Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-02-01
SOME OLD TIME CHAMPIONS,
FAMOUS PRIZE FIGHTERS WHO
MADE PUGILISTIC HISTORY.
THE KEENAN, SAVERS INTERNATIONAL BAT
TIE RECALLED TWO ALIENS ARE
WoRLp's CHAMPIONS.


there is any record was James Fig, an
EnoIishman, born in Thamc. in Ok
fordshire. OF him it is said: His
strength, resolution and unparalleled
judgement conspired to form match
less master" Fig reigned from l7l9
to 1874. During this time he fought
many battles, but at the time OF his
death in 1874 he was still unconquered.
At Figs death man named Taylor
succeeded TO the title. In June, l74l.
he whipped in few rounds formula
BILE Gypsy known as Prince Boswell.
BoUGHToN AND Hrs CAREER.
Jack Broughton, whose fame has
come down to this day, was the first
fighter who had any notion of the mod
ern art of self defence. Prior to his
time it had been simply a question OF
endurance and brute strength. He fin
ally fell the victim OF pugihstic
butcher named Slack. In this contest
Broughton was defeated by reason OF
his over-confdence. He did not train,
and after the first few rounds was abso-
lutely helpless.
In June, 1850. Slack, backed by the
Duke of Cumberland, fought mailer.
Bill Stevens, who was backed by the
Duke of York The fight was exceed
ingly brutal, and was won by Stevens.
A JEWISH CHAMPION.
The next fighter Of any particular
renown was Daniel Mendoza. jew
lie flourished from 1884 TO 1895. Three
times he disputed the championship
with man named HUMPHREYS, and
twice he won. Tom Crib was the next
big fighter. his time was between 1905
and 1920. He fought some hard battles
but none are particularly memorable.
Thomas Molineaux, colored, made a
record about the same time, but never
won the championship
The next champion was Tom Spring.
He fought many battles of from forty
to seventy rounds. The longest was
the one with John Langan, which
lasted seventy-six rounds. Spring won
and retired from the ring.
FIRST RING FIGHT IN AMERICA.
The first ring fight in America was
won between Jacob Hyer Gather of the
famous TONY and Tom Beasley. This
was fought In 1916. 1t was a rough
aud tumble affair. One of Hyer's arms
was broken, friends interfered, and the
battle was declared draw. In 1871
Yankee Sullivan came to this coun-
try looking for hight He found a
man ready to accommodate him in Vim
cent Hammond, an Euelishman. The
fight came off Sept. 2, 1871, near Phila-
delphia. Sullivan won, hands down.
A week later Sullivan fought Country
McCluskey. The battle lasted 101
rounds and Sullivan was the victor.
FIRST FATAL FIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY.
Sept. IS. 1912, Chris. Lilly and Tom
Mccoy fought 100 rounds. The tight
was fought near Yonkers, n. T., and
was unusually brutal. Lilly fought
foully throughout and Mccoy. while
game, was in a pi.iable condition. In
the 120th round be was knocked down
and died in few moments.
This checked ring fighting for time
but five years later Yankee Sullivan
was pitted against Tom Hyer for tie
championship. The question was dis
cussed in Kent county, Mo. At the end
of sixteen rounds Hyer won. October
1858, saw Sullivan again vanquished,
this time by John Morrissey in thirty
seven rounds. In 1858 Morrisey and
John G.. Heenan, the "Benica Boy"
fought desperate battle of eleven
rounds and Heenan was defeated
THE GREAT HEENAN-sAYERs BATTLE
Probably the most celebrated fight
in pugilistic annals was that between
Heenan champion of America and
Tom Savers, champion of England
The battle was fought April. H. 1860.
near Aldershot in England A great
crowd of spectators, including cabinet
ministers, lords, dukes, earls, military
and professional men, were present.
Both men appeared in the ring in the
pink of condition. Heenan won the
toss and took the corner whore he had
the sun on his back and rise in the
ground When they came together
Heenan led but fell short. Savers i'm.
medistely drove him into his corner
and with q blow ON the nose drew first
blood. The lighting was cautious up
to the sixth round and little in Savers
favor. Early in the sixth round Hee-
nan received tremendous blow in the
side. For instant he doubled over in
,,a;o. +heo straiVhteniuo no r,,sbn1 -.