The Boxer

Roman boxing ,two opponants would slog it,or should I say slug it out.When one guy had enough he just put his arms by his side.He was declared loser, of the brutal and I reckon bloody affair.The Etruscons a pre roman people employed Gladiater combats at funerals,some must have been boxers.Please correct me if I"m wrong about this,as I would love to be an expert but amwell aware I am not.Combat boxers wore a pair of gauntlets or gloves,leather strips bound around the hands with metal plate.A leather cap was worn on the head to proctect the temples and ears.The gauntlets were called the Cestus,this tool was to add voilence to thier allready nasty blows.These guys knew how to put on a show,and were adept at avoiding blows.Like everything in rome,there may have been those who went hell for leather bashing left right and centre.They probably did not last as long as the more thoughtfull athletae.Sparing and dodging opponants was the best way to wear him out and when tired and worn down with enough blows on the head,the head and face being the favourite place to bash your foe.No matter how good a boxer was he would eventually be worn down by the voilence of his occupation.Boxing was and still is one of the roughest and dangerous gymnastic sports,people who indulged were crippled or killed by the exertions and hasazrds of this "SPORT." You might hear someone say in a dirty tavern "see him over there,the blind guy with the lumpy face he used to be a boxer.Yours truly dave.