The Sweet Science of Boxing - Research Paper Example

 The Sweet Science of Boxing Introduction Sporting activities are important to all individuals from diverse communities. Sports help people to fit physically when performing various activities. Several reasons accompany participation in sporting activities. Particular individuals can indulge in several sporting activities. For instance, there are hockey and ball games (namely volleyball, netball, basketball, and soccer). This paper principally looks deep into the sweet science of boxing. It unveils the history of boxing as one of the sporting activities. Additionally, it includes significance of participating in boxing. Further, it looks into the wellbeing of individuals involved in boxing and brings to light ancient and modern boxing. Finally, the paper involves a recommendation for future research. History of the Sweet Science of Boxing Boxing is a sporting activity that has existed since eighteen hundreds and refers to a physical activity where two individuals physically struggle to determine the power, pace, endurance over others using gloved hands. The reason for boxing competition varies from individual to the other. This is because some boxers need to win and obtain awards while others may have the desire to acquire defensive tactics. Therefore, individuals do not have the same interests when it comes to boxing (Farell, 2006). Boxing during ancient period involved the use of weapons and resulted to injury on the defeated boxer or even both boxers. Boxing was by then one of the cultural events performed by people of either similar or dissimilar communities. In the present days, individuals undergo some training to qualify being boxers. Boxing competition entails awards to the winning persons, a morale booster and vital for building a good name of the society from which the winning person comes from. Fighting in the olden days had no rules written or keenly followed. Today, there are rules set to ensure that there are less or no injuries to individuals when defending themselves (Bohn, 2009). The rules may encompass punishment or penalty to boxers who deliberately cause harm on their opponents. Furthermore, there were no referees in the traditional boxing events unlike today where there must be a referee to ensure their strict follow up on the boxing rules. The name sweet science of boxing resulted from gradual changes in the socioeconomic status of the societies. Such changes affect the affect the quality of individual performance. The name “sweet science boxing” entails the positive motives leading various individuals to be boxers with distinct qualifications. Through engagement in boxing activities, individuals making fun out of boxing has improved relationships with those living in other societies. It is due to increased interactions with individuals from various societies that individuals enhance their relations. Characteristics of individuals qualified to be boxers Requisites of one to qualify being a boxer include, the physical power that one has, the pace of the boxers (how long it takes for the two boxers on the field to win), and reflex of a boxer. The physical structure of various individuals is of concern when training boxers within the boxing ring (O'Donnell, 2005). Moreover, for one to be a boxer is it important to consider the degree of endurance. Endurance is crucial for the referees to have a less task to separate high tempered boxers. It helps prohibit physical injury to boxing persons. Importance of the Sweet Science of Boxing Boxing is important and appears to be a fruitful event. Several positive effects come in through the sweet science of boxing. For instance, there are gold medals awarded to the winners of boxing tournaments. There are also better skills of preventing oneself in case of an attack by another person (Hutson, & Speed, 2011). Boxing activity is of great importance, as it leads to the enhancement of the image of a community before other communities. This is specifically when during a boxing competition, the person crowned to be the winner is from a certain society leading to more respect of the individuals from that society. Factors affecting the Sweet Science of Boxing Involving unhealthy individual in the boxing circle greatly affects the sweet science of boxing. Failure to have a concern on the health of individuals affects the performance of boxers in a competition. The effect results in failure of one to win due to lack of capability to struggle due to the body size (O'Donnell, 2005). It may also be due to the reason that one lacks the speed required to render them winners. This then leads to lose of the sweet science of boxing, since the audiences rely on the speed that boxers have. There are also socioeconomic factors responsible for affecting human relations (Bullock, 2012). Speed is all what boxers ought to have in order to uphold their capability. Significantly, speed helps depict the time boxers take to overpower their opponents. Individuals desiring to join boxing teams in future need to consider the time taken when in the race, to avoid miscalculation of domineering interests. Solutions to the factors affecting the Sweet Science of Boxing In order to reduce negative effects of boxing and to avoid a negative perception of people ready to join boxing teams, there should be a consideration of various elements. For one, individuals should consider the physical body structure of the person about to join the team. The physical strength of a person is useful during competition in that a boxer will compete with a person of almost similar strength to prevent harm from the other boxer. Secondly, individuals need to ensure that there is a referee present within the boxing area to prevent harm on one boxer. Individual boxers must also ensure they persevere the rules of boxing and meet the required pace. It is significant to train boxers to avoid injuries (Hutson, & Speed, 2011). Tools used in the Sweet Science of Boxing Proper boxing involves various tools necessary to enhance the fighting strategies. Apparatus are necessary to help boxers to defend themselves against harm. According to Patterson et al (2007), tools like boxing gloves are necessary to prevent injury to the wrists. Sport shoes to ensure that boxers have no strain when double jobbing (Lachica, & Werner, 2007). These shoes are necessary in helping boxers to move freely within the area of boxing practice or of the actual boxing competition circle. Additionally, there should be better ways of slipping to the other boxer, as one does not directly approach the opponent. Further, it is advisable for the boxers to make a follow up on the directions given by referees. The ground from which boxers perform their activities from should not be rough, to avoid bruising of the boxers. Finally, boxers need to acquire basic knowledge regarding the tactics of viable boxing. Recommendations for future researchers on how to improve the sweet science of boxing Individuals concerned with knowing much about the sweet science of boxing, need to aim at acquiring necessary boxing information. Such individuals should know that boxing is not all about physical strength but also the speed at which individuals take to defend themselves and to advance the other boxer. Researchers in the future should aim at revealing better strategies of defending oneself when in the field. There must be proper training of boxers and better awarding systems put forward (Hatmaker, & Werner, 2004). The purpose for such celebrations is to increase the morale of other boxers to dedicate their time in learning boxing techniques. Therefore, future researchers should look into account all the requisite of improving boxing activities to maintain the name, “the sweet science of boxing”. Summary and conclusion In summary, boxing has existed for a long time, and has gradually been changing due to various reasons. Some of the reasons include a change in socioeconomic status and changes in human population. There are tools and techniques required in the sweet science of boxing. This is evident when Patterson et al (2007) justifies that a good boxer has concern about personal essentials. It is the mandate of the referees to consider the strength of the individual boxers put in one ring. Considering strength helps in the placement of those to struggle each other and avoids placement of the weak against strong individuals. Therefore, it is worth concluding that improvement of boxing activities and maintenance of the “sweet science of boxing” name is crucial especially for the continuation of boxing events in future. Referees must ensure that the boxers strictly follow all the rules stipulated in boxing. References Bohn, M. K. (2009). Heroes & ballyhoo: How the golden age of the 1920s transformed American sports. Washington, D.C: Potomac Books. Bullock, C. S. (2012). Key states, high stakes: Sarah Palin, the Tea Party, and the 2010 elections. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Farrell, B. (2006). Cradle of champions: 80 years of the New York daily news Golden Gloves. Champaign, IL: Sports Pub. Hatmaker, M., & Werner, D. (2004). Boxing mastery: Advanced technique, tactics and strategies from the sweet science. San Diego, Calif: Tracks Pub. Hutson, M. A., & Speed, C. (2011). Sports injuries. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Lachica, A., & Werner, D. (2007). Boxing's ten commandments: Essential training for the sweet science. San Diego, Calif: Tracks Pub. O'Donnell, R. (2005). The ultimate fitness boxing & kickboxing workout. Victoria, B.C: Trafford. Patterson, F., Sugar, B. R., & Patterson, F. (2007). The International Boxing Hall of Fame's basic boxing skills: A step-by-step illustrated introduction to the sweet science. New York: Skyhorse Pub. Read More