The Broughton Rules (also known as Broughton's rules) were the first set of rules that was adapted in the sport of

boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermined ...

. The rules were written and codified by the English champion

Jack Broughton John "Jack" Broughton (c. 1703 – 8 January 1789) was an English bare-knuckle boxer. He was the first person to codify a set of rules to be used in such contests; prior to this the "rules" that existed were very loosely defined and tended to ...

in 1743.Boxing: Bareknuckle Era
/ref> Many of the rules and limitations included in Broughton rules are still followed to this day, and they have become fundamentals for later boxing rules. The Broughton Rules were replaced by the

London Prize Ring Rules The London Prize Ring Rules were a list of boxing rules promulgated in 1838 and revised in 1853. These rules were based on those drafted by England's Jack Broughton in 1743 (known as the Broughton Rules) and governed the conduct of prizefighting ...

in 1838.

History

During Jack Broughton's time,

bare-knuckle boxing Bare-knuckle boxing (or simply bare-knuckle) is a combat sport which involves two individuals throwing punches at each other for a predetermined amount of time without any boxing gloves or other form of padding on their hands. It is a regulated ...

had little to no rules. Shortly after opening an amphitheatre in London, he drew up the first standard set of rules for the sport, which he posted in his venue on August 16, 1743. His rules were: 1. A one-yard square must be drawn in the middle of the combat place, to which the “seconds”, after the fall of one of the contestants or at the beginning of the fight, must take their pupils, placing them face to face. While both are in said square they cannot hit each other. 2. That in order to avoid any discussion regarding the time that a contestant remained down, it is established that if the “second” does not take his principal to the aforementioned square within thirty seconds after he was knocked down, he is considered beaten. 3. That in the main matches no one can enter the place of the same (ring), except for the contestants and their “seconds”; The same rule applies to preliminary bouts, but in the latter, the referee is allowed, as long as he does not interfere in the bout, to enter the place of the bout, to ask for correction and to demand that the spectators take their places ; Anyone who violates these rules will be expelled from the place of the fight. When the wrestlers are ready for the fight and before the start of the fight, the place where it is held (ring) must be vacated. 4. That no contestant will be considered defeated unless after his fall he spent more time than the regulation to get into the square or his “second” declared him beaten. The latter are not allowed to ask questions of their ward’s adversary, nor to advise him. 5. That at the end of the fight, the money collected will be distributed in public, at the place of the fight, and the winner will receive two-thirds, notwithstanding any private agreements that may be to the contrary. 6. That in order to avoid discussions, the contestants, upon arriving at the place of the fight, will choose two judges from among those present, who will decide on all the questions that may arise in the fight; If they do not agree, they will choose a third party to decide. 7. That it is not allowed to hit the opponent when he is on the ground, nor to grab him by the leg, by the breeches or by any part of the body located below the waist; Any of the contestants will be considered down and will be supported on their knees.

Other details

Broughton was also the one to popularize the use of

gloves A glove is a garment covering the hand. Gloves usually have separate sheaths or openings for each finger and the thumb. If there is an opening but no (or a short) covering sheath for each finger they are called fingerless gloves. Fingerless glov ...

for fighting, but this did not become a standard up until the mid-19th century. Also, during that time, other moves and techniques besides punching, such as wrestling and kicking, were still allowed.

Replacement

The Broughton rules were finally succeeded by the

written by the British Pugilists’ Protective Association in 1838 and further revised in 1853.

References

{{Boxing Bare-knuckle boxing History of boxing Boxing rules and regulations Boxing in England