Linda in Salisbury, North Carolina, wonders why boxing is called the sweet science, since there’s nothing obviously sweet about a bruising sport. This term took hold among British sportswriters in the early 19th century as promoters tried to frame...
Why do we call a frankfurter a hot dog? It seems an unsettling 19th-century rumor is to blame. Also, if someone quits something abruptly, why do we say they quit cold turkey? This term’s roots may lie in the history of boxing. Plus, a...
shot fighter n.— «Gomez is what some would call a “shot fighter,” and shot fighters don’t get more durable as they go, they get less able to hang in there for long periods of time and give a sustained effort. Each of Gomez’s...
alphabet title n.— «Four world champs may be confusing enough for some, but then we can add the WBU, IBO and IBA among others. The “lesser” belts such as the WBU and IBA are often referred to as alphabet titles and are not given much...
smoker n.— «I went to the golden gloves, and within six months of first starting out I won the whole golden gloves. I never fought any smokers, as they call them. Just straight from the gym to the Golden Gloves.» —“Seeking the Truth:...
EasLos n.— «Arreola grew up in “Big, bad EasLos,” as he called it, one of six children. He lived in Huntington Park, going to boxing gyms with his father, Augustin, an amateur boxer.» —“Arreola remembers humble beginnings...
