Boxing Ring Gallery

The second fight between Harry Paulson and Tom Paddock, 1851 (late 19th or early 20th century).Artist: Pugnis

The second fight between Harry Paulson and Tom Paddock, 1851 (late 19th or early 20th century). An illustration from Famous Fights. Tom Paddock (1824-1863) fought Harry Paulson three times, twice in 1851 and once more in 1854. Paddock won the second fight, staged in Belper, Derbyshire, in the 86th round but a riot broke out and afterwards both boxers were jailed for 10 months with hard labour. Paddock went on to be English heavyweight champion between 1856 and 1858

© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images

Photographic postcard of James J. Jeffries staggering away from Jack Johnson, 1910

"Fight of the Century" between Jack Johnson and James J. Jeffries in Reno, Nevada. Jeffries can be seen in the background to be staggering away from Johnson. Two officials also stand in the ring. Their names are written in ink on their images. There postcard has been mailed and there is writing and a green one cent stamp on the reverse of the postcard. Jeffries is perhaps most famous for being United States "Great White Hope", since the nation expected him to come out of his retirement to beat the African-American boxer Jack Johnson. Johnson, the first Black American world heavyweight boxing champion, won the match and and retained the title

© Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Joe Louis, American boxer, 1938

Joe Louis, American boxer, 1938. Nicknamed the Brown Bomber, Joe Louis (1914-1981) is one of the iconic figures of heavyweight boxing history. He won the world championship in 1937 when he knocked out James J Braddock and retained it until 1949, making 25 successful defences of the title. He then retired, but unwisely made a comeback in 1950, making an unsuccessful attempt to reclaim the world championship from new champion Ezzard Charles. A Churchman's Cigarettes picture card

© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images