Footnotes

• The Yorkshireman George Stevenson, known as 'The Coachman', had fought the English champion Jack Broughton on the 17th February, 1741 in a fairground booth on Tottenham Court Road. Unfortunately, Stevenson died a few days after his 45-minute fight, an event that triggered Broughton to draw up a code of rules in order to prevent a recurrence. Published on 16 August 1743, 'Broughton's Rules' applied to the bare-knuckle Prize Ring and included 'That no person is to hit his adversary when he is down, or seize him by the ham, the breeches, or any part below the waist; a man on his knees to be reckoned down'.
  Otherwise much was left to the discretion of referees. Rounds were not of a fixed length but continued until one of the fighters was knocked or thrown to the ground, after which those in his corner were allowed 30 seconds to return him to the "scratch" – the middle of the ring – failing which his opponent was declared the victor.
  Broughton's rules were universally used until 1838. He was buried in Westminster Abbey in recognition of his contribution to English boxing.
  The sport enjoyed an unprecedented surge in popularity during the Regency period when it was openly patronised by the Prince Regent, (later George IV) and his brothers.
  Championship boxing matches acquired a louche reputation as the places to be seen by the wealthy upper classes and a match would often be attended by thousands of people, many of whom had wagered money on the outcome.

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Category: Fine Art / 19th Century Paintings

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