amateur and professional boxing.
Weight classes. Boxers compete in classes, or commissions,
based on their weight. To fight in a particular class, a boxer may not weigh
more than the maximum for that class.The ring is a square platform. It may measure from 4.9 to 7.3 metres on each side. For professional championship fights, the boxers may select the size of the ring within these limits on the approval of the local boxing commission. At least three ropes, attached to a post at each corner, surround the ring. The floor of the ring has a canvas covering stretched over felt or foam rubber. The floor stands 0.9 to 1.2 metres higher than the floor of the arena.
Equipment. A boxer's hands are wrapped in soft cloth bandages. Over the bandages,
he wears padded leather gloves. The gloves soften his punches and help protect his
hands as well as his opponent from injury.
Boxers wear trunks and lightweight shoes
that lace to just above the ankle. A gumshield
of hard rubber protects the teeth and a plastic cup protects the sex organs. Amateurs and
professionals wear a protective leather helmet when training. Amateurs may also
wear a helmet in competition, though professionals do not. The helmet covers the
back and sides of the head and the ears.
Time periods of a boxing match are called rounds.
Each round lasts two or three minutes in amateur matches. Rounds in
major professional bouts last three minutes. In all matches, there is a
one-minute rest period between rounds.
A professional bout may be scheduled for 4
to 15 rounds. Most professional championships last 12 or 15 rounds. Amateur
fights last 3 to 6 rounds. All amateur championships are scheduled for 3
rounds.
Fight officials. During a round, the referee
is the only person in the
ring besides the boxers. He sees that the fighters obey the rules. The referee
warns a boxer who violates a rule. He may disqualify a fighter for committing a
serious violation or too many violations. In Britain, the referee alone scores
professional fights.
In the U.S.A. and elsewhere, professional
fights are scored by the referee and two judges
who sit at the ringside. Olympic bouts and amateur championship fights require
five judges. The timekeeper
keeps track of the time and sounds a bell to signal the
beginning and end of each round. A doctor is present at every bout to provide
medical treatment and also to advise the referee how serious an injured
fighter's condition may be.
Scoring a fight. A boxer wins a fight by (1) a knockout, (2) a technical knockout, or
(3) a decision. Sometimes, a professional bout may end in a draw, with neither fighter
declared the winner. Amateur fights cannot end in a draw. In a close bout, the
amateur who showed better style or committed fewer violations may win.
A knockout or KO,
occurs when a boxer is knocked down and does not get up within 10 seconds,
as counted by the referee. If a round ends while a fighter is down, but before
10 seconds have passed, the fighter is "saved by the bell."
A technical knockout or TKO,
occurs when a boxer is judged physically unable to continue fighting. Such
a judgement may be made by the referee, the ringside doctor, the fighter
himself, or the fighter's assistants.
A decision results when two boxers fight the scheduled
number of rounds without a knockout or a technical knockout. The appropriate
officials then decide the winner. In professional bouts, the officials may
declare the fight a draw. A decision may be unanimous, with all the officials agreeing on the
winner. Or a decision may be split,
with the victory going to the boxer judged the winner by a majority decision.
A decision is based on either the round or point system of scoring. In the
round system, the officials decide individually after every round which fighter
won that round or whether it was a draw. At the end of the bout, each official
votes for the fighter he has awarded the most rounds.
In a point system, the officials
separately award each fighter a number of points after every round, based on
his performance. At the end of the fight, each official adds up all the points
he has given to each boxer. The boxer scored as the winner by a majority of the
officials wins the bout.
All decisions in international amateur
fights are based on the 20-point-must
system. Each official awards the winner of a round 20 points. The loser
receives 19 points or fewer, depending on how the officials judged his
performance. If the round is judged even, each fighter gets 20 points.
Fight rules. A boxer may not hit below the belt, on the back of the head, or strike
an opponent who is down, even on one knee. Such actions are called fouls. Other fouls include kicking,
tripping, wrestling, holding, hitting an opponent's eye with the thumb of the
glove, hitting with the forearm or the inside of the glove, butting with the
head, or using the elbows. A boxer who commits a foul is warned by the referee
and loses points. Too many fouls may result in the boxer being disqualified.
When a fighter is knocked down, his opponent must go to the farthest neutral corner— one of the two corners not occupied by either boxer between rounds. The referee then begins the count. If the fallen boxer rises, the count is ended. In amateur and some professional bouts, a fallen boxer must take a mandatory eight-count. If a boxer in an amateur fight is knocked down three times in one round, his opponent wins the match on a TKO. The same rule also applies to many professional bouts.
When a fighter is knocked down, his opponent must go to the farthest neutral corner— one of the two corners not occupied by either boxer between rounds. The referee then begins the count. If the fallen boxer rises, the count is ended. In amateur and some professional bouts, a fallen boxer must take a mandatory eight-count. If a boxer in an amateur fight is knocked down three times in one round, his opponent wins the match on a TKO. The same rule also applies to many professional bouts.
Boxing skills
In time, every boxer develops his own
style. But all boxers use the same techniques of attack and defence. In the
ring, a boxer adopts a basic stance
(posture) that helps him move quickly and easily. A right-handed boxer keeps
his left side toward his opponent and stands with his feet about shoulder width
apart. The boxer holds his left fist a short distance in front of the left shoulder
and his right fist just to the right of the chin. He keeps his elbows close to
the body to protect the ribs. Many left-handed boxers adopt this same stance,
though some of them reverse it. The basic stance puts a boxer in the best
position to avoid or block the punches of his opponent and to throw effective
blows.
To create openings for his punches, a
boxer various feints and
combinations. A feint
is a faked punch. For example, a boxer may make a feint with his left hand and
then deliver an actual blow with his right hand. A combination consists of two
or more punches in a row.
Good boxers keep in top physical condition.
They do much roadwork— that
is, running and jogging—to develop endurance. They skip to improve their footwork
and practise their punching ability on punchballs. When training for a bout,
boxers practise under fight conditions by boxing with sparring partners.
Attacking boxing skills
Each boxer develops an attacking style
best suited to his abilities. For example, some fighters rely on speed, and
others on strength. But all boxers adopt a basic stance (posture) and
use certain key punches. The stance and four of these punches are shown on the
right. The proper stance provides a boxer with the greatest possibilities for
defence as well as for offence. The stance shown here is used by right-handed
boxers. Many lefthanders adopt the same stance, though others reverse it.
The straight right is probably he most powerful punch. A boxer's whole-right side swings
forward as he delivers the blow. His arm should be completely extended as the
punch lands.
The uppercut is a short punch delivered with an upward motion. A boxer first lowers
his fist and bends his knees. As he begins the upward swing, he pivots on his
right foot and straightens his knees.
The basic stance helps a boxer move quickly and easily. He keeps his left foot in front
of the right one. He holds his left fist before the left shoulder and his right
fist to the right of the chin.
The left jab is a punch to the head. A boxer snaps his left fist out in a straight
line from his shoulder. As he delivers the jab, he steps toward his opponent
with his left foot.
The left hook is a blow from the side. As a boxer starts the punch, he pivots on his left
foot. He then swings his left arm in an art, moving the left side of his body
forward as he lands the blow.
Professional boxing
Financing. Professional boxers fight for money in bouts arranged by promoters.
A promoter may be an individual or a corporation. The promoter rents an arena or
stadium, settles the amount to be paid to each boxer, sells tickets, and makes
all other necessary arrangements. The promoter may be able to sell television and
radio rights for an important bout.
The promoter schedules several matches for
the same evening. The main event features two top boxers. Several preliminary
bouts between less important boxers come before the main event. Most preliminary
bouts are scheduled for four or six rounds.
Most professional boxers have a manager
to handle their business affairs. The manager makes agreements with promoters
for bouts, hires the fighter's employees, and sets up a training camp. The
manager may get up to a third of the prize money. A boxer's employees
include a trainer and one to three seconds.
The trainer drills the fighter in boxing techniques and directs strategy during
bouts. The seconds assist the boxer between the rounds of a fight.
Promoters generally pay less-experienced
boxers a flat fee. Well-known fighters usually receive a percentage of the gate
(ticket receipts). They also share in the profits
from the sale of any entertainment rights.
Regulation. The World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) are
international organizations that recommend rules to their members. Each
organization names its own list of world champions. The two lists often
differ. The WBA and the WBC allow a boxer to hold only one championship at a
time.
Boxing in Britain and Ireland
Boxing, both amateur and professional, is
a popular sport in Britain and Ireland, though it declined in popularity
during the 1970's and 1980's, when some amateurs turned to judo or karate
instead. There are more than 20,000 amateur boxers in Britain and Ireland, and
more than 700 professionals.
Boxing in Britain has two controlling
authorities—the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) for amateur boxers and the
British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) for professional boxers.
Amateur boxing. There are more than 1,000 amateur boxing clubs in Britain and Ireland.
They provide instruction and training facilities for young boxers. The ABA,
which was founded in 1880, organizes national and international amateur boxing
matches. The Irish Amateur Boxing Association operates in Northern Ireland and
in the Republic of Ireland.
Professional boxing. Many amateur boxers become professionals. The supreme authority in
professional boxing is the BBBC, founded in 1929. For purposes of
administration, it has divided Britain into eight areas, each of which has a council.
The area councils can make recommendations to the central authority. There is
no professional boxing in the Republic of Ireland.
A professional boxer must have a licence
to box. When he applies or reapplies for an annual licence, he is given a
strict medical examination. When a boxer is knocked out, he is suspended for 28
days for his health.
The Lonsdale Belt is awarded to
every winner of a British boxing title. The belt becomes his property if he
successfully defends his title twice. "Bombardier" Billy Wells successfully
defended his British heavyweight title 14 times.
Famous British world champions include
John Conteh (light heavyweight), Bob Fitzsimmons (heavyweight), Lloyd Honeyghan
(welterweight), Freddie Mills (light heavyweight), and Randolph Turpin (middleweight).
The Irish boxer Barry McGuigan was world
featherweight champion from 1985 to 1986.
Boxing in Australia and New Zealand
Boxing, both amateur and professional, is
also a popular sport in Australia and New Zealand.
Organizations. The Australian Boxing Federation, formed in 1967, competes with Stadiums
Pty. Ltd., formed in 1914, for control of professional boxing in Australia. The
Amateur Boxing Union of Australia, formed in 1924, controls amateur boxing in
Australia. In New Zealand, the New Zealand Boxing Council and South Pacific
Association vie for control.
World titles have been won by eight Australians and one New Zealander in professional
ranks, namely Australians Jimmy Carruthers (bantamweight), Lester Ellis
(junior lightweight), Jonny Famechon (featherweight),
Jeff Fenech (bantamweight; featherweight),
Young Criffo (featherweight), Rocco Mattioli (junior middleweight), Barry
Michael (junior lightweight), and Lionel Rose (bantamweight), and New
Zealander "Torpedo" Bill Murphy (featherweight).
History. The first boxers in Australia were convicts transported from Britain in
the early 1800's. Larry Foley, known as the father of Australian boxing,
taught many of the great boxers of the 1880's and 1890's, including Frank
Slavin, Jim Hall, Jim Barron, Peter Jackson, and Young Criffo. Foley promoted
the Griffo-Murphy bout of 1890, the first world title fight held in Australia.
Hugh D. McIntosh began a new era in
Australian boxing when he built Sydney Stadium for a world heavyweight title
fight between champion Tommy Burns of Canada and Australian Bill Squires. On
Aug. 24,1908, Burns won by a 13th-round knockout.
The world bantamweight title fight between
Jimmy Carruthers and Henry "Pappy" Gault, at the Sydney Sports Ground
in 1953, broke Australian attendance and gate receipts' records. About 32,500
persons paid 84,000 Australian dollars to see Carruthers win.
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18 hours ago - KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has paid tribute to boxing legend Muhammad Ali who died Friday.
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