Knebworth,Viscount – Boxing. A Guide To Modern Methods

Description

Knebworth, Viscount ‘Boxing. A Guide to Modern Methods’ 1931 1st ed. 279 pages with over 50 illustrations. Illustrated. Consists of a history of the prize ring and the Queensberry ring, chapters on the amateur ring, training, seconding, refereeing, together with a number of instructional chapters. VG in Good dust jacket (2) $100 each. Another without dust jacket in good condition for $25.00

Boxing: A Guide to Modern Methods by Viscount Knebworth is a comprehensive 1931 instructional and historical manual that captures the transition of boxing into a highly technical, regulated modern sport. Published as Volume XI of the prestigious Lonsdale Library of Sports, Games and Pastimes, it served as an official authority on the sport during the interwar period.

The book is structured into two distinct halves:
1. The Historical Evolution
• The Prizefighting Era: Knebworth traces the roots of the sport from bare-knuckle pugilism, examining the tactical shifts forced by the introduction of the Broughton and Marquess of Queensberry rules.
• Great Matchups: It includes historical breakdowns of legendary fighters, looking back at the strategic genius of early ring masters.
2. Modern Instructional Guide
• The “Scientific” Approach: Written alongside W. Childs, the celebrated coach of the Cambridge University Boxing Club, the text provides a highly analytical breakdown of proper boxing fundamentals.
• Tactics and Training: It details footwork, punching mechanics, defensive guards, ring craft, training regimens, and dieting.
• Photographic Demonstration: The book is famous for its inclusion of over 50 high-quality photographic plates that capture boxers’ mid-motion to visually demonstrate exact stances and techniques.

It remains highly regarded by boxing historians as a definitive time capsule of 1930s athletic philosophy and British boxing culture.