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One of the most popular forms of entertainment in Georgian London was boxing, or pugilism, as it was also called. Boxing was a sport that attracted huge crowds of spectators, who came to watch men fight each other without rules. Boxing was a sport that involved vast sums of money, as bets were placed on the outcome of the matches. Boxing was a sport that enjoyed fervent support from all classes of society.
But boxing was not only a sport for men. There was also an underground female boxing scene in Georgian London, where women fought each other for fame, fortune, or survival. One of the reasons why some women chose to box was to settle personal disputes or conflicts with other women. These disputes could be over money, property, reputation, or love.
They also enjoyed the attention and admiration that they received from the spectators and the media.
These women were not passive or helpless victims of their circumstances, but active and resilient agents of their choices. In Georgian society, women were supposed to be gentle, modest, and domestic, while men were supposed to be strong, brave, and public. Women were expected to obey their fathers, husbands, or masters, while men were expected to protect and provide for their families. They used boxing as a means of expressing themselves, empowering themselves, and entertaining themselves. They also used boxing as a means of challenging the norms and expectations of their society, which often limited or oppressed them because of their gender.