Q Is For Queensbury Rules

The rules of boxing in the ring are generally governed The Marquess of Queensbury Rules. The Queensbury Rules (or Queensbury as they are generally known) is a set of generally accepted rules in the sport of boxing. 

They were first published in London in 1867, and were named after John Douglas the 9th Marquess of Queensbury as he publicly endorsed the code. However, a little known fact is that they were actually written by a Welsh sportsman named John Graham Chambers.

Prior to the adoption of the Queensbury Rules, boxing was covered by the London Prize Ring Rules and many of the rules first laid down within these are still in effect today. So rules forbidding the use of head-butting, gouging, scratching, kicking, biting or hitting a man whilst he's down were first listed in the London Prize Ring Rules. However these rules were superseded by the Queensbury Rules.

What made the Queensbury Rules standout from any previous rules of boxing was that the they mandated the use of boxing gloves for the first time. The Queensbury also outlawed some of the practices which were allowed under the London Prize Ring Rules such as: the use of bare knuckles, throws of the opponent and certain holds, as well as limited use of spiked shoes!

The Queensbury laid down twelve clear rules for boxing and outside of those rules deferred to the London Prize Ring Rules. Whilst the rules of boxing have been updated over the years (mostly wiping out the London Prize Ring Rules), the Queensbury remain the foundation of boxing as we know and love it today.

The Queensbury Rules still form the basis of the rules used in modern professional and amateur boxing matches, and today the term "Queensbury" has come to be used as a reference to sportsmanship and fair play.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
This post is part of a series in the Blogging From A To Z Challenge, April 2022.