Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. (March 7, 2025): The grand tradition of the “sweet science” of boxing is alive and well in today’s military. In this photo by Airman 1st Class Zeeshan Naeem, Airman 1st Class Bradley Hoke, left, and Senior Airman Jason Santillana punch it out during the recent Rumble in the Deid IV. The event was hosted by the 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron and involved forty participants who showed off their physical condition and combat skills.

Boxing in the military dates to ancient Greece where it became a popular sport in the first Olympic Games. Originally called “pugilism” from the Latin word “pugil” meaning fighter, the contest required two men to battle with their fists until one was knocked out or admitted defeat. The sport evolved into a method to train soldiers in hand-to-hand combat and to improve overall physical readiness.

Professional boxing became popular in the United States in the 1920s and was used to prepare troops for War I. Boxing teams emerged at military camps across Europe and these bouts provided entertainment and a major boost to morale.

World War II produced such legendary champions as Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, and Jack Dempsey. These future champions served as boxing instructors and participated in fighting exhibitions to sell war bonds. Boxing was popular aboard U.S. warships in the Pacific and American troops battled their English allies in matches prior to the invasion of Normandy.

That is why boxing is part of the World Military Championships, often referred to as "The Military Olympics", where athletes from every service compete to see who is the toughest of the toughest. Boxing will continue to be a rich tradition in the American military and an important tool to improve conditioning and boost morale.