Boxing Autographs

The sport of boxing has seen some of the most intense and memorable moments in all of athletic history. From the iconic matchups of Jack Johnson and James J. Jeffries in the early 20th century to Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier's Thrilla in Manila in 1975, the suspense and intensity of the sport has compelled fans for generations and encouraged a culture of collecting autographs from boxing's greats.

The heritage of boxing is an extensive one, with inaugural matches documented as early as 2500-3000 B.C. among the ancient Mesopotamian cultures of Sumer. The sport, which showcased strength, might, and cleverness, rapidly spread across the western Mediterranean coastline. The sport achieved particular popularity in ancient Rome, where the matches became so violent that boxing was outlawed in the late 4th century A.D.

Revived again in the 18th century, boxing returned to immense popularity very rapidly. This excitement has undoubtedly continued to the present day, with avid fans following the careers of the sport's greats.

Quick Facts

• The first documented image depicting boxers wearing gloves was identified in a fresco fragment found on the Greek island of Santorini and dated to approximately 1500 B.C.
• The Romans gave boxing the notion of the ring, as they were the first to draw a circle on the ground to denote the space for two men to box
• Different fighting styles help to differentiate between boxers. These include strategic movement outfighters like Muhammad Ali and forceful brawlers like George Foreman