Ring Size; Origin of current standard

[Oso]

This may be a basic question but can anyone point to a reference for how and why the current sizes of rings are used?

Thanks,

Matt
a chinese boxer

[Yogi]

We don't have a set standard for what the actual ring size must be, but yeah...the first set of rules to standardize a set ring size was when the London Prize Ring Rules were brought into effect in 1838, and one of their rules that the boxers must be "provided for a 24-ft square ring, bounded with ropes".

And it might be of interest to you to know that the first time a four-roped ring was used was on June 8th, 1963, when Emile Griffith and Luis Rodriguez in New York...Of course that safety feature came into effect shortly after Benny 'Kid' Paret got entangled in the ropes the year previous vs. Griffith, and passed away as a result the injuries he sustained in the fight.