The Great Contest between Sayers & Heenan for £200 a Side

The fight between Tom Sayers, English champion, and John Carmel Heenan, American champion, aroused huge interest and was covered by journalists from both countries. Despite sustaining a broken arm in the sixth round, Sayers fought on, concentrating his blows on his contestant’s eyes. Heenan broke a bone in his hand in the eighth round but continued although by the 34th nearly blind. The police arrived and tried to get into the ring, at which point an unknown hand cut the rope allowing the crowd to surge in. The referee finally regained control and declared a draw. For their heroism both contestants were awarded a championship belt, an etching of which appears below the image.