Since the late 1800s, boxing trading cards have had a long and illustrious history. The earliest boxing cards were created by tobacco companies, who inserted them in cigarette packs to advertise their cigarettes. These vintage cards, which featured black and white images of well-known boxers, were highly sought after by collectors.
Companies like the American Tobacco Company and the Imperial Tobacco Company started creating their own sets of boxing cards in the early 1900s. These cards, which usually came with chewing gum packages, featured vivid boxer images.
In the 1960s and 1970s, when companies like Topps and Fleer started creating sets of cards showcasing the top boxers of the day, the hobby of collecting boxing cards really took off. Shops sold these cards in packs, and collectors often tried to complete sets by trading cards with their friends.
As new technologies like holographic and foil-stamped cards have been available, the collecting of boxing cards has continued to advance. Boxing cards are still quite popular among collectors today, and there are several companies that create high-quality sets with the best boxers in the sport.