593. The Fight of the Century

The Rest Is History

Goalhanger

History

4.6 • 18.6K Ratings

🗓️ 20 August 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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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 Colls, 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

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0:00.0	Thank you for listening to The Rest is History.
0:02.3	For weekly bonus episodes, add free listening, early access to series and membership of our much-loved chat community, go to the rest is history.com and join the club.
0:13.4	That is, the rest is history.com.
0:17.6	Race the rudder.
0:18.8	Raise the sails. Raise the sales. Raise the sales.
0:21.2	Captain, an unidentified ship approaching.
0:23.4	Over.
0:24.0	Roger that.
0:25.0	Wait.
0:25.7	Is that an enterprise sales solution?
0:28.9	Reach sales professionals, not professional sailors.
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1:07.7	Way down in Merry England, the home 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.
1:13.4	The champions we are, are the land and earth wave. Way down in Mary England, all in the bloom of spring, where English burly champions stood stripped off in the
1:19.2	ring to fight that noble Hinen, the gallant son of Troy, to try his British muscle on the bold Benicia boy. Two heavy flags were hoisted
1:31.8	that floated her the ring. On one there was a tiger already for a spring. On the other was
1:37.7	an eagle, a gallant bird she was, for she had a bunch of thunderbolts and held them in her claws.
1:45.2	Oh, the pennies they were tossed and their melee did begin.
	...

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