THE
ROYALE
by Marco Ramirez Directed by Kyle Haden
BOXING: A BRIEF HISTORY With visual evidence dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, boxing has been around for thousands of years. It first appeared as a formal Olympic event in Ancient Greece c. 688 BCE. Romans took the sport even further into gladiatorial arenas, typically ending with the death of the losing boxer. As Christianity rose in popularity along with the decline of the Roman Empire, boxing as entertainment fell by the wayside for many centuries. Though illegal at the time, bare-knuckle boxing (without gloves) reemerged in Britain in the 1680s and grew in popularity though the mid1700s. It is supposed that more formal rules were enacted by fighter Jack Broughton after the one of his opponents succumbed to fight-related injuries. Broughton was known as the “Father of Boxing,” employing gloves to protect both fighter and opponent. Ironically, instances of brain injury went up after the addition of gloves because boxers were more likely to aim for the head, rather than aiming for softer places thus protecting their bare hands. Boxing began to gain respectability when it rose in popularity among members of English Aristocracy. Boxing athletes were seen as ideals of manliness and honor. In 1804 at age 36, Bill Richmond fought in his first professional fight and became the first African American sports celebrity. Born into enslavement in New York, Richmond spent most of his life in England. He spectacularly won fights into his 50s due to his unique boxing style and strategy. Both Richmond and later his protégé, American Tom Molineaux, helped bring the popularity of professional fighting from Britain to America. The early 20th century saw a rise in American-dominated world boxing champions, and its popularity shows no signs of stopping.
22 your theatre, always
Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson
The Royale is based on the life of Jack Johnson, who became the first Black heavyweight champion in 1908 after defeating Australian Tommy Burns. But it was Johnson’s win against former heavyweight champion Jim Jeffries that sealed his legacy as a boxing superstar.
Burns vs Johnson in 1908
A Creede Contender
Jack Dempsey
Jack Dempsey aka “The Manassa Mauler” became the heavyweight champion of the world in 1919. Dempsey was born in Manassa, CO, just south of Alamosa in the San Luis Valley, and grew up in Lower Creede ( Jimtown) around the turn of the century.
