History

How a boxer’s rise forced you to rethink fame, race, and political voice When you first hear Muhammad Ali’s name, you likely think of lightning-fast combinations and poetic trash talk. But by the mid-1960s, his fists were only part of the story. As Ali moved from Olympic gold to the world heavyweight championship, he also […]

How bare-knuckle contests set the stage for an organized sport You can’t understand modern boxing without seeing where it began: rough, often deadly contests held for money and prestige. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, boxing was a social spectacle as much as a fight—patrons, gambling, and local customs shaped how bouts were conducted. […]