A pair of Roman terracotta statuettes of boxers engaged in a match, approximately 26 cm tall, dating from the 2nd-1st century BC. They have been part of the British Museum's collection in London since 1852.
The athletes, possessing African features, wear a rare form of boxing "gloves", the himantes sphairai, traditional Greek leather gloves. These short himantes are made with strips of leather fitted with small spheres, known in Greek as sphairai, crafted from an unknown material on the knuckles—possibly to cushion the blows and reduce the risk of injury during impact.
The craftsmanship of the statuettes is somewhat mediocre; however, it is clear that the boxer on the left is executing an uppercut to the head, a common target in ancient boxing (textual and archaeological evidence shows head strikes were preferred in classical bouts, with strikes to the body being seldom depicted or mentioned).
He is throwing a punch with his right arm, while the opponent appears to be caught off guard. Both wear the subligaculum, the precursor to men's underwear—a type of shorts that predates modern styles. These statuettes, discovered in Roman territory, were acquired around the mid-19th century by the traveller and consul John Auldjo and later sold, along with other artefacts, to the British Museum.