The sport of boxing has been around for centuries. Early Sumerian carvings show men boxing. Boxing was established as an Olympic sport in 688 BCE. Boxing then evolved into prize boxing between the 16th and 18th centuries, becoming hugely popular in England and later America.
Nearly all boxing matches today are fought to the Marquess of Queensberry Rules, which were drawn up in London in 1865 and named after the 9th Marquess of Queensberry who publicly endorsed them, and were the first set of rules to require the use of boxing gloves.
In the early days of Wyoming, boxing was one of the entertainment draws for large crowds and was part of many events in the “Wild West.” The famous sheriff, Wyatt Earp, refereed many boxing matches, including a bout between then-heavyweight champion Bob Fitzsimmons and San Francisco’s Tom Sharkey. Not everyone was pleased with his call in that bout.
The Rollins Republican of December 4, 1896 reported on the bout as follows: SAN FRANCISCO, December 2 – Bob Fitzsimmons was robbed tonight of a clearly well-earned victory by knocking down Tom Sharkey. Fitzsimmons finished the bout without a scratch on his body and never received a legitimate punch from Sharkey during the bout. As Sharkey rolled onto his back, referee Wyatt Earp declared Sharkey the winner because Fitzsimmons had illegally struck him with his knee. The decision was greeted with jeers and boos, and Earp disappeared in the nick of time to avoid being roughed up. Fitzsimmons fought cleanly and hard, never complaining despite being fouled many times and being wrestled all over the ring.
Although boxing was popular in Wyoming in its early days, not everyone supported boxing or the promoters who made money from the matches.
This led to this action by Governor Carey in June 1911. Sheridan Post, June 20, 1911 – Prize Boxing Prohibited – The Omaha Bee had this to say about Governor Carey’s action regarding boxing matches in Wyoming: “If any boxer or promoter of a professional boxing ring ever resolves to set up business in Wyoming, he must first defeat Governor Carey, who is as adamant about banning prize boxing as he is about holding prize matches. Last winter the Governor vetoed a bill passed by the Legislature to legalize boxing, a blow to the solar plexus for the Brotherhood, which had hoped that it would break through all legal barriers and enter Wyoming as it had done in Nevada.
Apparently, the boxers “got the count” in this bout with the governor, but that didn’t stop them from trying to fight back. Lately, they’ve been ignoring the law and holding “boxing matches” in different counties. Now the governor has landed another heavy blow by ordering the police to make mass arrests and prosecutions, if necessary, to put an end to prize boxing. “Governor Carey will ultimately prevail, and in so doing will have performed a valuable service not only to Wyoming, but to the entire country, which needs all this kind of help to eradicate prize boxing once and for all. Perhaps even Nevada will be inspired by the Wyoming chief executive and follow suit. Wyoming will be one of the new, potentially great western states that has not invited outlaws as a means to promote development, and in a few years time will thank Governor Carey for his work.
Also from the Sheridan Post, August 18, 1911: Nothing is happening – When Governor Carey called attention to the prohibition of state law on prize boxing matches, or any other such pastime by whatever name it may be called, and called upon policemen throughout the state to see that the law was being observed, his action was followed by a general agreement and willingness to comply. Many such matches then advertised were called off, and the whole state regained composure and behaved as it should. Recently, however, restlessness in sports circles has become evident in Cheyenne, and an attempt was made to hold a match at the military reserve at Fort Russell between a soldier and a boxer from Denver.
All preparations were completed, and fans eagerly awaited the date and time of the sporting event, but nothing could be done as the garrison commander, Colonel Williams, categorically forbade all events. The Colonel stated that while it might be possible to hold such events on the military reservation, despite state law prohibiting it, he would not tolerate any action contrary to state law, and would not only support the Governor in this matter, but would use all his powers to enforce the laws of the state in which the reservation was located.
Colonel Williams’ move was opportunistic, as Sheridan’s martial arts fans were picturing the kind of behavior that had been attempted at Fort Russell. If the officers at Fort Mackenzie had to deal with the situation, they would no doubt adopt the same attitude. Boxing and its synonyms are banned in Wyoming.
And, of course, boxing had its supporters.
Cheyenne State Leader, March 29, 1912 – Boxing is not so dangerous as football. There are more deaths at football, baseball and velodrome than at boxing. It is odd that some people are frightened when a boxer is injured, and yet are indifferent when people die at football, baseball and velodrome, or collapse and die at motor racing tracks, airships, etc. In France, where a huge number of deaths have been recorded in the past year or two in motor accidents and aviation, numbering in the hundreds, the moment the first accident occurs in a boxing match – one fatality since the sport was introduced in France – a cry is raised about its roughness.
However, the jury that investigated the case determined that the man died not from the effects of the boxing match, but from a heart condition caused by overexertion. Even with medical help, it is sometimes difficult to prevent such a condition in men. Compared to other sports, boxing is gentle and, as the record proves, is not half as dangerous.
Boxing was a popular pastime and form of exercise on many frontier military bases, and boxing instructors believed boxers made excellent soldiers during World War I. In a November 8, 1918 article in the Cheyenne State Leader, world lightweight titleholder and U.S. Army boxing instructor Benny Leonard talked about how boxers learned to use the bayonet, the weapon of choice in World War I. Here is an excerpt from the article:
I have taught boxing to 40,000 soldiers training at Camp Upton (Yuphank, New York), most of whom had never seen or worn boxing gloves. They learned how to jab with the left hand, counter with the right hand, get out of the clinch, hit and escape, and other techniques of the Marquis of Queensberry. Believe me, it didn’t take long for them to get used to these techniques. In just 11 months, military training at Yauphank resulted in 40,000 boys who knew how to use their fists. It is generally accepted that a man who knows a few boxing techniques makes a good bayonet user. Then the use of the bayonet comes naturally. Many of my students have had the honor of trampling the Huns to Berlin and back. I am talking about the 77th Division, the first to come out of Camp Upton. Their record in France speaks for itself.
The once-popular sport was banned in Wyoming 113 years ago this month.
