'CLASSIC' PUGILISM
Boxing, in whatever form it takes, is the natural unarmed form of Fencing, in whatever form that takes.
From the basic ward of the sixteenth-century swordsman (Saviolo's 'Long Ward') if we were to lay down the weapon and switch our stance to stand with the left foot forward, thus leading with the left hand, we would find ourselves in a position near-identical to the stance of a bare-knuckle pugilist of the mid-to-late nineteenth century; especially that used, excelled at and promoted by the great Jem Mace
There is a natural relationship between the arts of Fencing and Boxing. As a boxing master, Jem Mace often taught his pupils to fence "…for he believed it was vital training for a boxer… The stance was critically important. 'The eye, the left hand and the left foot should always be in line,' he stressed …" (Master of the Ring, Graham Gordon). It can surely be of no coincidence that two of history's great martial artists, even though separated by centuries, came to the same conclusion in the manner of how best to stand in your ward.
All of the early bare-knuckle practitioners and instructors were English fencing masters. As a result, boxing's footwork, straight punching, blocking, parrying, and feinting techniques developed from strategies used by fencers. It is no coincidence that boxing's most fundamental punch, the left jab, is very similar to the fencer's straight thrust...
Mike Silver, The Arc of Boxing
The 'Macean' style was the one that dominated the last years of the bare-knuckle era and went on to dominate the early (transitional) years of the gloved era until the use of the glove itself became a defining aspect of the sport of boxing.
From The Lonsdale Library, Volume XI: Boxing (1931):
The transition from fist to glove-fighting came slowly at first, and, in the beginning, a great conservatism of spirit was bitterly opposed to the new regime. Mr. Bob Watson, referee and journalist, for many years attached to Sporting Life, wrote, in the early days of the gloves, of conversations with old-timers in the "Blue Anchor" at Shoreditch.
"How do you think the modern glove-fighter would fare with the fighters in the old style? He asked the grey-haired veterans of the prize ring.
"Well, Mr. Watson," came the answer, "it's a very different game boxing with the gloves and fighting with the fists, as you well know. All I can say is that if these young fellows took to fist fighting as it was in my day they would have to shape differently. Half would beat themselves swinging and the other half get disabled with broken arms. I smile, I do, at the new order of boxing, but it is very interesting, though I do laugh. Mr. Watson, excuse me, but I do laugh."
"Do you see any improvements with regard to science?"
"Improvements? Certainly not. Your best boxers, mind you, your very best boxers are as clever, but you have more bad boxers than we had fighters."
When at long distance there can be no better recommendation than to learn to box in the style of Jem Mace and his contemporaries, when the art of pugilism was still very much concerned with what we might today call 'street defence'. The use of an 'educated' straight left hand to keep an adversary at bay or to open an opponent's defence, coupled with a studied knowledge in the use of distance, movement and timing that one can acquire from this practice, is as useful today as it has been throughout the centuries. To this, we may add an understanding of how to correctly 'throw' a punch and an acquaintance with simple trips and throws commonly used in the era of the London Prize Ring. Of course the pugilism seen in the era of the London Prize Ring was still at heart a sport, but it takes little imagination to adapt this style to a full system of defence.
As noted before, the art of pugilism is near identical to that of fencing in terms of striking, distance, measure and proportion. Both can, or should, be defined as the art of hitting without being hit.
