Fraternity Pugilism

There is creeping softness in college fraternities and we suspect they would benefit by rigorous exertion. When speaking of softness in the fraternity world, it is usually assumed that it is a matter of infirm character and slack deportment rather than physical characteristics. Surely a beer and pizza diet that develops in a fraternity house and carries over into life cannot bode well for the male form. Less time for pick-up games and metabolism decline adds to that.

But the spirit and the corporeal are not always separate things in life. President Teddy Roosevelt, a fraternity man to the core expressed and lived by just this code. We do not necessarily promote excessive indulgence in fisticuffs but this was said to be a favorite college endeavor of the young man.

So it is a welcomed sight that rather than sad, futile attempts at squaring off in the street or parking lot after too much beer, the fraternity man is also maintaining the fine art of pugilism- in the ring and by the book.

College boxing was once a favorite sport for college gentlemen. Over time it left the realm of the thoughtful; today those who suffer from an injury to the brain from boxing often have no discernible effects. That is of course if you set side having their hefty purses stolen by shysters and managers.

Young college men in the videos (not surprisingly Kappa Sigs, Sigma Chis, SAEs, Phi Delts) are strictly amateur and the profit they generate from fights are usually for worthy charities. Local boxing clubs are happy to have them since they also get a cut and perhaps some new interest.

Yeah the language is a bit foul and taunting on-lookers are always annoying to the purist. An obvious lack of experience and training reflect fighters not used to defending themselves. All that is outweighed by the fun and deeper lesson: watching this will remind men that they should have some backbone, exert themselves and rush forward into life- and get to the gym a bit more often.

Publish Post