Boxing has a long sporting history. The earliest evidence of boxing is found in Egypt around 3000 BC. The sport was introduced to the Olympic Games by the Greeks in the late 7th century BC. Greek boxers used thongs of soft leather to bind their hands and forearms for protection. Later, in Rome, the leather thongs were exchanged for the cestus which was studded with metal. Gladiatorial boxing matches usually ended with the death of one contestant. With the fall of the Roman Empire the history of boxing ends until reference to matches are once again found in 17th century English records.
Organised amateur boxing began in 1880. The sport has grown from the rudiments based on the rules of professional boxing at the turn of the century to having its own identity, visibility and set of rules. Originally only three weight classes were contested. Although boxing can be traced back to ancient Greece and the original Olympic Games, boxing was not included in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 because its popularity had become limited to the United States.
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