Bare knuckle boxing was a popular 19th century pastime.
In Victoria, after 1866, it became compulsory to wear gloves and follow the Queensbury rules, but bare knuckle fights were still held, albeit illegally. The last, and one of the most famous bouts, occured on March 20 1879.
Held n the NSW side of the Murray River, across from Echuca, the Australian boxing champion Larry Foley fought Abe Hicken.
Even devoid of gloves Foley was a champion boxer, disposing of Hicken in 16 rounds, and winning 600 pounds. The fight was meant to be conducted in Echuca, but a police presence had caused the illegally organised bout to be held acros the river.
Two interesting onlookers were Joe Byrne and Ned Kelly, scarcely 6 weeks after their famous raid on Jerilderie.
Ned himself was a handy bare knuckle fighter,as best illustrated with his bout with ‘Wild’ Wright in 1874, but that’s another story.
Glen!
