Bout Gallery

The last bare-knuckle fight, Farnborough, Hampshire, 17th April 1860 (1951)

The last bare-knuckle fight, Farnborough, Hampshire, 17th April 1860 (1951). Contest between the English David, Tom Sayers, and the American Goliath, Heenan. Although only 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing less than 10 stone, Sayers became English Heayweight Champion. In a career that lasted from 1849 until 1860 he was only defeated once. The picture shows his last fight, against John C Heenan, which was the first international boxing match. The fight had gone 37 rounds when one set of supporters (it is disputed which), sensing their man was tiring, invaded the ring. The police, who had been watching without intervening in proceedings until then, broke up the ensuing riot. The fight was declared a draw. Sayers retired after the bout, and the passing of the Anti-prize fight Act of 1861 effectively ended bare-knuckle fighting in England. A print from 100 Years in Pictures, A panorama of History in the Making, text by DC Somervell, Odhams press Limited, London, 1951

© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images