History of two-minute rounds?

[Cap]

I notice that in many fights during the 1930s in Australia the rounds were of two-minute duration. Was this standard? Marquis of Queensberry rules call for three-minute rounds. Was this done to save the fighters from excessive punishment? When did they change back to 3min rounds?

[Beltane]

Only an observation that in the 1930s, the Great Depression was badly impacting Australia, and the boxing game was a hard way but quicker way to make a quid (money) when unemployment hit over 30%.

Back then there were numerous prize rings running (some operating multi times a week) and there was always a supply of fighters trying to bring home a pittance to keep there wives and children from hunger and the "wolves at the door".

I have a guess that the 2 minute round was introduced as a measure to protect both the fighter as well as the supply of pugs for the prize ring promoters as there was a big churn of fighters.

Those days there was little thought about the cumulative effect of head injuries and there were sadly many old punch-drunk, washed-up fighters haunting the seedy pubs even decades later.

[Cap]

Thanks. Sounds logical.

[Brute]

Club fights in the 1970s were usually over 2 minute rounds as were most TV fights from Melbourne. There is a rule in Australian Boxing that if a champion is knocked out in a fight with 3 minute rounds he loses his title regardless of how many rounds the fight is set down for if both fighters make the weight. This has led to nightmares for heavyweights.

[Cap]

I noticed a remark posted for one particular Australian heavyweight fight late in the 1920s that the title did not change hands because rounds were only 2 minutes long. This must have caused some confusion among fans betting on the outcomes of title fights especially.