The First Rules of Boxing - Broughton's Rules

John Broughton Draws Up the First Rules of Boxing 

The first thing resembling rules was put forth in 1743 by John Broughton, a bareknuckle fighter in Britain.  This set of 7 rules would eventually be expanded to 29, and become known as the London Prize Ring Rules.  They would govern boxing and more specifically bareknuckle prizefighting for the next 100 years.  These rules were still a long way from the boxing rules of today and were geared more to a hybrid of fighting more resembling MMA than boxing.  Like nearly all sports, a set of rules is drawn up and refined over time.

Broughton's rules are:

1. That a square of a yard be chalked in the middle of the stage, and on every fresh set-to after a fall, or being parted from the rails, each Second is to bring his Man to the side of the square, and place him opposite to the other, and till they are fairly set-to at the Lines, it shall not be lawful for one to strike at the other.



2. That, in order to prevent any Disputes, the time a Man lies after a fall, if the Second does not bring his Man to the side of the square, within the space of half a minute, he shall be deemed a beaten Man.



3. That in every main Battle, no person whatever shall be upon the Stage, except the Principals and their Seconds, the same rule to be observed in bye-battles, except that in the latter, Mr. Broughton is allowed to be upon the Stage to keep decorum, and to assist Gentlemen in getting to their places, provided always he does not interfere in the Battle; and whoever pretends to infringe these Rules to be turned immediately out of the house. Every body is to quit the Stage as soon as the Champions are stripped, before the set-to.



4. That no Champion be deemed beaten, unless he fails coming up to the line in the limited time, or that his own Second declares him beaten. No Second is to be allowed to ask his man’s Adversary any questions, or advise him to give out.



5. That in bye-battles, the winning man to have two-thirds of the Money given, which shall be publicly divided upon the Stage, notwithstanding any private agreements to the contrary.



6. That to prevent Disputes, in every main Battle the Principals shall, on coming on the Stage, choose from among the gentlemen present two Umpires, who shall absolutely decide all Disputes that may arise about the Battle; and if the two Umpires cannot agree, the said Umpires to choose a third, who is to determine it.



7. That no person is to hit his Adversary when he is down, or seize him by the ham, the breeches, or any part below the waist. A man on his knees is to be reckoned down.

While not as civilized as a modern day match, these rules went a long way to lay the foundations to bring boxing out of the middle ages and separate it from the bloody, maiming battles waged in ancient Greece.

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