Boxer Stele Fragment from Kerameikos

[2] It is considered one of the earliest examples of a highly individualized athlete depiction in Ancient Greek sculpture,[3] and "nearer to a portrait than any other work surviving from Archaic Greece" (together with the Sabouroff head).

Gloves were not typical in the ancient Greek version of the sport; rather, fighters wore himantes, or leather thongs, around their wrists and the lower part of their hands to protect them from damage.

Unlike the boxer stele, which is in relief and of marble, this sculpture was made in the round and of bronze and copper inlay.

This sculpture further depicts the detrimental physical effects of ancient Greek boxing - while the stele only has cauliflower ears, Boxer at Rest has cauliflower ears, a broken nose, and cuts and scrapes emphasized from the statue's bronze composition with inlay of copper.

The extra detail and intricacy of Boxer at Rest contributes to its pathos, or emotional effect on the viewer.