Famous Fights - boxing history

Boxing Queries

2007-09-30T10:50:00.000+01:00

Famous Fights always had a small section of responses to readers' questions, see above. Readers would mail in a question and the paper would answer after consulting their huge library. I wonder if readers of this site would actually be able to answer some queries that other readers and myself have...

1. The Castle Tavern, Holborn, London. The Castle Tavern is mentioned throughout all of the old boxing books, but where is it? From the description in Famous Fights we learn that it is near to Chancery Lane tube station. Does anyone know its address, or has it perhaps been renamed as Cittie of Yorke?

2. Jemmy Robinson. I can't find anything on Robinson other than what's been covered already on this site. Can you give his year of birth or other information on him?

3. Jack Johnson. Although Johnson would only have been an up and coming challenger when Famous Fights was published, he was a name to be reckoned with. I can't find any mentions of Johnson in my collection (I have about 125 issues of the 156 published) - have you found anything?

4. Corbett-Fitzsimmons. Corbett-Fitz was covered by the paper, but it is an issue I am lacking. I dread to think how biased the writer would be in the match-up, and the glee with which the final blow would be dealt. Do you have this issue, and would you be prepared to write a brief synopsis for this site?

5. Police Budget. The Police Budget was a newspaper at the turn of the last century. I have seen Police Gazette, Police News and other crime and sporting papers, but I've never seen a Police Budget. If you have a copy I'd be very grateful to hear from you; does it have large pages, how much crime, sport and gossip, and how many pages?

If you can help, you're very welcome to post a reply below. You can leave an anonymous message if you prefer, or you can email me at info@famous-fights.com. Thanks guys.

Different Rules

2007-09-24T22:08:00.000+01:00

In the early days of the prize ring, rules were somewhat different to those of today. Not restricted to jabs, uppercuts, or other punches, fighters were allowed to use throws that would seem better suited to today's professional wrestlers.

In the Owen Swift versus Hammer Lane fight of 1834, Lane repeatedly picked up his opponent and threw him to the ground. And just for good measure, when Swift was down, Lane would follow-up by falling on his opponent.

To the left we see Lane about to throw his opponent to the ground. Swift, a Londoner, took a terrible beating over 104 rounds.

Pedlar Palmer

2007-08-28T17:14:00.000+01:00

Born in 1876, Pedlar Palmer was not yet 25 when he was featured on the back of Famous Fights on 22 April 1901.

Bantamweight Palmer, to the left, had just come off three losses, so was now being written as a fighter past his best, but the article says that the brilliance of his brief career has seldom been surpassed. According to the writer, “Quick and agile as a cat, he was here, there and everywhere, putting into execution more dodges and expedients than any two ordinary men. He is termed the ‘box of tricks’... his head work was simply marvellous, and very frequently he has been known not to attempt to defend himself with his arms at all, but to stand up to his opponent and dodge the blows solely by the wonderful rapidity with which he would manipulate his little head-piece. His footwork too, was a perfect study.”

Straight wins in his early fights led to a contest with Walter Croot, a good boxer who had won a Frank Hinde tournament at Central Hall, Holborn, London. They met at the National Sporting Club, with Croot the strong favourite, but “Palmer danced around Croot, like a cooper round a tub, for seventeen rounds, and his brilliant victory placed him at one bound in the front rank of the bantams.”

Descriptions of Palmers wins over Stanton, Plimmer, a draw with Dixon, and wins over Willis, Murphy, Stanton again, are given, and then two big wins against Dave Sullivan and Billy Rotchford, left Palmer as the man to beat in the bantamweight division. But the finish to Palmer’s career came when he met one of the very best of the lighter men, Terry McGovern, and was stopped in one round. The article ends with Palmer’s loss to Harry Harris just a few weeks before the issue went to press.

Pugilistic Chronology

2007-08-27T19:28:00.000+01:00

A number of readers of this website have asked me to check facts and records of boxers. I'm not sure whether Famous Fights would be more accurate than the modern boxing sites such as Boxrec or Cyberzone where the likes of Barry Deskins, Tracy Callis, Adam Pollack, Kevin Smith and other noteworthy boxing historians debate the sport, but a few nuggets of information might be of use.

With issue 54, editor Harold Furniss began his Pugilistic Chronology, which aimed to give the full records of the great men of boxing and prize fighting. Here's his introduction, followed by the first page of the article. I'm happy to email anyone this page if they are interested.

"Pugilistic Chronology - an authentic record of the prize ring from the time of Figg to the present day

In response to numerous requests from readers of Famous Fights, we have decided to commence in this week's number, and to continue week by week until complete, an accurate record of the performances of the Champions of England, as well as of the lesser lights of the Prize Ring, from the time of James Figg, the first Champion of England, up to the present day.

The only chronology of the Ring, Fistiana, has long been out of print, and though copies may occasionally be picked up they, as a, rule, command prices which are somewhat beyond the means of the man in the street. It is to supply to those interested in matters pugilistic a complete and reliable history of the results of prize battles from 1719 AD that this series has been compiled.

Man's memory is not infallible, and many of our readers must, from time to time, have felt the need of access to some handy work of reference on boxing history to settle some little dispute, and thus obviate the necessity of writing to the editor of one of the sporting papers.

A chronology naturally follows dates rather than alphabetical order, and accordingly we propose to commence with the Champion of a particular period - in this case 1719, James Figg, the first Champion of England - and, after recording his performances, to detail the feats of his contemporary pugilists of lesser note. To avoid useless repetition, the particulars of a light will be given under the name of the winner and the loser's record of that contest will be found under the name of his antagonist."

The first entry is that of Figg:

Figg, James, a native of Thame, Oxfordshire; opened a theatre in Oxford Road for teaching broadsword, cudgelplay, singlestick, and boxing, 1719; b. Sutton, b. Tom Buck, b. Bob Stokes, bn. by Ned Sutton, b. Ned Sutton; died December 8, 1734. Was the first to assume the title of Champion of England.

Also on this page is Broughton, Slack, Mendoza, Brain and about 30 other fighters.

Jemmy Robinson

2007-08-21T20:10:00.000+01:00

With issue 105, the team at Famous Fights had been in business for exactly two years. Tucked away on the inside pages is a battle featuring one of the most promising of all prize fighters; Jemmy Robinson.

Early in 1846 considerable excitement was caused by the arrival of a new fighter on the boxing scene. The new man was Jemmy Robinson, a black fighter who was from Liverpool, England. Jemmy had been trained by Young Norley and had his first ring scuffle in a pub in front of an audience of potential backers and sponsors.

He won this first fight, and afterwards won several more. In March 1847 he was matched with Johnny Peach. In freezing weather conditions the combatants shivered and jogged on the spot to keep warm (see image below).

As the crowd grew restless, a bright spark shouted that if they wanted to keep warm the best thing to do was fight, which caused Jemmy to laugh. Both fighters were lightweights and weighed in at around 120 pounds. Here's how Famous Fights describes our men.

“The Black, whose beautifully-symmetrical frame elicited general admiration stood 5ft. 5in, and though his legs were light and thin there could be no doubt that his limbs, back and chest were well-clothed with muscle. His attitude was very graceful; he stood lightly poised on the balls of his feet, and every motion of his body was as springy as if he had been made of india rubber. Peach stood 5ft. 6in, and, though not so symmetrical and muscular as his opponent, seemed sturdier on his pins. But his posture was not so artistic as his opponent's, nor was there the same look of self-reliance on his face”

Prior to the fight, Peach hadn't taken much notice of Jemmy. Jemmy would be yet another scalp on Peach's ring record, but as they faced each other, Peach smelt a rat. Jemmy wasn't here to be beaten, he was there to do the beating.

Both fighters started cautiously, Peach threw the first punch but Jemmy blocked it. Suddenly he landed a one-two on the left ear and over the left eye. The sudden attack disconcerted Peach, who fell without a blow. Almost instantly the betting was in Jemmy's favour. Jemmy knocked Peach to the ground, and the writer described Peach as now 'sulking'. After a few feints, further punches, wrestling holds, stopping and hitting, Jemmy had shown he was the superior fighter in every department.

Peach looked glum. Knowing the battle was lost he attempted some trickery by falling without being hit, but on rising fell for good reason as Jemmy's fist landed on his chin. Peach had met his master. His heart was gone. He made some stands up until the 19th round but then regularly fell without being hit at all. Sometimes Peach wasn't quick enough even with these tactics and Jemmy's fist battered Peach. The beating took its toll on Jemmy's right hand which bled and may have been broken. Jemmy jabbed and used his right hand sparingly. But a fierce punch to the ear was enough to knock Peach dizzy and his main backer threw in the sponge. Peach was carried from the ring and spent much time in bed.

The final paragraph is a sad one.

“As for Jemmy, he quitted the arena as fresh as when he entered it. His friends were enthusiastic in their admiration of his prowess, as they had a right to be, for I doubt whether the Prize Ring has ever seen a cleverer fighter of his weight than Jemmy Robinson. His subsequent victories over Mullett and Horridge proved him to be a first rater, and his death, of cholera, in 1849, cut short a career as promising as any my memory can recall.”

Readers might notice that the illustrations here are slightly cruder than those previously shown. Maybe the illustrator, Ferdinand Fissi, had to rush them. There's probably a good reason for this. The team behind Famous Fights were busy and just about to launch a sister paper Famous Crimes. The back cover gives a quarter page advert for the forthcoming publication. Several of these are on eBay at the moment, see Famous Crimes.

Jeffries vs Corbett

2007-08-18T22:35:00.000+01:00

In the Summer of 1903 Famous Fights' 120th issue appeared on the news stands. As fans eagerly awaited the return match between champion Jim Jeffries and former champion Jim Corbett, the paper gets an inside scoop from Corbett's former manager. The text as it appeared is given below and you can click on it to make it bigger and more readable.

Best gipsy of them all

2007-08-15T20:30:00.000+01:00

Bareknuckle boxer Gipsy Jack Cooper appears in issue 26. An interesting biography is given alongside an account of his match with Iron-Arm Cabbage. Here are portraits of the fighters.

Jack Cooper was 'the best gipsy of them all', and according to Famous Fights, would have went to his grave with an unbeaten record if 'town life' hadn't softened him. We learn that as the Coopers had always been famous as a fighting tribe of gipsies, a lot was expected of Jack in his first appearance in the ring. His opponent, West-Country Dick had made a name for himself, but was knocked out in minutes. Jack earned five pounds for his efforts. A return match was hastily arranged one hour later! Jack won this too.

Jack beat two Irishmen O'Leary and Dent, and by now had a fearsome reputation. A return with O'Leary ended in disaster with the death of the Irishman. Jack was charged with manslaughter and spent six months in prison.

Soon after his release Jack was back in the ring. That he had killed a man in the ring led to fear in his opponents, but much larger crowds, all wanting to see the Gipsy hard man.

Now we're used to nicknames like Mighty Mike, Iron Mike, Simply the Best, Real Deal, etc, so why Jack's next opponent Stephen Strong was given his nickname Iron-Arm Cabbage is probably long lost in history, but Famous Fights suggests two reasons, firstly that he liked cabbage, and secondly because he was a tailor. I'll leave this website's readers to fathom out more plausible explanations than these.

Cabbage had fought many fighters and was assisted by Tom Cribb and Tom Belcher. We hear that Cabbage was a difficult man to train 'for if there was a petticoat or a pint of beer in reach he was bound to go for it.' Cabbage was not the favourite with the betting men, he was much older than Jack Cooper, and had poor vision in one eye, possibly completely blind in that eye.

The fight took place on 26 March 1823. As he entered the ring, Jack looked strong, weighing in at what a light-middleweight of today would scale, and unusually he appeared taller than he was as he walked on tip-toe. Cabbage is described as in a battle-hardened state, features flattened from old wars, and unkindly described as hideous looking.

As the fight began Cabbage took control, fierce and dashing, his punch rate was very high and Jack didn't like this style at all. Jack was dropped to the floor, and later on was thrown by Cabbage. Wrestling holds were allowed back then, and one of Cabbage's throws had Jack landing on his head. Some in the crowd imagined Jack's neck to be broken. Jack was groggy and in trouble, but a single blow in the fourteenth round from Jack looked to have knocked out Cabbage. But Cabbage rose to the scratch and slammed a fist into Jack's temple, dropping him instantly. For another twenty rounds Cabbage had all the fight, Cooper falling to his knee or being completely knocked down. But Jack was in better condition than Cabbage, and as the minutes ticked by, Cabbage's strength was sapping. Jack got new wind and with a single cracking blow knocked Cabbage to the ground, leaving a huge gash on Cabbage's temple. Cabbage arose, tried to throw his man, which gained him cheers from the crowd, but it was over. He had no strength.

Jack Cooper finished the fight efficiently, With Cabbage almost blinded from blood in his remaining eye, his seconds threw in the sponge and Cooper was hailed the winner of a most sensational battle.

Broome versus Paddock

2007-08-11T20:34:00.000+01:00

The cover of number 49 features Harry Broome versus Tom Paddock. The image comes from the closing moments of the bout as Paddock takes control.

Half of the issue is given over to this fight, with two of these pages devoted to the suicide of Harry's brother, Johnny, on 31 May 1855. A rather scandalous picture shows the actual suicide with Johnny cutting his own throat. Johnny Broome had been Champion of England but had lost his fortune gambling and with poor business decisions, but a recent scandal involving a game of cards had shamed him in the eyes of the public.

Harry Broome, a champion himself, gave up the ring on the death of his brother, but press comments from Tom Paddock claiming that he, Tom Paddock, was the best fighter in England as he had beaten everyone and Harry Broome was no longer a fighter, brought this announcement from Harry in Bell's Life, 2 December, 1855.

"MR. EDITOR, It was my intention never to have entered the Ring again, but the persuasions of my old friends and backers have determined me to pull off my shirt once more. I now come forward for the satisfaction of the public, to determine who's the better man, Tom Paddock or myself. I will fight him for £200 a-side and the Champion's Belt."

The two met in May of 1856. The crowd had its fair share of the Fancy, two Members of Parliament, an Indian Prince with his entourage, several well-known prize-fighters, and huge crowds of supporters of each man.

Unusually for Harry, he began the fight by dodging and ducking, springing on his feet more like a featherweight than a heavyweight. The tactic puzzled Paddock and the early rounds were Harry's. To the left we see Harry thrusting his fist into Paddock's body.

From round 20 onwards the fight was all Paddock's. Harry's mouth was swollen, there was a gaping gash from lip to chin, his nose was pulpy, his left eye was blue and swelling, and his ear was enlarged and dripping with blood. The article gives the final rounds of the bout and these are completely one-sided; Broome had lost his power and loses the fight.

This was to be Harry Broome's last fight and he never entered the ring again. Harry died at the age of 47, in 1865.

Ward beats Caunt

2007-08-05T20:57:00.000+01:00

In 1841 Nick Ward became Champion of England by beating Ben Caunt. The image shows the final moments of the bout.

At first glance you'd think that it is Caunt, the loser, who must be on his knees, but this is not the case. Caunt is the man standing, and is shown hitting Ward while he is down. The referee was forced, by Ward's supporters, to award the match to their man on a foul.

Such an unsatisfactory outcome led to demands of a rematch and Caunt regained his title just four months later.

More on Giants

2007-07-30T15:22:00.000+01:00

Giant boxers have always held a fascination with the public - it didn’t just start with Primo Carnera. Current day boxer Nikolai Valuev continues the fine tradition of battling giants, but according to the unashamedly patriotic 1901 English paper Famous Fights, giants have been unsuccessful since biblical times...

"From the days of Goliath of Gath downwards giants have not been successful as fighters, least of all in the Prize Ring. In the very early days of boxing - before Broughton had appeared on the scene - the Earl of Bath brought over from Italy a huge Venetian gondolier, whom he backed to thrash any Englishman that could be brought against him. This Venetian had been known on more than one occasion not only to break the jaw of his opponent with a single blow, but to send him so efficiently asleep that it was a toss up whether he ever regained consciousness. James Figg, who was the then Champion of England at sword and buckler, quarter-staff, and cudgel, and also professor of boxing, promptly undertook to find an Englishman to face this giant. Bob Whitaker was the man chosen. The Venetian knocked him clean off the stage with his first blow, but Bob came up smiling and gave the bulky foreigner such a good old English punch in the stomach as doubled him up and took the fight out of him.

The French Hurcules

Then there was an immense Frenchman, named Petit, who went about the country exhibiting feats of strength, and was matched against John Slack, of Norwich, the conqueror of Broughton, to fight on a wooden stage according to Broughton’s rules. Some folks thought that the herculean Frenchman, who stood 6ft 4in., and weighed 19st. would make short work of Slack, who was but 5ft 8in. and scaled some 13st. And Petit looked like doing the trick when, in the first round, he closed and flung Slack clean over the rails of the stage in amongst the crowd. But that was his first and last success, for Slack, keeping artfully out of his clutches, and darting in to punch in the body when he saw a chance, soon knocked the wind out of poor Frenchy.

The Big Porter of Carlton House

Another giant who aspired to fistic fame was Tom Tring, the big hall-porter of Carlton House, in the days when the then Prince of Wales (afterwards George IV) was making things hum there. Tring, who stood 6ft 5in., and weighed 18st. was not only an exceedingly powerful but a magnificently made man; indeed he had the reputation of being the finest made man in England, and so perfect were the proportions of his colossal frame and so symmetrical the shape of his muscular limbs, that the first artists and sculptors of the day engaged him as a model. But Tom was of such peaceful, inoffensive disposition that he could scarcely be induced to fight, even under the grossest provocation."

Sharkey's ear

2007-07-26T19:57:00.000+01:00

Here is Irish-born Tom Sharkey, a boxer who by 1901 had already fought Jeffries, Fitzsimmons, Corbett, Ruhlin, Choynski, and McCoy to name a few. The image, and the following text, is taken from Famous Fights number 3.

"Tom Sharkey the American heavy-weight pugilist, wants a new left ear, or the one which he now has, that looks like a magnified toadstool, manipulated into its normal size and contour. And, what is more, “The Sailor” says he is willing to put up £1,000 for a new member, or a suitable job made of the old one.

Sharkey is disfigured by what is known in sporting parlance as “fighter's," or "cauliflower," ear. It is swelled to the size of an automobile tire, and has miniature ridges and valleys which remind one of a corduroy road. It has become so heavy and lopsided that Tom has come to the conclusion that his facial beauty is seriously handicapped in consequence, and hence his willingness to spend 1,000 of his golden "goblins" which were earned by the multitude of straight punches, stiff jabs, upper cuts and swings he has given and received.

Ruhlin gave him the Bad Ear

Sharkey's “cauliflower," which some pugs would consider a thing of joy and beauty, was the result of his fight with Gus Ruhlin at Coney Island last spring, when Tom stopped the majority of the Akron giant's vicious blows with his head and left ear. Sharkey was always willing to take a punch to get in one, but he misjudged the force of Ruhlin's swings this time, and went down and out, carrying his "cauliflower" with him. It has been with him continually since, and instead of decreasing in size it is growing, and Tom is afraid if this keeps on he will have to button it back.

It may not be generally known, but Sharkey is very vain of his good looks, and desires to be considered the Adonis of the Prize Ring. He has not the ambition to be known as a fighter when promenading Broadway and the Rialto. The cauliflower ear is a distinctive badge of his profession, and the laudable desire to have the deformity eradicated or diminished has caused him to make the munificent offer."

Famous Spectator

2007-07-20T21:00:00.000+01:00

The big fights always bring out the famous. The catchweight contest between Kid McCoy and Peter Maher would normally have brought out celebrities from all over the United States, but the organisers had a strange idea.

New York's beach resort, Coney Island, is quite nice in the summer, but on January 1st 1900, in a bitter cold winter, Maher fought McCoy in the open air. The promoter who came up with this idea had more money than sense, but neither boxer would complain of the £3000 winner's prize, or the £1000 to the loser. The match itself covers three pages of issue 133, with beautiful illustrations by Homer Davenport. But details of this match will be given at a later date.

Here we'll mention one man who wasn't put off by the cold. A big man in the ring, a big man in 1900, still a big man today. Famous Fights says of him, "The ex-champion looked fat and grey and aged, but solid withal." The illustrator shows John L. Sullivan, a very famous spectator.

Maher's Punch

2007-07-17T21:30:00.000+01:00

Page 15 of the third issue gives “Peter Maher's Pile Driver on the Solar Plexus”. Here's the image followed by the description and analysis in full.

"Now, keep your eye skinned for that right, or you'll be in trouble,” are invariably the last words of advice offered to a pugilist who is going up against the big Irish-American heavyweight, Peter Maher. And the caution is a very necessary one, for without doubt the big fellow has one of the most dangerous right-handed punches of any of the American brigade. Although standing in the orthodox position, with left hand and left foot to the front, Peter is in reality a right-handed fighter. He depends almost wholly on a lead at the body with the auctioneer, and aims at the solar plexus, or 'mark,' as it is known in England. Possessed of great shoulder power, he is able to drive his favourite blow home with terrific force, and when landed very few men have been able to retain their perpendicular.

Steve O'Donnell, Joe Goddard, and Joe Choynski, have all received their quietus through the instrumentality of that dreaded right, and it was observed that in the Irishman's fight with Kid McCoy, the latter was very careful to keep out of range of it.

The glove seems to sneak right into the body, and with a low, gurgling gasp the stricken man falls to the floor an inert mass. With such a dangerous punch, it is at a first glance rather surprising that Peter has not more battles to his credit but two or three minutes' thought will convince anyone that a man depending almost wholly on a right-hander at the solar plexus must leave himself open at that most vital point, the jaw. Such is the case with Maher.

He sacrifices everything to land his right, and very often meets a left on the point that puts him hors de combat. In his fight with Bob Fitzsimmons the latter made a perfect monkey of him for the little time they were together by simply meeting him with a straight left-hander every time he saw the right coming. Peter's vain attempt to get home on that occasion. must have convinced everyone who saw the fight how futile it is to depend on such a stroke. It is a very dangerous blow if one is not up to it, but everyone in the pugilistic world knows of it, and, consequently, Maher has few opportunities of scoring with it.

Bob Gregson

2007-07-14T12:00:00.000+01:00

Bob Gregson of Lancashire, England, was 6ft 2in. and weighed 217 pounds for his 1808 battle with Tom Cribb.

According to Famous Fights number 53, "His strength was immense and his courage was equal to it," but added "Yet so fixed was the belief in big men in those days that though Gregson had shown himself to have little or no science or skill in fighting, he found backers galore."

Cribb was shorter but didn't weigh that much less so "what he lacked in height he made up in massiveness". Here is an amazing image and text that shows Gregson's choice of mid-fight refreshment.

"Gregson refreshed himself with a tumbler of brandy, and on coming up opened the ball with a stinger under the ear, whereupon Cribb retreated, and Bob incautiously following him up, received terrific punishment for his pains, Tom landing heavily on the open wound on Gregson's face with every backward step, until Gregson, with all his gameness, could stand it no longer, and fell half stunned." At this point it should be noted that the rules stated that when someone fell from a blow, a round ended. The article continued...

"In the next round (fourth) Gregson had a magnificent chance of early victory, of which, however, he failed to avail himself. His first hit at the commencement of the round was a very effective one, being planted with all his force on Tom's temple, with such effect that Cribb appeared quite dazed. Had Bob followed up this blow with more severe hitting he might in all probability have knocked Cribb out of time."

But Bob didn't follow up with vigour, much to the disappointment of his cornerman and enemy of Cribb; Jem Belcher. The fight continued and ended after 45 minutes of a real tussle, with Gregson admitting defeat after a throw from which he landed badly caused damage to his leg. The throw and landing is shown to the right.

A win here may well have given the name of Bob Gregson a higher recognition factor among modern-day fight historians as well as with the public in Bob's day, but according to the paper he "died at Liverpool in November 1824, almost unknown and forgotten".

Gregson was unlucky to have arrived on the scene when John Gully, who beat him twice, and the great Tom Cribb ruled. In another age fighters like Gregson can hold top honours. Famous Fights finishes with this; "If not a great fighter, Bob Gregson was a good specimen of the fine, stalwart, manly Englishman. He was honest, good-tempered, and big hearted, and his civil speech and decent manners made him popular among all... (Bob) deserves to be kept in remembrance as a brave, straightforward, though unlucky representative of the good old school of British pugilism."

Penny Publishing

2007-07-14T11:00:00.000+01:00

Famous Fights cost just one penny. This wasn't as cheap as a penny (two cents) would be today, but it was certainly affordable to a very large percentage of British people at the time.

Penny papers often touched on subjects such as highwaymen (Dick Turpin), pirates (Captain Kidd), sensational crime (Jack the Ripper) and brave heroes. With the bareknuckle days finished and modern boxing begun, the time was ripe for the exploits of old pugilistic heroes to be recited. Famous Fights, and other penny papers, were sneeringly termed Penny Dreadfuls by the high-minded national press, but they sold in huge numbers.

The penny dreadful collectors clubs and historians have taken an interest in this site and it's led to something quite important...

Will the real Mr Furniss please stand up

I am grateful to my friend John Adcock in Canada, and his contact Steve Holland, for research that corrects comments on this site. The journalist and illustrator Harold Furniss who published Famous Fights is not the same person as Harry Furniss. They were born a year apart, lived near each other, were both writers and illustrators, and in their day were often confused with one another, but they are different people. Harry is the caricaturist on Punch with an interest in politics, whereas Harold has the interest in boxing, police and crime.

John's website Yesterday's Papers proves this, corrects Wiki and other encyclopedias, several eBayers, libraries, booksellers, and for all we know possibly even art galleries. Thanks John. Links here.

It's all covered

2007-07-10T20:29:00.000+01:00

Famous Fights readers were always treated to excellent front and back covers. Published weekly from 1901 to 1904, each of its 156 issues had a front cover that deserved to be framed.

Sometimes a champion boxer or bareknuckler appeared alone, but the honour was usually given to a match or fight in progress, such as the one to the right, number 44 - Jack Randall vs Jack Martin. Here we see the primitive conditions that the old-timers had to put up with - makeshift rings, unruly crowds, and grass fields which became mud fields when it rained.

While the front cover was designed as a work of art, the back was very different. It tended to show a contemporary fighter under the banner 'Our portrait gallery of present day pugilists'. This page was often illustrated with a stylised photograph rather than a hand-drawn image, and alongside this there would be a biography with facts, recent results and forthcoming matches. Jeffries, Ruhlin, Gans, McGovern, McCoy, Sharkey, Walcott and many lesser-known fighters, all received write-ups on the back page.

To the left is the photograph that was given with Joe Gans' appearance on this page.

Please email me if you would like more information or you'd like this site to feature certain boxers.

info@famous-fights.com

Charlie Mitchell

2007-07-06T20:12:00.000+01:00

'Big mouths' usually get into trouble, but in the case of Charlie Mitchell, his big mouth earned him world title fights.

Mitchell, from Birmingham, England, knew how to get under the skin of opponents. In the days before rankings, champions chose who they fought and could avoid contenders. Mitchell’s attitude and statements in newspapers made him an impossible challenger to avoid.

A week did not go by without Mitchell's name appearing in the press. In the Licensed Victuallers' Mirror of 1889 (a copy of which is available on eBay here), Mitchell is shown on the front page and is spoken of in glowing terms, unlike Sullivan who is described as 'the best advertised and least competent pugilist of this or any time'.

He features in four issues of Famous Fights (vs. Sullivan in issues 11, 12 and 13, and vs Corbett in no. 46). In the build up to each match he would often challenge the champion to a street brawl. Mitchell makes a guest appearance in issue 34 (see image to the left), where prior to the Sullivan-Corbett fight, Mitchell attempts to fight Corbett at one of Corbett’s public appearances.

There is so much I would like to write about Mitchell, but Harry Shaffer’s Antiquities of the Prize Ring website gives an excellent synopsis of press comments about him and several extremely rare photographs, so I refer readers to Harry’s “The Best Barroom Fighter in the World”. Antiquities of the Prize Ring is also one of the few places where you are likely to find original Famous Fights.

Reprints of the Mitchell issues 11, 12, 13, 46 and 34 are £3.50 ($7) plus postage from sales@famous-fights.com or from eBay.

Peter Jackson (1861-1901)

2007-06-29T21:27:00.000+01:00

Peter Jackson is often described as the best boxer who never got a world title shot. At 6ft 1 in., weighing 200 pounds, and a scientific style, Jackson would likely get a world title shot nowadays and absolutely deserved one against Sullivan.

Issue 43 of Famous Fights features Jackson's battle with Gentleman Jim of 1891. Both fighters had pretty much mastered the art of defence; avoid heavy punches with agility and interrupt an opponent's work with an effective jab. In modern-day bouts, when boxers with this style meet results can disappoint. Each fighter's priority to 'preserve self' rather than to inflict damage often leads to a bout of little action and unscathed boxers. But in 1891 bouts did not end after 10 or 12 rounds, indeed, Jackson-Corbett lasted 61 rounds.

The referee stopped the fight as both boxers were exhausted. Jackson had broken ribs, a painful shoulder injury and was bruised all over, while Corbett believed he had a broken arm. The fighters stated that most damage was done in the 25th round, meaning Corbett had fought for almost 40 rounds with an arm he thought was broken.

The paper gives eight pages to the fight with a good biography of Jackson and six images including the front cover.

Of real interest is the post-fight interviews. Jackson was disheartened with the result. Corbett was in good spirits. Jackson complained of a problem with his shoulder prior to the fight and added, “If it hadn't been for that I could have rushed Corbett, as I was faster than he was. Corbett never hit me hard on the ribs, and I didn't suffer there a bit. The only thing that did bother me any was the smashes I got in the mouth. I got a couple of good ones there, and the blood went down my nose into my throat and choked and worried me.”

This fight, its description and the interviews provide good evidence. We have confirmed that Jackson was one of the finest scientific fighters of his time. Here is evidence too, that one of the very best fighters, Peter Jackson, was worried and bloodied from the finest jab in the business.

Credit to both fighters. Each received the huge sum of $2500, but it was Corbett who went on to fight for the world title, and ultimately go down in history.

Buy a reprint of issue 43: £3.50 ($7) + postage.

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W.H. Rothwell

2007-06-25T20:36:00.000+01:00

Not many readers will know the name William Rothwell. This is because he was better known as 'Young Corbett II'.

Issue 53 features a biography of Rothwell (pictured to the left) who had recently defeated fellow American, the redoubtable Terry McGovern. We learn that of Rothwell's 36 fights up to that time (1902), he had lost just four, had beaten many of the top fighters including George Dixon and, incredibly, beat two fighters on the same night.

If you would like to receive this full biography, and with it a description of Rothwell's fight with McGovern please email us. You'll be emailed a high quality image from Famous Fights that you can read and print out.

Email: info@famous-fights.com

Do boxers die young?

2007-06-20T20:15:00.000+01:00

Boxing paper Famous Fights published an article on 15 April 1901, to celebrate Jem Mace’s birthday. If readers were surprised to see a bareknuckle boxer reaching the age of 70, the paper put them straight with a list statistics that showed many boxers living to a ripe old age. Here is the photo of Mace from the paper, followed by the article in full.

“On Easter Monday, Jem Mace, ex-Champion of the World, and one of the most brilliant boxers ever seen in the Ring, celebrated his 70th birthday, and due honour was done to the septuagenarian veteran on the occasion by his admiring brother-sportsmen in the Midlands.

It is generally supposed that prize-fighters are not a long-lived race, and no doubt many of them fail to make a long innings. But if one glances back at the illustrious roll of England's Champions it will be seen that they, at any rate, have generally enjoyed a pretty long lease of life. Of the twenty-four genuine Champions of England, from John Broughton downwards, only six have failed to reach the age of 50. Tom Johnson died at the age of 47, Ben Caunt at 46, Harry Broome at 39, Tom Sayers 38 (Heenan reached just the same number of years), the Game Chicken at 32, Jem Belcher at 30. In all these cases, however, death was hastened either by accident or by reckless dissipation.

On the other hand, John Broughton reached his 86th year, Jem Ward his 84th, John Gully his 81st, John Jackson his 77th, Dan Mendoza his 74th: Bendigo his 70th, Tom Cribb his 68th, the Tipton Slasher his 62nd, Tom Spring his 57th, and Tom King, I think, also passed away in his 57th year.

On the whole, then, the Champions can show a good record, and we hope that Jem Mace may live to top the list, and rob even old John Broughton of his pride of place.

We only remember two pugilists who preserved their skill and vigour to so advanced an age as Jem Mace; those two men were Jem Ward and Young Reid.

In his prime Mace was one of the finest-looking athletes, and the most finished boxer we ever saw in the Prize Ring.

Indeed, we think it is not too much to say that amongst the Champions of England, of whom he was the last, there was not one superior to him in science and Ring-craft. Long may the veteran flourish to show the rising generation of what stuff the old-time Heroes of the Ring were made!”

Jem Mace appears in many issues of Famous Fights. For more information or to buy copies email info@famous-fights.com

Boxing Stance

2007-06-18T20:30:00.000+01:00

Here’s an excellent historical analysis from issue 10 (an issue I have just reprinted). Under the headline ‘Hands Up!’, with the strapline ‘Showing how some of the most famous professional pugilists have ‘framed’ at each other’...

“In a former article I dealt with the early history of the boxing glove and the men who used it; following that, I propose to say a few words about the various styles adopted by some of the principal performers of the pugilistic art, both past and present.

Position and attitude, in a pugilist are the most essential points necessary in boxing, both for offensive and defensive tactics.

Strength is undoubtedly what a boxer should possess, but without position and science he will certainly fail. In the days of old, when Figg, Broughton, Perrins, Slack, Cribb, and Jem Ward flourished, the positions of the pugilists were not only curious but grotesque. The majority of these early champions were not possessed of the science, art, and tactics now displayed by the champions of the present day. They trusted to their strength and great muscular power to carry them to victory.

A very good example of the awkward attitude assumed by some of the old-timers is furnished in the accompanying picture of Isaac Perrins.

Standing with the weight of his body thrown on his left leg, instead of his right, with his left arm doubled back at the elbow, instead of extended well to the front and with his right ready to strike instead of being in a position to guard a blow he presents perhaps the most ungainly and unscientific attitude of any of the old-time pugilists.

Opposed to a latter-day boxer, his gigantic strength, plainly evidenced by his immense shoulders, and muscular arms, would be of very little service, and in all probability one round would see him knocked out of time.

Coming to a slightly later period, a distinct advance in science is shown in the fighting position taken up by Champion Tom Cribb (see below).

To begin with, the weight of the body is transferred from the left to the right leg, the left arm is more to the front (though still too high), while the chief faults noticeable in the right arm are that it is twisted too far round, and is not carried far enough across the body.

After Cribb's time a great improvement was noticed in the attitude and style adopted by pugilists. While strength still remained a great factor in the winning of battles, a tremendous amount of attention was given to scientific sparring. Pugilists, especially champions, contended in the arena according to a regular system, known as Prize Ring tactics. Generalship was considered one of the pugilist's greatest resources, and a cool head and good judgment won many a battle in the 24-foot ring against bull-dog pluck and stamina.

Jem Mace was the most skilled tactician that ever stood in a ring. He demonstrated that when he met Bob Brittle the second time.

Tom Sayers was a wonder. He could give away weight, and by his quick perception and skilful way of avoiding dangerous blows, finally tire out his burly opponents and gain the day.

Amongst the latter-day professors one naturally thinks of John L. Sullivan. He was far from an ideal boxer, depending more on brute strength than on science. He lacked coolness and judgment, and missed many opportunities in all his battles.

For a big man, Peter Jackson was one of the very best boxers I ever saw. Clever as a picture, he could hit as hard as a kicking mule, and he was undoubtedly at his best when he defeated Frank P. Slavin.

James J. Corbett is another specimen of a highly-scienced big man. He has reduced stopping and getting away to a positive science, and was also one of the first to utilise his shoulder as a protection for his jaw (see to the right). In his great fight with Fitzsimmons it will be remembered that the latter never once succeeded in getting on the jaw, and up to the time that Corbett was knocked out by a blow on the mark he had all the best of it as regards points.

His style is graceful in the extreme, and he was certainly in his day one of the most finished glove performers that ever put up a hand.

Fitzsimmons is a fighter rather than a boxer, and so is Sharkey, while Jeffries and Ruhlin we may class as big, powerful fellows who have come to the front mainly through the persistent manner in which they have been boomed by their respective managers.

Turning to the English brigade, there is one man whom I shall always regard as the most scientific boxer that ever put up of a hand. His name is Bill Baxter (to the left), and although he is now nearly forty years of age, there are not half a dozen men of his weight in England to-day who could put a glove on his face in a three-round bout. His style is perfection itself, he never makes use of his left hand until he sees a certain opening, and so quick is the movement that very few of his thrusts are put on one side. As a judge of distance he is unrivalled, and by merely stepping back a few inches he often escapes a well-intended visitation from an opponent. His punishing powers, too, were far beyond this ordinary, as witness the terrible mess he made of Morgan Crowther some years ago. In fact, as an all-round boxer he stands out head and shoulders above any performer we have had in England during the last thirty years.

Any article on British boxing would be incomplete without some reference, however slight, to Pedlar Palmer. As a boxer Palmer is, or rather was, for his day has gone by, in a class by himself. He does not follow out any of the regular rules laid down ring. by the authorities, depending on his phenomenal quickness for his success. Some of his movements are so rapid that the eye can scarcely follow them, and his victories have invariably been on a question of points, except in the case of Plimmer, who was beaten by want of condition.

In his recent contest with Harry Harris, of Chicago, Palmer gave as pretty an exhibition of the noble art as one could wish to see for about five rounds, and it really appeared as if he was able to hit his opponent when and where he liked; but there was little or no power behind his blows, and directly Harris settled down to straight punching the little fellow was done for.”

Buy a reprint of issue 10: £3.50 ($7) + postage. Email us at sales@famous-fights.com

Battle of Giants

2007-06-13T22:00:00.000+01:00

Englishman William Perry, nicknamed the Tipton Slasher, was a big man in the nineteenth century; he was considered a giant. But he was dwarfed by the American Charles Freeman, so much so that the press on both sides of the Atlantic began to believe that no fighter would dare enter the ring with Freeman, even though he was a mere novice fighter.

Slasher, managed by Johnny Broome, challenged Freeman, but may have believed the hype surrounding the big American and fought cautiously. But then, most people probably would be cautious when fighting not just the biggest man they had fought, but the biggest man they had ever seen! Here is an extract from issue 13...

“Slasher Faces Yankee Colossus
The fight came off not far from Bishop’s Stortford on the 6th of December, 1842, but it was nearly four o’clock before the ring was pitched, owing to the vigilance of the police. There was a general buzz of mingled admiration and amazement as Freeman stepped into the arena. No such man had ever been seen in the Prize Ring. He was splendidly trained, and did not weigh more than 17st. 4lb – all solid bone, brawn and muscle. His immense chest, his huge muscular limbs, all told of gigantic strength, whilst the lightness and ease with which he moved showed that he was active as he was powerful. The Slasher looked a mere shrimp beside him, and yet William Perry stood 6ft. 1 in and scaled 13st 4lb. But think of the disparity – nine inches in height and four stone in weight! ... Slasher was from his hips to his shoulders very muscular and powerfully built with great girth of chest and width of shoulder-blade.

The Big Uns give a poor show
It was a most disappointing fight. Seventy rounds were got through in 84 minutes, and the damage done was ludicrously small. The Slasher’s game was to give away his head, put in heavy body blow, and drop. He never attempted to stop the blows showered on his head, and confined himself to attempts to disable Freeman by body blows from his left, and round hits with his right. But the giant generally dropped his arm in time to catch the heavy cracks; his fore and upper arm were black and blue, but there was hardly a mark on his body. When the Slasher closed and tried to throw his man, Freeman lifted him off the ground as if he had been a child, and threw him as he pleased.

At last it got so dark that the referee could not see what was going on in the ring, and ordered the men to cease fighting.”

After this draw, Slasher and Freeman fought each other again that year. Freeman’s weight had risen to almost 19st. The fight got off to a good start. After 39 minutes, Slasher had damage to his ear and the stakes were awarded to Freeman. Freeman never fought again as, according to the paper, ‘The fact was he did not care for the role of bruiser.’

Here’s how the paper presented portraits of the Tipton Slasher and Charles Freeman.

Sayers’s Circus

2007-06-11T20:30:00.000+01:00

Tom Sayers was probably the favourite boxer of the Famous Fights team. Many of his battles feature on the front covers of the newspaper.

In issue 11 we have information from the time after the great champion had hung up his gloves (although as a bareknuckle boxer he would have had no gloves to hang up). Details of a heated argument, a scrap, and a court case are given.

Of importance is a drawing, said to be from a photograph, that shows Tom Sayers and his Circus, a business venture that Sayers managed and owned after his retirement from the ring.

The page is given below and if you'd like me to send you a high quality scan so that you can read the full article or print it out, please email me at info@famous-fights.com

Tom Sayers

2007-06-10T00:06:00.000+01:00

Volume 1 no 1. The very first issue’s cover shows Tom Sayers. Inside there is the first chapter in the account of 'the great international fight between Heenan and Sayers'.

You can buy it on eBay now by clicking here

Here is the cover...

Caunt-Brassey and Jem Edwards

2007-06-05T18:25:00.000+01:00

Issue 51 features the Ben Caunt versus Bill Brassey boxing match, which is described as the 'Battle of the Giants'.

The first seven pages are dedicated to Caunt-Brassey and they contain six images including the front cover pictured to the right. The final picture shows two totally exhausted fighters, but Caunt won after 101 rounds.

After this feature comes two pages on Jem Edwards versus Topper Brown. Edwards fought like no other fighter with his right arm fully extended and the illustration to the left shows this unusual tactic. A later image shows the protagonists escaping as the police break up the fight.

The issue continues with bouts between Emanuel Tinsley and Harry Caton, and Jem Burn and Ned Neale. An interesting article follows that gives advice on refereeing and judging. The paper ends with a biography of boxer Bill Wood.