How Much Do You Know About the History of Boxing?

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
How Much Do You Know About the History of Boxing?
Image: shutterstock

About This Quiz

Have you ever wanted to hit someone? Well, these people do it for a living!

Boxing, as a sport, has been around since the beginning of recorded history. In the Meditteranean region, references to fighting for sport have been recorded in places such as the Egyptian hieroglyphs. It was also a game of competition in the original Olympics from ancient Greece. These early fighters often wrapped their hands in leather and fought until someone couldn't continue or one of the competitors died. Obviously, a sport that vicious couldn't last, and over the centuries, boxing has developed as rules and regulations have helped the sport become safer and easier to judge.

The modern era of boxing really started to form in the 18th and 19th century. Set rules and promotions have helped the sport spread around the world, where boxers are capable of achieving world-wide fame. Countries from where many boxers come from often see their country's fighter as a symbol of national identity, defending the pride of their home country. Although the popularity of the sport sometimes wanes, boxing still has a large following, and huge fights are global events.

If you truly believe you're a boxing expert, see if you can pound this quiz into the ground!

Which English boxer invented the first set of rules for boxing?
James Figg
Jack Broughton
As his popularity grew, Jack Broughton opened an amphitheater to hold boxing contests under his set of rules. His rules were known as the London Prize Ring Rules.
George Taylor
Jack Slack

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Which set of rules was created in 1865?
Marquess of Queensberry Rules
These new rules were published in 1867. With these rules, gloves replaced bare-knuckle boxing.
American Boxing Rules
English Boxing Rules
World Boxing Rules

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Who were the Marquess of Queensberry Rules named after?
Queen Elizabeth
King Charles II
James Figg
John Douglas
Though John Douglas was known for endorsing these boxing rules, he also made history for his dispute of homosexuality with Oscar Wilde, an important English author. This resulted in Wilde leaving England for France, where he eventually died.

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Who was the first heavyweight champion in the gloved boxing era?
James Figg
John Sullivan
John Sullivan officially finished his career with a 40-4 record, though he actually fought hundreds of fights. He was known as the "Boston Strong Boy."
Marvin Hart
Jack Johnson

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Who was the first three-division world champion?
James Jeffries
Tommy Burns
Bob Fitzsimmons
Bob Fitzsimmons was the lightest heavyweight champion ever. He supposedly rarely trained, relying instead on his natural skills.
Jack Sharley

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From what country was Tommy Burns?
Spain
United States
Japan
Canada
Besides Burns, no other heavyweight fighter from Canada has won the championship. He was known for holding matches against fighters of different races and ethnicities, wanting to be the champion of all the world.

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Who was the first African-American heavyweight champion?
Floyd Patterson
Sonny Liston
Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson was known as the Galveston Giant. He fought at a time when segregation was widespread throughout the United States.
Joe Frazier

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Who fought in "The Fight of the Century"?
Bob Fitzsimmons and Jack Dempsey
Jack Johnson and James Jeffries
Most promoters tried to make this a fight about race, a white man versus a black man. However, both of these fighters showed great respect for each other before and after the fight.
John Sullivan and James Corbett
Marvin Hart and Tommy Burns

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What was Jack Dempsey's nickname?
Kid Blackie
Jack Dempsey helped push boxing popularity from 1914 to 1927. He retired with a record of 54-6-9.
The White Cobra
The King
Cinderella Man

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What was Rocky Marciano's record when he retired?
88-4
101-2-9
22-22-2
49-0
Rocky Marciano was one of very few boxers who finished their career with an undefeated record. Roland La Starza came the closest to defeating Marciano in 1950.

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What state was Joe Louis from?
Alabama
Joe Lewis entered World War II during the middle of his boxing career. He would be used to help attract others, particularly African-Americans, into the war.
New York
California
Montana

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Who was the first person to beat Sonny Liston?
Muhammad Ali
Marty Marshall
Sonny Liston is often associated with being involved in the mob. In fact, many people believe this involvement got him killed.
Joe Louis
Joe Frazier.

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Who fought in the "Rumble in the Jungle"?
Joe Frazier and Joe Lewis
Sonny Liston and Rocky Mariano
Muhammad Ali and George Foreman
Boxing professionals gave Ali little chance of beating Foreman. Even many people in Ali's camp didn't believe he could win.
Floyd Patterson and Joe Frazier

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In what war did Muhammad Ali refuse to fight?
WWI
Vietnam War
Muhammad Ali won gold at the 1960 Olympics at the age of 18. From the age of 25 until he was 29, Ali was banned from boxing for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War.
WWII
Spanish-American War

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Who was the last boxer to face Muhammad Ali?
Trevor Berbick
After a fight against Larry Holmes, Muhammad Ali was clearly not the same fighter anymore. His bout against Trevor Berbick would put the final nail in the coffin for Ali's boxing career.
Larry Holmes
Mike Tyson
Leon Spinks

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What was Larry Holmes' nickname?
Strong Arm
One Punch Man
The Durable Muscle
Easton Assassin
Larry Holmes won his first heavyweight championship in 1978. He defended the title 19 times before finally losing.

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Who was known for saying "float like a butterfly"?
Mike Tyson
Joe Frazier
Leon Spinks
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali was famous for his trash talk. In fact, he was often his own best promoter throughout his career.

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From what country was Julio Cesar Chavez?
Chili
Mexico
Many people, particularly in Mexico, consider Chavez as the greatest Mexican fighter of all time. Some even consider him the greatest boxer of all time, no matter the country.
Spain
Argentina

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What was Julio Cesar Chavez's record when he was finally defeated?
22-0
50-0
89-0-1
During his career, Chavez won six championships throughout three different divisions. His undefeated streak lasted 13 years.
100-0

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Who won the "Thrilla in Manila"?
Joe Louis
Muhammad Ali
This fight was one for the ages as both fighters went back and forth. Eventually, Joe Frazier's side threw in the towel because both of Frazier's eyes were swollen shut.
George Foreman
Leon Spinks

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How old was George Foreman when he won his last heavyweight championship?
24
35
38
45
At 45, Foreman was the oldest heavyweight champion ever. He would retire three years later at the age of 48.

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Who was NOT one of "The Fabulous Four"?
Sugar Ray Leonard
Roberto Duran
Mike Tyson
Throughout the late 1970s and '80s, these fighters all competed against one another in several magnificent showdowns. Most of the fights were often title defenses.
Marvin Hagler

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Where did Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran have their first fight?
Montreal
Not long after this fight ended, a rematch fight was scheduled. Having lost, Sugar Ray Leonard believed he could catch Duran out of shape due to celebrating his victory in the first match.
New York
Las Vegas
Boston

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How old was Mike Tyson when he won the heavyweight championship?
18
20
Mike Tyson was the youngest heavyweight champion in the history of boxing when he won the title in 1986. Tyson still holds that record.
24
28

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Who was the first person to beat Mike Tyson?
Evander Holyfield
Larry Holmes
James Smith
Buster Douglas
Tyson's career started off with a bang, or a punch. He won his first 19 fights by knockout, most of which were in the first round.

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Who's ear did Mike Tyson bite?
Buster Douglas
Riddick Bowe
Evander Holyfield
Tyson lost his first fight to Holyfield in 1996. When they fought again a year later, Tyson was ill-prepared and ended up resorting to nasty tactics in the fight.
Michael Spinks

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Who was Evander Holyfield fighting when a man parachuted​ into the ring?
Larry Holmes
Riddick Bowe
Evander Holyfield competed in three fights against Riddick Bowe throughout the 1990s. He lost two of those fights.
George Foreman
Buster Douglas

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From what country was Lennox Lewis?
England
Lennox Lewis competed in a total of 44 fights. He finished with a record of 41-2-1.
Canada
United States
Italy

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How many fights did Sugar Ray Robinson have?
100
125
170
200
Sugar Ray Robinson competed in lower weight classes, but he was an exceptional fighter. In fact, critics started calling him the best "pound for pound" fighter ever.

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What was Oscar De La Hoya's nickname?
The Thriller
The Golden Boy
Oscar De La Hoya had success early in his career. Not long after graduating high school, he won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in the lightweight division before going on to have a successful professional career.
Swift Feet
The Pounder

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Who was Evander Holyfield's last fight against?
Jeremy Bates
Larry Donald
Brian Nielson
Evander Holyfield competed in the boxing ring until he was almost 50. He finished with a 44-10-2 record.
John Ruiz

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Who was Mike Tyson's promoter?
Don King
Don King worked with legends like Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes. However, he was best known for working with the hard-puncher, Mike Tyson.
Bob Arum
Frank Warren
Oscar De La Hoya

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How many times did Ken Norton and Muhammad Ali fight?
1
2
3
The second loss of Ali's career was against Ken Norton in 1973. Ali would face Norton two more times, winning both of those matches.
4

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From what state was Michael Spinks?
Georgia
South Carolina​
Missouri
Michael Spinks was Leon Spinks' brother. Both fighters won heavyweight championships during their careers.
Washington

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In what year did Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler fight?
1987
With Leonard coming out of retirement to fight, Marvin Hagler was seen as a for sure winner. However, Leonard took the victory by split decision.
1990
1978
1975

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You Got:
/35
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