The sport of Boxing has been around for centuries. Early carvings in Sumer dating to the third and second millennia BC show men boxing. In 688 BC boxing was designated an Olympic Games. Later, this evolved into 16th-18th century prizefighting, which was very popular in England and later in the United States.
Nearly all boxing matches today are run under the Marquess of Queensberry Rules, drafted in London in 1865, and so named because the 9th Marquess of Queensberry publicly supported the code, they were also the first rules to mandate the use of boxing gloves.
When Wyoming was still a very young state, boxing was one of the pastimes that drew large crowds and was part of many events in the ‘Wild West.’ Wyatt Earp, the famous lawyer, refereed several boxing matches, and was the referee in a fight between Bob Fitzsimmons, then heavyweight champion, and Tom Sharkey in San Francisco. Not everyone was happy with his decision to fight.
Republican Rawlins, December 4, 1896, had this to say about the fight – San Francisco, December 2 – Bob Fitzsimmons was tonight robbed of a clearly earned victory by knocking Tom Sharkey unconscious. Fitzsimmons finished with no marks on his body and did not take a single hit from a sailor in the entire contest. As Sharkey rolled onto his back, Wyatt Earp, the referee, announced that Fitzsimmons had fouled him with his knee and the decision should be Sharkey’s. The decision was received with shouts and jeers, and Earp disappeared just in time to escape rough handling. Fitzsimmons put up a clean, hard fight and even though he was fouled repeatedly and wrestled all over the ring, he never mumbled.
Although boxing was popular in Wyoming’s early days, not everyone supported it, nor did the promoters make money from the fights.
In June 1911 that led to this title by Governor Carey. The Sheridan Post, June 20, 1911 – Prizeless Fight – The Omaha Bee, commenting on Governor Carey’s actions regarding boxing matches in Wyoming, said: “If the boxers and professional prize ring promoters are to carry out their determination to establish business in Wyoming, they will have to defeat Governor Carey first. . The governor was determined to prevent prize grabbing and also wanted to organize it. Last winter he vetoed a bill passed by the legislature legalizing fisticuffs, and his action was a major blow to the group.Rnity, who hope to break down all legal barriers and enter Wyoming, as they have done in Nevada.
Evidently, even though the boxers were “calculating” the match against this governor, they did not stop trying to get back at the fight. Lately they have been holding “boxing matches” in various areas ignoring the law. Now the governor has delivered another powerful blow in the form of an order for law officers to carry out large-scale arrests and prosecutions, if necessary, to stop the prize grab. “Governor Carey will ultimately win, and in doing so, he will provide a valuable service not only to Wyoming, but to the state as a whole, which needs all this kind of help to completely eliminate prizefighting. Maybe even Nevada will follow his lead, inspired by Wyoming’s chief executive. Wyoming was one of the new and potentially great western states that did not invite lawless elements as a means of encouraging its development, and in the years to come Wyoming would recognize its debt to Governor Carey for what it had done.
And again, from The Sheridan Post August 18, 1911 – Doing nothing –When Governor Carey called attention to state laws prohibiting prizefights, boxing matches, or whatever the name of the entertainment, and asked peace officers throughout the state to ensure that the laws were followed, his actions were met with general approval and readiness . and willing obedience. A number of such contests, which were then advertised, were canceled and the country generally behaved accordingly. But lately, restlessness has been palpable in Cheyenne among the tHe sport and an attempt was made to stage a fight on the military reservation at Fort Russell, between a soldier and a boxer from Denver.
All the arrangements had been completed and the fans eagerly awaited the days and hours for the sport, when Colonel Williams, as commander of the post, took action over the whole process and nothing could be done. The colonel said that, although such entertainment could be held in military shelters despite state laws against it, he would not condone anything that violated state law and would not simply oppose it.HHe is governor in this case but will use all the powers under his command to enforce the laws of the state in which the reservation is located.
Colonel Williams’ actions were appropriate, as fans of the Sheridan fight had considered several measures like those taken at Fort Russell. If the officers at Fort Mackenzie were faced with the situation they had to face, they would certainly take the same stance. Prize fighting or its synonym boxing not active board in Wyoming.
And, of course, boxing also has its supporters.
Cheyenne State Chief, March 29, 1912 –Boxing No As Dangerous Like Football. More Men KilleD on the Football Field, baseball, or cycling rather than Boxing. It’s funny how some people are horrified when a boxer is injured, but how indifferent they are when a man is killed on a football, baseball, or bicycle field, or when they are killed by a car accident.Crailways and airships, etc. In France it has been recorded in the last year or two that deaths from car accidents and flights in the air have been very large, reaching hundreds, but when the first accident occurred in a boxing match, it was the only death in sport since then. Iintroduced IIn that country, there were immediate outcries about his rudeness Hifit.
However, a jury investigating the affair found that the man died not from the effects of a boxing match, but from heart problems caused by excessive activity. Sometimes it is difficult to be wary of men in such conditions, even if they have been examined by a doctor. Compared to other sports, boxing is relatively mild and not half as dangerous, as records prove.
Boxing was a popular pastime and way to exercise at many frontier army posts, and one boxing instructor argued that boxers made good soldiers during World War I. In an article in the Cheyenne State Leader, November 8, 1918 – Benny Leonard, Lightweight Title Holder The world, and US Army Boxing instructors, talk about how boxers became good at learning to use the bayonet, which was a favorite weapon in WW1. This is part of the article.
I own taught boxing to 40,000 soldiers in the training at Camp Upton, (YaphaNk, NY) most of them were men who had never seen boxing gloves, let alone worn them. They learn how to jab with the left, counter with the right, get out of the clinch, punch Aand escape and some other tricks Hif art of the Marquis of Queensberry BTrust me, it won’t take long to get them to know these tricks. In just eleven months, more than 40,000 boys were able to use their fists after attending military training in Yaphank. This is generally acknowledgedQ people who know a few boxing tricks make great bayonet fighters. Using bayonet then comthat is naturally to the person fighting. A IMany of my students give good reviews of themselves INorowithdrew the Huns to Berlin. I’m referring to 77th division, the first out of Upton’s camp. His record in France proves this.
Although it was a popular sport at one time, 113 years ago this month, it was banned in Wyoming.
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