Sport involving attack and defense with fists. In the modern sport, boxers wear padded gloves and fight bouts of up to 12 three-minute rounds in a roped-off square known as the ring. In ancient Greece fighters used leather thongs on their hands and forearms, while in Rome (Gladiators) used metal-studded leather hand coverings and usually fought to death. Not until implementation of the London Prize Ring rules in 1839 were kicking, gouging, butting, biting and blows below the belt eliminated from the boxer’s standard repertoire. Boxing has been included among the Olympic Games since 1904.