The sun., 1909-02-21
AMERICAN PUGILISTS ABROAD
MANY HAVE FOUGHT IN FOR-
EIGN LANDS.
John e. Heenan the First 10 Fight In Eng.
Iaud--His Battle with Sayers-The
sulliyan.Niitcheii AFFAIR In France
--Langne, Dixon and johnson.

--Laytgne. Dixon and johnson
American fighters and ring champions
have won honors in almost every civil.
led part Of the world-in England,
France, Australia. South Africa and the
West Indies. Some Of the fstic battles
between American sailors and those
Of other nations. principally those Of the
English navy. have been contested in
China, Japan, East India. Spain Italy,
Germany and other countries.
The first American champion of the
prizering to cross the Atlantic to com pete
for the worlds heavyweight title was
John Carmel Heenan. who was born ln
West Troy, N. Y. on May :. 1884 Of Irish
parents. He probably was the hand
soonest man that ever pulled of shirt
insite OF the ropes. II was his fine ap-
pearance and excellent manners that
led Heenan to become tho husband Of
Adah Isaacs Menken. the most noted
actress Of that period. Their m Getting
and courtship smacked OF romance. One
afternoon they saw each other In the
lobby Of the old National Theatre in Gin.
oinnati and there was mutual admira- =
tion. The man in the box office. taking
in the situation at a glance, introduced
them and marriage followed.
Mrs. Heenan possessed some literary
talent and wrote numerous poems extol-
ling her spouse as a gladiator. but they
Guarrelled after while and finally sepa-
rated forever. Heenan afterward mar
ried Sara Stevens, another actress, in
England, while Mrs. Heenan No. I sup
ported the then young tragedian Edwin
Booth. Afterward she went abroad and
became a favorte of Charles Dickens
and Alexander Dumas, Sr.
IL was Heenan's international notoriety
which brought about the battle with Tom
Sayers, the champion Of England. This
match created great excitement on both
sides Of the Atlantic. There was more
money wagered on the result than on
any other event in the history of puglism.
Sayers was a hot favorite among all
classes in Great Britain. but when Heenan
arrived in London he found himself the
lion Of the hour, although he tried hard
to remain unknown and in the back
ground. He went Immediately 10 his
training quarters at Salisbury and re-
fused TO see strangers. though some of
the nobility called just to get a peep at
the American champion.
The battle between Heenan and Sayers
took place at Marlborough, England, on
April II, is6O, before the -swellest- crowd
ever seen at a ringside. The stakes were
only 81 900 a side, but the amount bet
around the ropes must have been all Of
s2C0 900, the Americans grabbing all the
money in sight with the odds on Sayers,
in spite Of the fact that Heenan lowered
above the Englishman and outweighed
him by at least twenty-five pounds
IL was a rather tedious fight Of forty
four rounds. lasting too long TO suit the
Pritishers. who saw the American cham
pion walloping Sayers 10 certain defeat.
Sayers, however. deserved credit for his
clever generalship in prolonging the mill
for two hours and twenty minutes. al |
though he was no match for the Ameri- |
can. In almost every round Heenan
either fioored him OF wrestled him TO the |
turf by superior bulk and strength.
In the thirty seventh round the referee |
left his post 70 that he was not on hand TO |
rule over or decide on the seven rounds !
that followed. In the forty-fourth round ,
the mob cried Draw! Draw" and then. !
jumping into the ring cut the ropes |
Sayers was dragged out and finally car
ried away by his friends. Heenan in /
the excitement called TO his opponent 70 |
come back and fight it oi. but as he
saw no chance for fair play Heenan /
Jumped nimbly over the remaining ropes /
and ran about ak hundred yards to the I
railroad near by.
After this fzzle Heenan used every .
means possible to arrange another match |
with Sayers, but the robbery was COM
promised by returning the stakes to each 1
man and presenting to each facsimile
belts, which however, were never paid /
for, and Heenan was obliged to hand his !
back.
Sayers was wned and dined by all sorts
OF persons and hundreds Of pounds were
for him: but the unfair result
OF this international match disgusted the l.
square sportsmen in England. and the
prizering as a result received knock
out blow from which it has never fully
in John Bulls land.
In December, 1853. Heenan and Tom
King met at Wadhurst for a stake OF
SIC, 900. the largest ever fought for in
One of Heenan's seconds was
Tom Sayers, so that the American f.
sure there would be no foul play.
the eighteenth round Heenan fairly ",
as he had King down and out but
referee, who feared the gang OF rowdi,
and thugs at the ringside, refused to Civ
the decision TO the American. In th.
twenty-fifth round after much wranglinl
and bulldozing, the referee gave the BATH,
10 King, thereby making him champion
of the world.
With his old seconds Jack Mcdonald
and Jim Cusick. Heenan returned 10 this
city and proceeded TO give exhibitions
the country making a pot OF
money. America has never known
more popular fighter than Heenan
Joe Coburn was the second big Anne
can champion 20 cross the Atlantic
meet an English champion. Cobul
sailed from this city on October 4, 1864,
by Jim Cusick and jim
with Jem Mace, the British champion,
the fight TO take place in Ireland, hut
Mace never put In an appearance, and Co
burn disg,isted. came back to America
Mace afterward visited this country and
fought Coburn a so-called draw in 1874
at Port Dover Canada. The foxy pair
met again in the ring AT Bay st. Louis.
Miss. in another alleged draw the same
year. The general opinion at the time
was that each affair was fake. and after
the second neither man took part in an
other important battle.
Jake Kilrain in 1885. under the direc-
ton OF Charley Mitchell, laid claim to the
championship while John l..
hovered between life and death in his
home in Boston, II was Mitchell who
Kilrain TO fight Jem Smith. the
recognized champion of England at that