Vintage newspaper illustration depicting the start of the famous bare-knuckle fight for the heavyweight Championship of America between John C Heenan (1834 - 1873) and John Morrissey (1831 - 1878). The contest took place on October 20 1858 at Long Point, Ontario, Canada, and Heenan, nicknamed "The Benicia Boy", was knocked out in the 11th round by Morrissey, the defending champion known as "Old Smoke".
Vintage newspaper illustration depicting the start of the famous bare-knuckle fight for the heavyweight Championship of America between John C Heenan (1834 - 1873) and John Morrissey (1831 - 1878). The contest took place on October 20 1858 at Long Point, Ontario, Canada, and Heenan, nicknamed "The Benicia Boy", was knocked out in the 11th round by Morrissey, the defending champion known as "Old Smoke". Morrissey retired from boxing the following year and later became a New York State Senator and US Congressman. Heenan became American champion by default upon Morrissey's retirement and famously fought Tom Sayers, the Champion of England, in what is regarded as the first ever "world championship" battle at Farnborough, Hampshire, England, on April 17 1860 - a bout that ended in a draw after 42 rounds when spectators invaded the ring and police stopped proceedings. This illustration of the Heenan v Morrissey fight, based on a sketch made by an artist at ringside, appeared in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper on October 30 1858.
Size: 3623px × 2452px
Photo credit: © Fistiana / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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