The "sweet science" is considered somewhat of an eclectic martial art since the internal and philosophical teachings present in most traditional martial arts are absent in boxing. Although the use of boxing goes back to ancient times with the Greeks, the current "prize-fighting" approach traces back to the 18th century with boxing cards taking place in England. In its infancy, these cards were fought without the use of boxing gloves. This safety measure was introduced towards the turn of the 20th century and does more to protect the hand then the individual being hit.

Although boxing is noted for its diverse, yet effective strikes, it also makes use of evasiveness and fosters fluid body mechanics. This was especially evident in the style of boxing legend, Muhammad Ali. Ali's use of footwork took boxing to a new level and this is in stark contrast to the rooted stances of many traditional martial arts. Most eclectic martial arts, such as Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do, incorporated boxing's strikes and quick footwork in an effort to create a more complete stand-up fighter.