The Rest Is History 593. The Fight of the Century
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Aug 20, 2025 
Robert Coles, an expert in the history of sport and author, joins the conversation to unpack the legendary 1860 boxing match between Tom Sayers and John Heenan. The discussion dives into the cultural significance of this brutal encounter and its reflections on 19th-century British identity. Listeners will learn about the harsh training regimens that fighters endured, the vibrant atmosphere leading up to the match, and the evolution of boxing rules that emerged from this chaotic era. Coles offers insights into how this clash changed British sport forever.
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Two Very Different Fighters
- John Camel Heenan arrived from America as a hard-case Irish-American with little professional experience and a background as an enforcer.
- Tom Sayers was a seasoned English professional who began fighting at 16 and became a successful publican and family man.
Prizefighting's Brutal Goal And Legal Ambiguity
- Prizefighting aimed to disable an opponent until he could not reach the scratch mark rather than score points.
- The law treated fights as breaches of the peace, but magistrates often ignored them to avoid greater disorder and because of aristocratic patronage.
Secret-Market Spectacle
- On fight morning crowds gathered at London Bridge at 4 a.m. though the venue was secret, creating a festival-like atmosphere.
- Around 1,500 passengers travelled on special trains and aristocrats received chairs once they reached the field.
