Battles of Champions

Of all the names of champion heavyweights who upheld ring prestige, that of Tom Sayers stands out in bold relief.

His great contest with John Camel Heenan of America at Farnborough, England, on the morning of April 17, 1860, was the first international ring combat that stirred public interest to fever heat on both sides of the Atlantic.

His fighting weight was only 140 pounds, less than the welterweight limit in these days, yet he opposed the leading middleweights with success. Later he fought in the heavyweight division though he seldom scaled beyond 152 pounds.

His only setback was at the hands of Nat Langham on October 18, 1853, in which bout Sayers was blinded and was forced to retire. He tried to obtain a return bout but Langham retired rather than face Tom again. In British ring history, Sayers is rated among the greatest of all time.

He was an amazingly clever pugilist. For his pounds and inches he was listed a marvel. On June 16, 1857, Sayers clashed with William Perry, the celebrated "Tipton Slasher," in a match for the heavyweight crown. It took Sayers an hour and forty-five minutes of battling before he could down his man and win the championship. Perry's seconds tossed in the sponge.

The following year, Sayers added to his laurels by twice defeating Bill Bainge, known as "Benjamin," and whipping Tom Paddock and Bob Brettle, each of whom he knocked out.

The Savers-Heenan match was a great international event in which both countries, aroused by what might be termed "wild patriotic enthusiasm," heavily supported the native son.

Not only was the British press represented at the scene by special writers, *but the New York Spirit of the Times and Frank Leslie's Illustrated Weekly, the leading sports journals, assigned their best reporters and artists to cover the event.

Never before had a prize fight drawn together such a huge and varied gathering. They flocked in thousands to the field near the town of Farnborough in which the ring was pitched.

If the records of the chroniclers of the early American ring history are to be taken at their face value, Heenan was the most terrific hitter of the bareknuckle days, a fighter with indomitable courage, of great strength and endurance. No fight in the history of the sport ever received more comment, no fight has had so much written about it, than the famous Heenan-Sayers affair.

Heenan was a native son, born in America of Irish parentage. He first saw the light of day in Troy on May 2, 1833. When he left school, his father taught him the trade of machinist and at the age of seventeen he had mastered the profession and gained the rank of first-class mechanic.

Although his father had mapped out the plans for the boy's future, he filed no objection when young Heenan made known the fact that he would like to see life and had decided to visit the Pacific Coast to try his luck there. On his arrival in San Francisco he found immediate employment in the workshops at Benicia belonging to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and it was here that he gained the reputation as a pugilist of note and was called "The Benicia Boy."

When Heenan returned to New York he was hailed by the sporting fraternity. He reached New York City on December 4, 1857, with James Cusick, a friend, and on December 10, he gave an exhibition at the National Hall on Canal Street and was wildly received. Shortly after, he became the most talked of man in ring history.

Joe Coburn consented to put on the gloves with Heenan after the crowd had repeatedly called for a demonstration, and the sports were electrified by Heenan's style, his hitting and countering. Coburn, at that time the most scientific boxer in the world, praised Heenan by declaring he had everything a champion needs. There are some tales which the fight fan is never tired of hearing and one of these is the great international fight at Farnborough.

After bitter battling, the ropes were cut in the thirty - seventh round, the crowd surged into the ring and a free-for-all followed. The referee disappeared, but the fighters decided to continue and for five rounds they fought without an official.

The British were certain that Sayers had won the contest while the supporters of Heenan took the opposite side.

In America it was the universal opinion, based on reports that came from abroad, that had the ropes not been cut, Heenan would have carried off the honors. Thus, after two hours and twenty minutes of terrific battling, the first heavyweight championship bout for the world title ended in a draw and a championship belt was given to each man.

The American, a true sportsman, viewed the attacks on Sayers as unjust. He and Tom became friendly and went on an exhibition tour together. Heenan's contention was that Sayers was not to blame for the rowdyism of the mob.

Heenan, on Sayers' retirement, was universally acknowledged as champion of the world, and he decided to return to Europe. Once again the "Benicia Boy" crossed the Atlantic and entered the ring on December 8, 1863, with Tom King for his opponent and Tom Sayers as Heenan's second. This time the gods were unkind to the American, for he was beaten in the twenty - fourth round, after thirty-five minutes of milling. Heenan then retired.

He was thirty-eight when he died at Green River Station, Wyoming Territory, October 28, 1873, and his remains were brought to Albany where he was buried.