593. The Fight of the Century

The Rest Is History

Goalhanger

History

4.6 • 18.6K Ratings

🗓️ 20 August 2025

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Why did two men - John Heenan and and Tom Sayers - illegally meet in a field in Hampshire, in 1860, to brutally fight one another, captivating Britain in the process? What can the fight tell us about the nature of Britishness in the 19th century? Was this the birth of boxing? Who won the infamous boxing match? And, how did the fight change the course of British sport, forever? In this week’s episode, Tom and Dominic are joined by Professor Robert Coles, to discuss one of the most legendary clashes in English history… Visit ⁠https://www.store.steampowered.com⁠ and search for ‘Total War Rome’ to buy now. Go to fuseenergy.com/history to switch your energy to Fuse and get £20 credit. Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Thank you for listening to The Rest is History.
0:02.3	For weekly bonus episodes,
0:04.0	add free listening, early access to series,
0:06.8	and membership of our much-loved chat community,
0:09.5	go to therestishistory.com and join the club.
0:13.2	That is, the rest of Johnny Bull, where the English drink their glasses, they drink them brimming full, saying here's to Mary England, likewise our Britain's brave.
0:39.2	The champions we are,
0:44.7	O' the land and o'er the wave. Way down in Mary England, all in the bloom of spring,
0:53.1	where English burly champion stood stripped off in the ring to fight that noble Hennon, the gallant son of Troy, to try his British muscle on the bold Benicia boy.
0:59.7	Two heavy flags were hoisted that floated her the ring. On one there was a tiger already for a
1:05.7	spring. On the other was an eagle, a gallant bird she was, for she had a bunch of thunderbolts and held them in her claws.
1:14.8	Oh, the pennies they were tossed and their melee did begin.
1:18.3	Their bets on Sayers and Heenan, two-on-one, came rushing in.
1:22.5	They fought like noble heroes till one received a blow which caused a crimson tide from young
1:29.8	Heenan's nose to flow.
1:32.5	"'The first blood for Johnny Bull!' Old England shouts for joy.
1:36.8	But the following cheers arose for the bold Benicia boy.
1:40.7	That tiger rose within him, like lightning in his eye, saying, smile away, old England, but Johnny, mind your eye.
1:51.0	So that's the beginning of a lovely poem.
1:53.7	It's the beginning.
1:54.9	Yes, it's the beginning, Tom.
1:56.3	How long does it go on for?
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Goalhanger, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Goalhanger and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.