Sociogenesis of Boxing

Boxing has always been a sport that has sparked my interest. Due to the rigorous and physical strain which is needed to perform well, I have never pursued it. Instead I enjoy watching boxing matches and staying updated with the latest in boxing media. According to whitecollarboxing.com “Boxing originated when a person first lifted a fist against another in play. Different eras of the sport have been distinguished by the use or nonuse of fist coverings. The ancient Greeks believed fist fighting was one of the games played by the gods on Olympus; thus it became part of the Olympic Games in about 688 BC”. It originated in the Greek culture but further developed in the Roman society.

Something that I found very intriguing was how in ancient Rome, the first boxing players were offenders and slaves. Boxing was used a form of entertainment for upper class society. Due to the lower slaves’ status, their health and safety were jeopardized while participating in this sport. According to Owing Mills Boxing Club “Jack Boughtonis is known as the ‘Father of boxing”. He is credited for establishing a set of rules for boxing in 1866. It is believe that Jack decided to publish the rules in 1743”. Although they didn’t specify the rules, in our modern society the rules have become stricter and demanding. The original uniform was minimal covering of the male body; today boxers wear longer shorts made of thin material that doesn’t weigh them down.

 

A few significant events that occurred in the history of boxing include the creation of the first set of rules for the sport in 1743, the creation of the first boxing magazine, Boxing Reviewed in 1790, and the emergence of the notorious Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer of all time. However, one of the most significant events in boxing history was the rise of female boxers which had been prohibited for many years.

Today, much like in many other sports, boxing faces the challenge of not being respected due to the fact that there is so much controversy of it being possibly rigged. Boxing is now more of a show for entertainment purposes rather than the concrete skills that a boxing player must have. With personalities such as “Money Mayweather” and “Manny Pacquiao” this sport has returned to its origins of spectacle.

Sport in the Ancient World

Sport, Society & Me

   Personally, I believe that sports are a language and that have the ability to connect groups of individuals in ways that would not be likely had they not practiced the same sport. Sports make it possible for people to reach and achieve things that they may not be able to accomplish in other platforms of life. Through the success of sports, individuals feel empowered to excel in other areas of their life and this transforms a sport into a passion. Growing up with my father and three brothers, sports have constantly played a part in my life. Interestingly enough, gender roles in sports were heavy in my household, and being the only female practicing sports, I often felt pressure when my family attended my sports events. My brothers would constantly make remarks such as, “women’s soccer games are boring; y’all are soft”. These type of gender constructions ended discouraging from further participating in sports. However my father and brothers continued to play soccer, I can vividly recall my brothers they all wanted to go pro, and their participation in sports often meant sacrifices not only by their part but my ours too. Witnessing their achievements and success made me develop a passion towards the sport as well. 
   The fidelity and alliance people in the United States give towards sports could make one believe that sports were their religion. Sports inevitable work as a label which as previously stated, can connect individuals, but also have the ability to create serious divisions within groups of people. Overall, I would say that in the U.S. sports play a positive role in our society because they allow individuals to reach pinnacles that might not have been possible without them playing their sport. Recently in the media, there have been many controversial opinions on corner back Richard Sherman from the Seattle Seahawks. As many of us witnessed over the weekend, Sherman’s passion and dedication along with his teammates got them entrance into the Superbowl. In a post interview, Sherman expressed his feelings towards his success and competition as well as rivalry with Michael Crabtree of the opposing team; his strong statements led many Americans to brutally criticize Sherman. Out of one of the many articles and reviews, there was one titled, “What Richard Sherman Taught Us About America” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/isaac-saul/what-richard-sherman-taught-us_b_4631980.html.

    
The article emphasizes on the athlete’s triumph and success he reached by playing football. This story in essence summarizes what a sport can do to the life of an individual in the U.S. Without a doubt, sports are among the most important subcultures in our country.  Athletes are what make sports team possible, and this is why athletes are constantly under the sharp knife of society. However, I believe that the story and background of an athlete is contingent on their race. Whether we choose to accept it or not, race affects everything from how society views an athlete, to how an athlete is seen or valued.
  -Rosy Garcia

The Sport Ethic

     Sport Ethic, is a value that is often imposed onto athletes practicing any sport, whether is be competitive or club sport, as a society we hold the participants to a certain level accountability towards the 'morals' they display on the field. According to Hughes and Coakley, sport ethic is "the criteria for defining what it means to be a real athlete" (1991). This criteria is derived on the following 4 premises:

1. Being an athlete requires making sacrifices for The Game- willing to take the steps necessary to be perform to their best ability.

2. Being an athlete involves striving for distinction- developing an identity on the field by breaking records and winning; making their appearance be noticed.

3. Being athlete involves accepting risks and playing through pain- exposing their bodies to the possibility of an injury willingly; "an athlete does not give in to pressure, pain or fear"(Hughes and Coakley 1991).

4. Being an athlete involves refusing to accept limits in the pursuit of possibilities- going above and beyond in their performance to break through limits and barriers.

    

    Often times, athletes become so involved in their sports that they begin to over-conform with the criteria they are socialized into practicing. For some, this type of behavior may seem deviant, in that they took it too far, however, many athletes do not see their overconformity to the sport ethic as deviant; they see it as confirming and reconfirming their identities as athletes and as members of select sports groups (311). There have many times that during a sport, athletes have pushed their body to extreme measures, sacrificed everything they have to perform to their maximum ability.

   For many athletes, the sports they practice not only become their passion, they become their lifestyle. It is through the practice of their sport that they feel as if they can accomplish everything else in life, this is why I believe they over conform to the sport ethic. As a non-athlete, I have never experienced any of the sport ethic dimension, but coming from an athletic family, I did have indirect connections to these dimensions. From very early on in my life I learned that soccer in our family was a priority, Sunday dinners often had to be put off for a soccer game, my brothers often missed school to travel to games, and literally nothing came before the sport. It always astonished me how fervent and dedicated an athlete can become to their sport.
-Rosy Garcia

Sports in the USA

 US Sports Culture

     In the United States, sports play an important role in the representations of people across the country. People take pride and identity in sports and sports can serve as a major spectacle and entertainment for many Americans.
    Among the vast spectrum of sports celebrated and practiced in the U.S., Football, Basketball, Baseball and Hockey are among the most viewed. Together, they average an astonishing 132.7 thousand spectators!
Male dominated sports are what dominate the the sports industry in America. The high levels of competition and intensity, along with all the serious injuries that have occurred during these sporting events are what makes these specific sports so notorious in the U.S.

    'Game days' for many of these sports typically arrive with days worth of high anticipation. Fans throughout the country broadcast their allegiances to these sport teams through various forms, whether it is by wearing their team's colors, throwing a viewing party, or sharing their opinions on social networks, the ongoing themes of competition and masculinity are exerted through their expressions.

    Success in the US sport is merely ever measured in the individual successes and performances of individuals, but rather a collective "team performance". It is not rare to see or hear about the bad plays or negative performances of athletes, as often times these factors outweigh the positive contributions to the game. Successful athletes are not solely a product of their achievement, but also a product of how society perceives them. Whether an athlete is on of off the field/court, fans and the media are constantly viewing them through a magnifying glass.
    It is then fair to say that in the US a 'successful' athlete is often one who receives an abundance of fan notoriety and recognition. Although this can take a series of forms, in essence one can say that a successful athlete is one who goes above and beyond their performance and often contributes to the overall success of their teams achievement. After all, winning is what is truly important in sports in the USA.