In 2001, The Grauniad's Any Answers column was asked "Why on earth is boxing known as 'the noble art'"?
Sam Stephens, from Hampstead, London NW3, wrote in reply: "'Noble' in connection with boxing was almost certainly used for the first time by the original boxing champion of England, James Figg of Oxfordshire. In order to promote his London Boxing Academy, at the Adam and Eve Inn north of Oxford Street, he had business cards made. These, designed by the artist William Hogarth, became the first known form of advertising associated with the sport. The caption on the cards referred to Figg as 'master of the noble science of defence'. [Figg's] academy attracted well–to–do backers including the Earl of Peterborough. Figg, born in 1695, was acknowledged as the champion of England in 1719. He was also a masterful fencer and swordsman.".
As for 'the sweet science': Michel Sakr, a Lebanese freelance sports journalist, wrote on the Sports Quotes and Facts website that it was "the great boxing author and journalist, Pierce Egan" who first described boxing as 'the sweet science of bruising', "back in 1813". Sakr continues: "Egan claims that fighting runs within human DNA, considering it to be a natural instinct. In 1949, the boxer and author A.J. Liebling introduced the term into modern times by writing a book called The Sweet Science, crediting Egan for coining the expression."
I hadn't been aware that people knew about DNA "back in 1813", but we'll put that down to journalistic licence.
But why, come to that, is boxing known as 'pugilism'?
According to Britannica, pugil is the Latin word for a boxer, derived from pugnus – the fist. This in turn is derived from the Greek word pyx – meaning 'with clenched fist'.
© Haydn Thompson 2020–2