Where did the phrase "sweet science" originate?

[jayr517]

I've looked all over for this but I haven't been able to find out where it came from. When did people start refering to boxing with this phrase, and who started it?

[The Troll]

Probably in France.

[TyrantT316]

Carlos Maussa Sr. coined it in his domination of Sugar Ray Robinson

[jayr517]

Carlos Maussa Sr. coined it in his domination of Sugar Ray Robinson

What are you talking about?

[TyrantT316]

What are you talking about?

I am making a damn joke. Laugh please.

[jayr517]

I am making a damn joke. Laugh please.

ah...I thought you were smoking crack. Joking works too

[Yogi]

I've looked all over for this but I haven't been able to find out where it came from. When did people start refering to boxing with this phrase, and who started it?

I'm pretty sure a gentleman by the name of Pierce Egan (HOF'er who was an early boxing historian, and also the publisher of the old "Boxiana") originated the term in the early 1800's, as he often referred to the sport in printing as "the sweet science of bruising".

[Bombardier]

Sportswriter A.J. Liebling referred to boxing as "the sweet science of bruising" and a collection of his writings was called "The Sweet Science". I always heard that that was the origin of the term, though what Yogi has to say is interesting. Are you sure you have your facts right? Not that I'm doubting you...maybe Liebling re-popularized the term or something.

Incidentally The Sweet Science was named the #1 best sports book ever written by SI a while back. If you're ever interested it's a nice read, done in a real old-fashioned style.

[Yogi]

Sportswriter A.J. Liebling referred to boxing as "the sweet science of bruising" and a collection of his writings was called "The Sweet Science". I always heard that that was the origin of the term, though what Yogi has to say is interesting. Are you sure you have your facts right? Not that I'm doubting you...maybe Liebling re-popularized the term or something.

Incidentally The Sweet Science was named the #1 best sports book ever written by SI a while back. If you're ever interested it's a nice read, done in a real old-fashioned style.

Bombardier, because of his regular boxing articles in The New Yorker which were called 'The Sweet Science', Liebling was the gentleman/writer who probably did more to bring that phrase to the forefront than any other person in boxing history. But as far as what I've read in the past, Liebling first read that phrase while reading Pierce Egan's old volumes of 'Boxiana' from the early 1800's which often featured the "sweet science of bruising" phrase.

[masterdirector]

Liebling popularized the phrase, but I'm pretty sure he didn't coin it.