A visual history of one hundred years of British boxing this book contains around 300 photographs from PA Photos huge archives spanning the whole of the 20th Century. One of the oldest combat sports boxing dates back to the ancient civilisations. Popular in 18th century Britain as the outlawed bare-knuckle prize-fight it was not until the introduction of the Marquess of Queensbury rules in 1867 that the sport gained structure & legitimacy. Charting the changing face of amateur & professional boxing the photographs in this book give readers a flavour of the skill brutality & grace of the sport celebrating the heroes & anti heroes of the ring the triumphs controversies & tragedies of a sport that pits man against man or in the modern era woman against woman with only their fists as weapons & agility their defence.