Abstract

CASTILLO GIRON, Víctor Manuel. Beyond the Ring and the Gym. Trajectory of Professional Boxing in Jalisco, Mexico. Revista Col. San Luis [online]. 2022, vol.12, n.23, 00005.  Epub May 27, 2024. ISSN 2007-8846.  https://doi.org/10.21696/rcsl122320221335.

This study analyzes the trajectory of professional boxing in Jalisco as a significant activity for society since the 1950s. The research follows a qualitative descriptive approach, supported by scholarly literature, participant observation and interviews with key informants from various gyms, particularly in Guadalajara metropolitan area. Without undermining the relevance of the athlete’s physical-athletic skills, the results highlight that the social significance of professional boxing and its trajectory over time is linked to various contextual factors. They include the outstanding involvement of those in the boxing business as a mass spectacle and various local policies and actions aimed specifically at competitive boxing. New research should delve into these vicissitudes, taking the trajectories of the local world champions as a reference, and with this, explain the correlations between their achievements and the personal and specific factors of their environment and the more global context.

Keywords : Arena Coliseo de Guadalajara; professional boxing; Jalisco’s boxers; sports environment; ring and gym.