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Bricklayer #TomSayers from the slums of #Brighton was a prize-fighting bare-knuckle #Boxer whose heroic reputation began when he challenged his tyrannical boss & won in spectacular style. Born 1826, he was 5'8/1.52m tall but often fought bigger men. Out of 16 fights he lost 1 to #NatLangham in 1853 & when he defeated #WilliamPerry in 1857 he was Heavyweight Champion of England.
In Source: Tom Sayers
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1859, Heavyweight Champion of England #TomSayers accepts a challenge from US Champion #JohnCamelHeenan from New York, news of the 1st World Boxing Championship caught the public imagination on both sides of the Atlantic. The long & brutal bare-knuckle fight took place at dawn in a field at #Farnborough, & ended in chaos when spectators invaded the ring & a draw was declared.
In Source: Fight of the Century
The 1st World Boxing Championship between #TomSayers & #JohnCamelHeenan was fought on 17.04.1860, when prize ring boxing was illegal but continued underground. 2K people attended inc. MP’s, nobility & celebrities, & when the Police, armed with warrants, raided the event in the 37th round, controversy over who had won was settled when both men were awarded a Championship Belt.
In Source: Fight of the Century
Legendary Victorian bare-knuckle #Boxer #TomSayers from Brighton trained on Beacon Hill above The Plough Inn in #Rottingdean, which he used as his HQ when he was establishing himself as a prize-fighter. Before the introduction of Queensberry rules in 1867, bare-knuckle boxing permitted diverse fighting styles inc. holds, throws & even spiked shoes. theploughinnrottingdean.co.uk
In Source: The Plough Inn
Home of the last great Bare-knuckle Boxer, #TomSayers won a fearsome reputation from numerous informal fights before defeating #AbeCouch in his 1st professional prize-fight in 1849. Famed for his Heavyweight World Championship fight against #JohnCamelHeenan from the US, he was diabetic & died in this house of TB/Diabetes, in the presence of his Father & 2 Children on 08.11.1865
In Source: 257 Camden High Street
Here lies Bare-knuckle Boxer #TomSayers RIP. After his sensational World Championship fight in 1860 Sayers was a national hero, the public raised a hefty £3K for him & he retired. Aged 39, he died 5 years later, his funeral attracted 100K people who formed a cortège to #HighgateCemetery where this marble tomb, by #MortonEdwards, is guarded by the sculpture of his mastiff, Lion.
In Source: Highgate Cemetery
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