It started with prizefighting, illegal elsewhere in an era of bare-knuckle boxing.

它开始于职业拳击，在其他地方裸拳拳击还是非法的年代。

Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change prizefighting to a sport, for he brought science to the game.

虽然门多萨严格来讲不过是个职业拳击手，但在他为把拳击提升为一种体育运动作出了重大贡献。是他把科学引进了拳击。

Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.

虽然门多萨严格来讲不过是个职业拳击手，但在把这种粗野的拳击变成一种体育运动方面，他作出了重大贡献。是他把科学引进了这项运动。

Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.

虽然门多萨严格来讲不过是个职业拳击手，但在把这种粗野的拳击变成一种体育运动方面，他作出了重大贡献。

It says the words probably came from the sport of boxing, or prizefighting. The book says the saying began because a competitor's face was cleaned with a cloth towel or other material.

这本词典说，这句短语可能起源于拳击，这种说法来自于拳击手用毛巾或其他东西擦脸。