Howdy and welcome to Wise About Texas, the Texas History podcast.

This is episode 8 of the podcast, and the other day I was watching some boxing on TV

and decided to devote this episode to a very interesting story of a boxing match

surrounded by controversy involving secret locations, international borders, and, of course,

the Texas Rangers.

It could have only happened in Texas. So let's go back to

1896 and get wise about Texas. Now boxing seems to have declined in popularity in recent years,

but in the late 1800s boxing, or as it was called then, prize fighting was extremely popular.

Up until the late 1800s, the fights were conducted under

what were commonly called the London rules, which allowed for a bit of wrestling, in addition to

punching, and a round didn't end until someone was knocked down. There were no limits to the number

of rounds. Most of the fights occurred without even wearing boxing gloves. It was a rough game back then.

In 1889, the Marquise of Queensberry rules came to be used in the United States.

Now, these rules were actually written in the 1860s, and they more closely resemble today's

boxing rules, including the use of gloves. My goodness. Now, let me set the stage for the fight we're going to discuss today.

One of the greatest champions of the 1800s was John L. Sullivan.

Sullivan was a Bostonian recognized as the champion fighter from 1882 to 1892.

He was the last champion under the London rules and the first champion under the Queensberry rules.

In 1892, Sullivan defended his title against a young fighter from San Francisco named a gentleman Jim Corbett, or Corbett.

That fight lasted 21 rounds.

Now, boxing is a tough sport.

I don't know how those guys went, 21 rounds, in the 21st round, Corbett landed the left that knocks Sullivan out.

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