Originally posted by Marchegiano
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Fighting pursuits and egalitarian notions of fairness come from the concept of no restraints on whom can fight for glory. All the shopkeepers in New York in the 1800's who wrote "Irish need not apply" could not keep the Irish from fighting for fistic glory for the heavyweight title. Way before Jackie Robinson broke the color line in baseball Jack Johnson had opportunities. As bad as discrimination was in the past, how much worse would it have been if government syndication had been allowed to determine the champions?
Regarding your point about weight divisions, they did indeed pave a way to divide and create more parasitical organizations. The first organizations were focused on creating legitimate places for bouts. The fairgrounds were not going to cut it, and the barges were not for polite society. Athletic clubs, Dinner clubs and other such places had to be secured for bouts and it had to be done so it was proper.
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