Fighting with fists for sport is probably as old as sport itself. Boxing contests are found throughtout antiquity. The word 'boxing' came into use in England in the 18th century to distinguish fighting under agreed rules for sport. In boxing two contestants wearing padded gloves face each other in a 'ring' and fight an agreed number of rounds under recognized rules. Amateur and professional level have operated in parallel since the latter part of the 19th century. The amateur governing body, the Association International de Boxe Amateur, was founded in 1946. There are 4 major bodies in men's pro boxing: WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO.
Men: WBC World Championship: