A HISTORIC BATTLE

Grey River Argus, 27 July 1925, Page 2

A HISTORIC BATTLE

SAYERS—-HEENAN FIGHT.

A 37 ROUND DRAW

It was 60 years ago on tho 17th April last since Tom Sayers the Brit.sh champion of that time and John Heenan, America ’• hope, traded sledgehammer blows for two hours and six minutes at the Meadows, near Aidershot, the field which was to become during the world war the centre of Britain’s activities. The record says that eventually “they both fell exhausted to the grass,’’ and the fight was declared a draw.

’Tile story of the fight, from the moment Heenan was smuggled aboard the sailing ship Asia in. New York, up to the belated appearance of the police at the ringside with warrants for the arrest of fighters and fans alike, is crowded with drama.

The American fighter had been warned that he would be arrested at the moment of landing in England, prizefighting at this time being prescribed. The ports of the country were watched as it wns expected that he would embark and seek to land secretly. On January 19th Heenan was smuggler! ashore from the Asia at Liverpool and hustled to a secluded country place to start his training.

SECRECY MAINTAINED. In the closest secrecy the financial arrangements for the bout were concluded and the choice of a location for the engagement was left to two men, Tom Oliver, veterna Boxer, and his son. Purchasers of tickets were merely instructed to appear at the London Bridge railway station shortly after midnight on the Jay of the fight. The police must have learned of the rendezvous as the records state that the “usually quiet depot’’ presented a strange spectacle with a crowd of 1200 persons bent on a mysterious mission. Railroad officials had foreseen interference, and two special trains were assembled, one to run as a decoy, if necessary. At three o’clock the train pulled out over the Dover and Brighton lines mid a short way from the city the passengers on the decoy train were transferred, Aidershot being reached without trouble. Of this crowd “Pugilistica,” the history of British boxing

“There were few ‘bruisers’ in the assembly. It included bearers of names marked high in Burke's Peerage, members of Parliament, members of the Bench, officers of the army and navy, and even distinguished clergymen.’’ And this distinguished company was to be scattered in wild confusion when the police appeared later in the <l,” Sayers and Heenan met for the first time in the ring and their greeting nonplussed the sporting gentry. It was then the custom for such contestants to scowl fiercely and growl savagely upon first catching sight of each other. Then by wav of whetting the

appetite of the fans a few threats concerning disembowelment and sudden death were exchanged. But on this occasion Sayers and Heenan greeted each other most cordially and chatted amiably for several minutes.

The ring had been formed on the sed across a brook which lacked a bridge, and the “distinguished’ fans soon realised that they were fortunate

in having a few ‘bruisers' as companions. These ‘bruisers’ were pressed into service and the elect crossed the stream on the shoulders for a small

About the ring were numerous small trees, and these shortly were well

weighted with spectators, as chairs were rented at a high price. Later when tho police appeared, these “birds” in seeking to escape tumbled to the ground in scores, some landing on their feet but the majority denting the sod with other parts of their anatom v.

There were no dressing-rooms, consequently the combatants prepared for the bout, in the ring. Each wore heavy boots and underneath trousers a light pair of tight pants. Their knuckles, of course, were bare. Frank Dowling was chosen referee and the boxers squared off, the betting being 2 to 1 on the British champion though Sayers weighed only 151 pounds to Keen-

an’s 185. An exchange of sharp lefts opened the affair, and then Tom planted a heavy right on John’s nose, drawing first 'blood. A lively exchange of body blows followed, and then the American smacked over a stiff right to the mouth. Übenan his opponent about the neck, but Tom forced him to let go by pounding John’s neck. n lho break Tom fell and this ended

round one. Round 2.-Heenan held to his corner and Tom advanced to draw him ouL Watching his chance, lo °7 e * “ fierce right at Tom’s head but the lat ter Slugging all over the ring and in a tussle, the Englishman was thrown to the grass.

Round 3.—After some lively feinting Sayers put over two light tips to the face, then he got in the way of Heenan's crushing right. Tom’s feet flew out ami he landed on his neck, lhe blow, however, was to the body, am it. did no material damage, but it was the first knock-down of the fight. Round 4.—Sayers on coming out wore an expression of surprise. e had tasted something of his foe s strength in tho last punch and ap peared wary. Heenan, however, was after him all tho time and within a few minutes landed a solid left on the jaw, sending Tom again to the turf.

Round 5. —Tom’s face boro marks of the blows and his jaw was swollen, condition nt the end of tho twenty, fifth round. These rounds lasted better than an hour and in the eleven innings the American went down four times.

ROUND LASTS FOURTEEN MINUTES.

Where early in the fight tho rounds had been of only four or five minutes, tho seventh round lasted nearly fourteen and it was crowded with snappy boxing. At the end it was found that the British champion's right arm had been pounded almost to uselessness. Round 8. —This was a gory affair. After an exchange of fierce blows Heenan’s right eye was virtually closed, ami he was bleeding from the mouth. Sayer’s nose and mouth were spouting and his arm had turned black and blue. After more than fifteen minutes of slugging Heenan landed a stiff left to the nose and Sayers went sprawling on his back. It was about this time that An ugly spirit manifested itself in the crowd, though Sayers gamely continued to laugh. The crowd, it appeared, had plunged heavily on the champion, and it seemed that Sayers had been slated to win either by fair or foul means.

Round 9 to 13.—Heenan opened by boring in and Tom caught him with a stinging right which again started the claret. This appeared to infuriate the American and he tore in like a demon, but the science of 'Sayers blocked his efforts. When crowded too closely Sayers allowed a light tap to go through and took to tho turf laughing.

Rounds 14 to 25.—80th fighters appeared to have weakened somewhat, but there was no let-up to the boxing. Both appeared to have decided to hammer for the face and many blows landed. After nine minutes of fighting they exchanged stiff punches to tho nose and the American had dropped. The faces of both went down. It was the first time both were in frightful FOUL IS DISALLOWED. Roud 26.—Sayers appeared to have recovered some of his pep while the strain was telling - on Heenan. Sayers landed several blows neatly to the face and Heenan retaliated with a smash over the. heart, which dropped his foe. ■While Sayers was on knees Heenan struck him before lie could pull his punch and this inflamed the crowd. Ugly threats were made, but the referee disallowed claims of foul. Rounds 27-28.—Heenan appeared to have decided to end the mill in this innings as he started so fiercely, smashing with right and left. These blows, however, were mostly blocked. Heenan then deliberately turned liis back, walked to his corner, took a drink of water and returned. After ten minutes he succeeded in driving Sayers to the turf.

Rounds 29 to 34.—80th had materially slowed up and the fighting was more careful. Sayers continued to play on the one good eye of his foe and landed many neat and light blows on that, organ. Heenan continued to smash away at Sayers's jaw and mouth. Sayers fell in botk of these

cantos, but the American’s one good eye was rapidly closing.

Round 35. —Heenan was barely able to see and felt that he had no time to lose. He rushed in and in the. flurry caught Sayers on the chin, sending the Englishman sprawling. lie was cautious and succeeded in getting away from some terrific punches. John continued to bore in and, as fom slipped, landed another crusher on the face which sent the Britisher dov n. Round 6. —Heenan, aside from a somewhat swollen nose, was unmarked at this stage of the game, while his foe’s face was badly bruised. Sayers landed a heavy blow on John s cheek and left his trade mark. This appeared to nettle the American and he started to bore in. With a stiff right ho again sent his opponent down. Round 7.—Up to this time the fight bad gone strong in the American s favour, and the backers of Tom were beginning to squirm in their seats. Aside from a small corner, in which were gathered the friends »f John, the crowd was British, and it could not be called a jubilant, assembly. When Tom came out it was to be seen that the arm with which he had been stopping so many cf the blows was badly swollen. Heenan feinted but his opponent was too clever to let go, and John tried a right which was gracefully stopped. Then in a sudden flurry Heenan landed a crushing left on the bridge of Tom’s nose, knocking him off his pins. Tom laughed and rolled over, but it was necessary to carry him to his corner. ' POLICE COME ON RUN. Round 36.—The police arrived on the run, but the spectators were by now so closely packed around the ring that they were some time making their presence known. Heenan and Sayers continued to maul each other until both fell.

Round 37—After more than two hours of milling Sayers caught the now nearly blinded Heenan with two sharp smacks on the closing eye. Heenan seized Sayers and held him to the ropes. The referee, noting the police hastily called upon the fighters to halt, then bolted through the ropes. The crowd, now aware of the raid surged over the ropes and smothered the fighters, both of whom had fallen to the turf. Out of the trees the limbs of some extending aver th< ring, dropped dozens of persons on the heads of police and fans alike. In the confusion Heenan and Sayers managed to get to their feet and Heenan with one look at the constabulary, went

away from there. He could see well enough to spot the bluecoats and run well enough to get away from them, but Sayers was not so fortunate. He was captured, but allowed to go. There was some talk of a second struggle between these two gladiators, since the first light had been interrupted through no fault of either but nothing ever came of it. So several months after the affair the British sporting men in admiration for the pluck and the ability of the American had two championship belts made and each fightci' received one. This ended what the British sporting public of to-day regards the greatest ring battle of modern times.