Boxing Facts

The most popular sport as a topic for a film is boxing.

Prior to 1900, prize fights lasted up to 100 rounds.

Bob Hope and Billy Joel were both once boxers.

In 1949, an official boxing match between a bear and a man was held. The bear won.

There is a growing sport in Berlin and London called Chess Boxing. Players alternate between a round of chess and a round of boxing until one is declared winner either by checkmate, KO, or technical stoppage.

Muhammad Ali got a call: Joe was on a 9th-floor fire escape in Los Angeles. He would not come down. Police, a psychologist, and a chaplain had all tried and failed. Ali drove over, leaned out a window, and said: "You're my brother. I love you and I couldn't lie to you." Twenty minutes later he had his arm around Joe and walked him inside. Ali drove him to the hospital himself.

Manny Pacquiao was boxing's reigning WBO welterweight champion. He was also a sitting congressman in the Philippines. Then he became head coach of a pro basketball team, Kia Sorento. He used the job to draft himself 11th overall, at age 35. His debut drew a record crowd of 52,612 fans. He played seven minutes and scored zero points.