Before Pay-Per-View, YouTube, or basic safety regulations, there was Tom Sayers—the 5-foot-8 bricklayer from Brighton, who became Victorian Britain’s most terrifying bare-knuckle boxing champion.
In this episode, we take to the ring with the wild history of 19th-century prize fighting, leading up to the infamous 1860 World Title brawl between English champion Tom Sayers and American powerhouse John C. Heenan ("The Benicia Boy"). It was a 42-round, 2-hour-and-a half hour fighting frenzy featuring broken arms, a strangulation, a mob riot, and a police raid.
In this episode:
How a bricklayer became an international sports superstar
Why thousands of Victoria England's great, good, unwashed and notorious stood shoulder to shoulder in a Hampshire field at 7 AM to watch two men try and knock each other out.
The rules (or complete lack thereof) of Victorian prize fighting.
The legendary 1860 World Heavyweight Championship chaos
If you love weird history, ridiculous sports stories, and historical comedy podcasts, please like and hit follow!
Email honourablementionspod@gmail.com
Website
honourablementions.buzzsprout.com
Honourable Mentions
honourablementionspod
TikTok
honourable.mentionspod
Discord
honourablementions
