Pugilism - 1743 Broughton’s Rules of Boxing Broadside a superbly presented broadside depicting various coloured vignettes of boxing contestants surrounding a central ‘The Ring’ boxing scene. These set above the very first official rules of the sport defined below. Heavyweight Champion Jack Broughton introduced the rules in attempt to reduce the increasing brutality and lawlessness of pugilistic contests, setting rules which codified and eliminated certain practices, such as hitting opponents whilst they are down or seizing opponents by their hair. This set of rules governed the sport until 1838. The broadside dated August 16 1743, this set of rules was ‘As agreed by several gentlemen at Broughton’s amphitheatre’, a superb and rare item of boxing memorabilia very scarce to come onto the market, laid to card, with pin hole to top centre with some repairs apparent, light markings, fading to one corner, slight frayed edges, otherwise appears in good overall condition, measures 39x52cm approx. ready to frame