In
the nineteenth century, newspapers and public opinion crowned American boxing
champions because there were no national organizations or state athletic
commissions to sponsor title fights or recognize champions. A New York-born
butcher, Tom Hyer, was one of the first American boxers to win acclamation as a
“champion” after he defeated George McChester, aka Country McCloskey, in a two
hour and fifty-five minute fight that went 101 rounds on September 9, 1841 at
Caldwell’s Landing, NY, about 40 miles north of New York City on the Hudson
River. Following the fight, one boxing writer described Hyer who stood about 6
feet, 2 inches tall and weighed about 180 pounds, “the greatest pugilist that
ever stood in the ring.”
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Tom Hyer |
James
“Yankee” Sullivan of New York City, a 36-year old Irish saloonkeeper with an
impressive list of boxing victories over English and American opponents under
his belt, took exception to Hyer’s claim to boxing greatness and challenged him
to defend his title. Hyer accepted and they fought on February 7, 1849 at Still
Ponds Heights, MD, on the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay, about 40 miles from
Baltimore, for a purse of $10,000, over $275,000 in today’s money.
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“The Great Fight Between Tom Hyer & Yankee Sullivan, for $10,000.” |
For
18 minutes and 16 rounds, Hyer thrashed the previously undefeated Sullivan and
pocketed the prize money. Sports writers used the telegraph to send the results
of the fight to New York newspapers—reportedly, the first time this new
technology was used to carry a sports story.
After
the fight, no one successfully challenged Hyer for his title and he, in effect,
retired from the ring. In 1851, Sullivan claimed he had inherited the title
from the inactive Hyer on the grounds that Sullivan had been the last man to
fight Hyer.
Next:
Part III, Sullivan.
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