Kangaroo boxing, like dwarf throwing and bear baiting, is a peculiar and often controversial spectacle, gained widespread popularity in the late 1800s both in Europe and America.

The idea of pitting a trained kangaroo against a human in a boxing match fascinated audiences who were drawn to the novelty and exoticism of the event.

The practice began when circus performers and animal trainers discovered that kangaroos, particularly males, would naturally use their strong hind legs and forelimbs to defend themselves, mimicking the movements of a human boxer.

This spectacle became a staple at traveling circuses and fairs, where the sight of a kangaroo ‘boxing’ against a human captivated crowds eager for entertainment.

The kangaroos were often outfitted with gloves and trained to stand upright on their hind legs, using their muscular tails for balance while jabbing with their front paws.

Trainers would typically face the animal in the ring, and while the matches were often playful, they could turn dangerous.

Kangaroos are naturally powerful animals, and their kicks could cause serious harm, adding an element of unpredictability and danger that thrilled spectators.

Some of the matches were choreographed to be more comedic than competitive, with the human boxers theatrically exaggerating their defeat for the audience’s amusement.

However, the novelty soon evolved into actual competitive bouts, which raised concerns about animal cruelty.

By the early 20th century, kangaroo boxing began to decline as attitudes toward animal welfare shifted. Public perception started to change, and the ethics of forcing animals into such performances were questioned.

Animal rights groups began to protest the practice, and many places outlawed kangaroo boxing due to the potential harm it posed to both the animals and the human participants.

Though the spectacle faded from the mainstream, it remains a curious footnote in the history of entertainment, reflecting the period’s fascination with unusual forms of spectacle and the evolving attitudes toward the treatment of animals. PLEASE SHARE OUR STORIES

RETRIBUTION Michael Walsh, is a regular television, radio and newspaper personality. Liverpool-based city-vigilante thriller more gripping than Death Wish by award-winning novelist. ‘Retribution is the greatest movie never made’ ~ William Housman. ‘An excellent thriller written in the tense style of a John Le Carre spymaster novel’ ~ Brian Smyth. LINK TO BOOK  

A NEW WAY OF READING – YOU BECOME PART OF THE STORY https://michaelwalshwriter.com/bookstore/