Boxing In The 1920's

Boxing In The 1920s

The 1920s was an excellent era for the sport of boxing. This is when the National Boxing Association was formed to govern the details of professional boxing. Boxing in the 1920s took the sport to new heights, much to the credit of those who worked hard to promote fights and draw in big crowds. Television was not available during these years, so in order to publicize boxing matches, people had to attend. Boxing turned into a very social sport, both men and women went for the purpose of seeing friends and being entertained for the evening. Air transportation was in its formative stages like the television during the 1920s, and professional boxers utilized railroad systems to travel around to various venues for competition.

The National Boxing Association

The National Boxing Association (now known as the World Boxing Association) commenced its first bout in 1921 between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier. Americans controlled most of the logistical aspects of the organization until the 1960s when other countries became interested in the governing body of boxing. 13 states had representation in the early stages of the NBA. Early functions of the NBA included organizing and promoting title bouts, keeping an accurate list of contenders and their boxing records, and keeping track of the current championship holders for each weight class.

Famous Boxers Of The 1920s

Jack Dempsey is considered by some to be the greatest professional boxer prior to the Great Depression era. He reigned as the heavyweight champion for seven consecutive years from 1919 on to 1926. When he took the title in the year 1919, he delivered a severe beating to his opponent, Jess Willard. Willard sustained injuries such as broken ribs and cheekbones, and sustained a blow to the head causing him to lose part of his hearing in one ear. Massive crowds turned out to see Dempsey fight. Accusations that he dodged the draft during World War I were cleared after he was able to prove that the army rejected him. Later, Dempsey was a household name and an example to all Americans after he successfully volunteered to serve with the military during World War II.

Perhaps the greatest (and only) flyweight Asian fighter to make himself known in professional boxing was Pancho Villa. Villa hailed from the Philippines. He stood just five feet tall and at the height of his career never weighed in at more than 114 pounds. The tiny boxer drew large crowds, and captured the flyweight championship in 1923 before a crowd exceeding 20,000. Tragically, Villa passed away at the young age of 23, putting an end to what might have been a long and prolific boxing career. The cause if Villas death was complications from an infection following the extraction of several teeth.