Boxing fans often wonder: why is a boxing ring square? Why is it called a “ring” even though it’s not round?
To call boxing rings what they are, a square, feels strange even though it makes the most sense.
This article will discuss why a boxing ring has its name, even though it’s shaped like a square.
Why Is A Boxing Ring Square?
The term “boxing ring” has stuck around from the beginning of boxing, even though the actual shape has changed over time.
Originally, the boxing ring was a roughly drawn circle in the center of town, meant to attract passerbys.
As boxing evolved, the name and measurements of this boundary ring continued to change.
Today, boxing vernacular has accepted this name for boxing rings for the time being.
The First Boxing Ring
The first boxing ring was a roughly drawn circle on the ground in the middle of your local town.
Fighters in England would travel from town to town and would challenge the toughest person.
These original boxing matches were similar to a sumo wrestling ring, with the fighters ringed by the fans to prevent them from running away.
It was less of a sport, with formal rules and points, and more of a way to settle personal disputes.
Because there was no referee nor rules, the crowd would urge these fighters on until they got their entertainment’s worth.
(It’s not to hard to imagine people taking bets on the side as they watched; humans are natural degenerate gamblers.)
Even though these boxing contests consisted of unarmed fighting, there was no way to ensure that one side wouldn’t bring a weapon.
Fighters relied on street fighting tactics and bare fist fighting, with no offensive combinations or defensive maneuvers as we know them today.
Jack Broughton
Up until this point, boxing had largely been wild and unregulated.
Jack Broughton developed formalized rules in the 16th century that specified a small circle boundary and took the first step to make boxing the civilized competition that it is today.
Even though Broughton rules loosely governed boxing, these rules included:
- No hitting below the belt
- No hitting your opponent when he’s on the ground
- A fighter has 30 seconds to recover after touching the ground
The first two rules still exist in boxing today, while the third one would be changed in the future.
The Pugilistic Society
Nearly a century after Broughton, the Pugilistic Society introduced the London prize ring rules.
This change did away with the old drawn circle rings, and established the first square ring, known as a squared circle.
This “squared circle” ring measured 24 feet per side, bound by two ropes and eight stakes.
These boundaries kept the crowd at a safe distance and prevented them from disrupting the fight. Often a crowd would get too excited and end up participating in the fight.
In 1867, John Graham Chambers updated the London rules to Queensberry rules, which included:
- Requirement to wear padded gloves
- 3 minute rounds
- 1 minute break in between rounds
- 10 seconds to get up after being knocked down
All of these rules are still in effect in boxing today.
Modern Boxing Rings
Modern boxing rules today are direct descendants from the Queensberry rules.
The square shaped boxing rings we see today are composed of the ring, ropes, and platform.
They have standard ring measurements of 18-22 feet per side and are bound by four ropes instead of two. The length of each side varies as per the various international boxing organizations.
The square shape of a boxing ring is easy for manufacturers to construct and is more sturdy than a circular one. A square shaped ring also allows for more spectators and ring-side seating.
Conclusion
Boxing and other combat sports have come a long way from the raw fist-fighting in a circle on the ground.
Even now, saying “boxing squares” instead of “boxing rings” feels off, even though it accurately describes what you see.
While boxing matches today can still be a bloody and violent affair, boxers fight in relative safety and order compared to before.
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