Vintage portrait of English bare-knuckle boxer Tom Sayers (1826 - 1865). Sayers, born in Brighton, Sussex, had his first professional fight in 1849 and claimed the title of Champion of England in 1857 by defeating William "The Tipton Slasher" Perry. He defended the title four times before famously taking on American champion John C Heenan (1834 - 1873), nicknamed "The Benicia Boy", 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.
Vintage portrait of English bare-knuckle boxer Tom Sayers (1826 - 1865). Sayers, born in Brighton, Sussex, had his first professional fight in 1849 and claimed the title of Champion of England in 1857 by defeating William "The Tipton Slasher" Perry. He defended the title four times before famously taking on American champion John C Heenan (1834 - 1873), nicknamed "The Benicia Boy", 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. Sayers never fought again and died from tuberculosis and diabetes just a few years later. Portrait circa 1882 from a print by The Courier Lithograph Company.
Size: 2333px × 3000px
Photo credit: © Fistiana / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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