Changes

In the Medieval period in Europe, boxing seems to have been less pursued as a sport. There are records of occasional boxing matches or fights but these seem less regulated and less related to contests. By the 16th century, however, boxing once again became of interest in Europe.<ref>For more on the rise of boxing in Europe, see: Boddy, Kasia. 2009. Boxing: A Cultural History. First paperback pr. London: Reaktion.</ref> In particular, swords became less commonly used in day-to-day, giving a reason for other contests, such as those utilizing the fists, to develop. By 1681 in London, where England is arguably the birthplace of prizefighting, documented fights began to be recorded as formal contests. In 1719, the term "boxing" was formally used to describe the emerging sport. The first formal written rules were established by 1743. Boxing now had an umpire, a set rule for a knockout or how a match was to be won, and rules about where boxers could not hit and when they could not hit, such as when the opponent was down a second blow could not be given. These so-called Broughton rules, named after an early champion who formalized the rules, were mostly concerned about safety, as deaths began to occur in this emerging sport.<ref>For more on early rules regulating boxing, see: Roberts, James B., and Alexander G. Skutt. 2011. The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall of Fame Official Record Book. Ithaca, N.Y: McBooks Press, pg. 18.</ref> Similar to how other sports developed, safety began to create the parameters in which the sport took its form. This renewed interest may have stemmed from interest in Classical sources as well as changes in customs that moved away from Medieval pursuits such as jousting and sword fights. In essence, the removal of these other activities gave space for boxing to emerge, particularly as developing nation-states in Europe became less inclined to have their citizens utilize weapons on a day-to-day basis.