Fist fighting drawings were observed in the 3rd millennium BC in Sumerian relief while both fist-fighters and spectators were depicted in the 2nd millennium BC in an ancient Egyptian relief. Both drawings show contests which were bare-fisted. The archaeologist Dr. E. A. Speiser discovered in 1927 in Baghdad, Iraq a Mesopotamian stone tablet which illustrates two men in a combat for a trophy. It is believed to be 7,000 years old. The first evidence for fist fighting with any kind of gloves originates from Minoan Crete (c. 1500–900 BC), and if we consider the boxing statues of Prama mountains (c. 2000–1000 BC) also from Sardinia.

Next articles will cover:

• Ancient Greek and ancient Roman boxing
• History of boxing rules