Story: Children and sport

Boy boxer, 1920s

Boy boxer, 1920s

This studio portrait shows a Christchurch boy boxer and his coach in the early 1920s. Boxing was a popular sport for boys in the early 20th century because it was believed to foster strength and stoicism (against pain), attributes that were thought to improve boys' physical wellbeing and moral character. It fell out of favour in the late 20th century because it could also result in brain and other injuries.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Adam MacLay Collection
Reference: 1/2-185632-G
Photograph by Adam Henry Pearson Maclay

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Ben Schrader, 'Children and sport - Early sport, 1860 to 1919', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/41513/boy-boxer-1920s (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Ben Schrader, published 5 Sep 2013