Unit 9 TEXT I Who Killed Benny Paret?
TEXT I Who Killed Benny Paret? Unit 9
Pre-reading Information I Boxing Sport of fighting with fists, also called pugilism and prizefighting. 2. Early History epicted on the walls of tombs at Beni Hasan in egypt, dating from about 2000 to 1500 B. C, boxing is one of the oldest forms of competition. a part of the ancient Olympic games, the sport was exhausting and brutal. The Greeks fought without regard for weight differentials and without interruption, a match ending only when a fighter lost consciousness or raised his hand in resignation. Boxers wound heavy strips of leather around their hands and wrists. Under Roman rule, these thongs(the caestus) were laced with metal, ensuring an abundance of blood Statues of maimed boxers from late antiquity attest to the carnage. After the demise of the Olympics, boxing survived as a common sport. It persisted at local fairs and religious festivals throughout medie val Europe and was especially popular in the west and north of Engl and, where it was often a combination of wrestling and street fighting. QuUuiJUo 3. The Organization of Boxing n early 18th-century Engl and, boxing, with the aid of royal patronage in the form of betting or offering prizes, became organi zed James Figg, the first British champion(1719-30), opened a School of rms, which attracted numerous young men to instruction in swordplay, cudgeling, and boxing-the"manly arts of self-defense After deli vering a fatal blow out, Jack Broughton drew up (1743)the first set of rules. Though fights still ended only in knockout or resignation, Broughton's rules moderated the sport and served as the basis for the later London Prize-ring rules(1838 )and Queensbury Rules(1867). The latter called for boxing gle o ves. a limited number of 3-min rounds, the forbidding of gouging and wrestling, a count of 10 sec before a floored boxer is disqualified and various other features of modern boxing
Pre-reading Information 1. Boxing Sport of fighting with fists, also called pugilism and prizefighting. 2. Early History Depicted on the walls of tombs at Beni Hasan in Egypt, dating from about 2000 to 1500 B.C., boxing is one of the oldest forms of competition. A part of the ancient Olympic games, the sport was exhausting and brutal. The Greeks fought without regard for weight differentials and without interruption, a match ending only when a fighter lost consciousness or raised his hand in resignation. Boxers wound heavy strips of leather around their hands and wrists. Under Roman rule, these thongs (the caestus) were laced with metal, ensuring an abundance of blood. Statues of maimed boxers from late antiquity attest to the carnage. After the demise of the Olympics, boxing survived as a common sport. It persisted at local fairs and religious festivals throughout medieval Europe and was especially popular in the west and north of England, where it was often a combination of wrestling and street fighting. 3. The Organization of Boxing In early 18th-century England, boxing, with the aid of royal patronage in the form of betting or offering prizes, became organized. James Figg, the first British champion (1719–30), opened a School of Arms, which attracted numerous young men to instruction in swordplay, cudgeling, and boxing—the “manly arts of self-defense.” After delivering a fatal blow in a bout, Jack Broughton drew up (1743) the first set of rules. Though fights still ended only in knockout or resignation, Broughton’s rules moderated the sport and served as the basis for the later London Prize-ring Rules (1838) and Queensbury Rules (1867). The latter called for boxing gloves, a limited number of 3-min rounds, the forbidding of gouging and wrestling, a count of 10 sec before a floored boxer is disqualified, and various other features of modern boxing
4. Boxing in the united states Until late in the 19th cent. American fighters established their ownrules, which were few. Early matches, some of them free-for- alls, feat ured biting and gouging as well as punching. In most instances they were also illegal. In 1888, John L. Sullivan, a bare- knuckle champion and America's first sports celebrity, won a clandestine 75-round match New York legalized boxing in 1896, and other states soon followed suit. Altho ugh the reign(1910-15) of the first African American heavy weight champion, Jack Johnson, disturbed the segregated society of the time, and al though many continued to question boxings social games in 1904, its use for military training in World War I, its emergence as a source of discipline for youth, its regulation by state commissions, and its suggestion of national vitality strengthened its claims to legitimacy and bolstered its popularity through the 1920s and 30s. Heavy weight (over 190 lb/86.3 kg) champions Jack Dempsey(1919-26) and Joe Louis(1937-49) were national heroes, Louis becoming one of the first black athletes to gain wide popularity Since World War Il, boxing has proceeded amid corruption and,at times, chaos. Rising admission prices, restriction of title fights to closed-circuit television, the proliferation of organizations claiming to sanction fights and proclaim champions, financial scandals, ring injuries and deaths, monopolistic practices by promoters, and claims of exploitation of lower-class fighters have threatened its appeal, yet the sport continues to attract huge audiences and investment. Great fighters like muhar elicit admiration and fascination, while controversy surrounds others like the repeatedly imprisoned Mike Tyson. Lennox Lewis is generally regarded as the current world heavyweight champion
4. Boxing in the United States Until late in the 19th cent., American fighters established their own rules, which were few. Early matches, some of them free-foralls, featured biting and gouging as well as punching. In most instances they were also illegal. In 1888, John L. Sullivan, a bareknuckle champion and America’s first sports celebrity, won a clandestine 75-round match. New York legalized boxing in 1896, and other states soon followed suit. Although the reign (1910–15) of the first AfricanAmerican heavyweight champion, Jack Johnson, disturbed the segregated society of the time, and although many continued to question boxing’s social purpose, its inclusion in the Olympic games in 1904, its use for military training in World War I, its emergence as a source of discipline for youth, its regulation by state commissions, and its suggestion of national vitality strengthened its claims to legitimacy and bolstered its popularity through the 1920s and 30s. Heavyweight (over 190 lb/86.3 kg) champions Jack Dempsey (1919–26) and Joe Louis (1937–49) were national heroes, Louis becoming one of the first black athletes to gain wide popularity. Since World War II, boxing has proceeded amid corruption and, at times, chaos. Rising admission prices, restriction of title fights to closed-circuit television, the proliferation of organizations claiming to sanction fights and proclaim champions, financial scandals, ring injuries and deaths, monopolistic practices by promoters, and claims of exploitation of lower-class fighters have threatened its appeal, yet the sport continues to attract huge audiences and investment. Great fighters like Muhammad Ali elicit admiration and fascination, while controversy surrounds others like the repeatedly imprisoned Mike Tyson. Lennox Lewis is generally regarded as the current world heavyweight champion
5. Amateur Boxing Amateur boxing, while not free from debate, has in recent decades taken steps to ensure safety and objective judging. The Golden Gloves national tournament has long been a stepping stone for young fighters, but the Olympics are the most visible forum for amateurs. Olympic boxers wear eight-ounce gloves and padded head gear and fight just three rounds of three min Judges use electronic devices to record the scoring punches that determine the winner
5. Amateur Boxing Amateur boxing, while not free from debate, has in recent decades taken steps to ensure safety and objective judging. The Golden Gloves national tournament has long been a stepping stone for young fighters, but the Olympics are the most visible forum for amateurs. Olympic boxers wear eight-ounce gloves and padded head gear and fight just three rounds of three min. Judges use electronic devices to record the scoring punches that determine the winner
Background Knowled e 2. The Saturday review:(1924-) An American weekly journal, until> 1952 subtitled° of literature.’ still IThe writer Norman Cousins emphasizes book reviews an (1912-*),editor of The saturday literary comment, but also deals Review(1940-), In whic with drama musIC, expresses his humanitarian concern motion pictures, photography, democratic travel. educati science international understanding and Editors have been Canby(1924-36) world unity. His books include The De Voto(1936-8, George Stevens Democratic Chance (1942),Who (1938-40), and Norman Cousins Speaks for Man?(1952), and The 940-) Last Defense in a Nuclear Age (1960) The present article first appeared in the magazine on 5th May, 1962
1.The writer: Norman Cousins (1912-*), editor of The Saturday Review (1940- ), in which he expresses his humanitarian concern with democratic ideals, international understanding and world unity. His books include The Democratic Chance (1942), Who Speaks for Man? (1952), and The Last Defense in a Nuclear Age (1960). 2. The Saturday Review: (1924- ) An American weekly journal, until 1952 subtitled ‘of literature,’ still emphasizes book reviews and literary comment, but also deals with drama, recorded music, motion pictures, photography, travel, education and science. Editors have been Canby (1924-36), De Voto (1936-8, George Stevens (1938-40), and Norman Cousins (1940- ). The present article first appeared in the magazine on 5 th May, 1962