The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-11
GREATEST BATTLE IN
HISTORY OF THE RING
Fight Between Sayres and Heenan
Changed Title to This
Side.
OVER FORTY YEARS AGO
Mill Was Pulled Off in Farnsboro,
England, for Championship
OF the World.
OVER FORTY YEARS AGO

Whenever the lovers of the manly art of
self-defense become gossips and the great
fights Of ring history are on the carpet.
there is always one battle that outranks all
the rest.
1t is the international mill between John
c. Heenan and Tom Sayers.
What Greasy. AgincOurt, Waterloo, Get
tysburg and Sedan were to the destinies
OF nations this fist fight was to ring his
tory. 1t changed the pugilistic map from
England TO America
Heenan and Sayers fought at Farnsboro,
England April -. 1850. for the champion
ship Of the world.
Heenan won although the referee, in
undated by the English mob declared the
fight a draw
The "Benicia Boy" as Heenan was called.
was a famous American character He was
a particularly handsome man, a reputable
gambler. and in his day was the most popu-
lar man in his class.
In 1859 John Morrisey was at the head
of American pugilism He had established
a reputation of being a veTitable bulldog
in the prize ring, and succeeded Tom Hyer
as champion of America Morriseys style
acter. and he was famed as being almost
invncible by his "go-as-you-pease tight
Heenan, who had gained a reputation as a
great athlete and fighter of the Pacific
coast. was brought from there for the ex-
press purpose of fighting Morrisey
MORRISEY BROUGHT IT ABOUT.
After considerable talk the men were
matched to fight for 5000 side. to take
place Oct. 49, 1858. and they were COM
PEELED go to Long Point, Canada to
bring off the affair
1t was claimed that Heenan was not in
perfect condition, and, although he had the
better of the fight in the early stages, the
bulldog courage of Morrisey enabled him to
pull through and Morrisey hailed the
victor.
Heenan begged and pleaded for another
his claim upon his quondam conqueror the
latter replied:
Go and tight Tom Sayers for the cham
pionship of the world. If you win, then l
random remark of Morrisey's that first put
into HeenanS head the idea of sending a
challenge to the champion of England.
AT that time Tom Savers, who was a very
small middleweight. held the heavyweight
championship of England. The immortal
Tom had won the belt and title from Perry.
The Upton Slasher'' and had since held
them against Bill Benjamin. Tom Paddock.
etc.
The English public was crazy about Say
ers, and were more than ready to find
money to back him against any man living.
When Heenans challenge reached Eng
land Savers was matched for a new battle
with Bill Benjamin. and. as Heenan was
the defeated candidate for the American
championship, the Englishmen were loath
10 give him a chance, preferring a match
with his conqueror Morrisey.
George Wilkes and his promptness in post
ing his money in support of Heenan. the
match was ratified.
ROPES CUT TO SAVE SAVERS.
The fight took place early in the morning.
At 100 o'clock roar OF cheers announced
the advent of Tom Sayers. who coolly
tossed his hat over the ropes and then en-
tered the arena, with his old pal and IA
vored second. Harry Brunton, and Jimmy
Welch. two as able henchmen as any prize
fighter could wish to have in those days.
Before the cheers for the English cham
pion had died away Heenan appeared, and
| there was a fresh burst of applause
Heenan had the advantage of nearly forty
| pounds in weight and five inches in height.
lie stood SIX teet two lnehes and weighed
| 100 pounds, and was twenty-Seven years OF
/ age. while Tom Sayers was five feet eight
| and half inches and weighed Isl pounds
] His age was thrty-four years.
The bout was a most ferocious one, and
| after the first round il was 2 to l for
| Heenan. At the end of the sixth round il
claimed that Sayers had broken his
right arm, and he was in a most pitiable
/ condition. Before they had gone ten rounds
/ both men were so badly beaten and dis
| figured that their features were unrecogniz-
| able.
Just at time when Sayers seemed TO be
/ hopeless there was a surge of the roaring
| yelling crowd, and with bowls. yells oaths
/ and roars everything was in a very bable
| The mob of spectators surged this way and
/ that; there was wild. indscriminate strug.
/ gle twice in the forty second round, and
| reports of what then occurred conflict, but
there is no doubt that the ropes were cut
| In consequence the referee declared the
| fight draw.
English sports and English newspaper:
| have always maintained that Tom Savers
was winning, but the Americans and witt
| the strongest evidence, insist that the ropes
were cut to save Savers from a decisive de.
| feat in the round mentioned
| This battle ended the international prize
| fights under the old London rules for many
years. and the next OF any Importance was
| that between John l.. Sullivan and Charley
Mitchell. The last international fight under
the old rules was between Jake Kilrain anc
| Jem Smith.