**Discussion about some of the longest fights in history**

[Rumsfeld]

What are some of the (more well known) longest fights in history and how does the Classic Forum view such fights?

[Seamus]

I thought it was Bowen-Burke in 1892 or so. 110+ rounds.

[Rise Above]

One that comes to mind was James J Corbett fighting a 61 round draw against Peter Jackson. Another one is Jack McAuliffe fighting a 74 round draw with Jem Carney.

I think in the days when these kind of fights took place the sport was so much different to what it is today. Alot of grappling and holding would have been the norm. In saying that these guys had an amazing will to win to fight for such a long time.

[TheIronMan]

Sam McVea Vs Joe Jeannette lasted 49 rounds!

[Dempsey1238]

You can get a hour and 15 mins of the classic 45 round fight between Gans and Nelson.

That was a war, until Gans got the upperhand and started putting the beat down on Nelson.

[IntentionalButt]

Now rounds have always been defined as three minutes (with a minute break) under the MQR, yes - or were they more fluid in the old days? That's what I always wonder when reading about epic battles raging on for dozens or even scores of rounds. If that's the case, it boggles the mind. Well-conditioned athletes today can barely nut out half an hour. :!:

[janitor]

A few fights of the bareknuckle era lasted over three hours.

[janitor]

You can get a hour and 15 mins of the classic 45 round fight between Gans and Nelson.

That was a war, until Gans got the upperhand and started putting the beat down on Nelson.

For sheer intensity the Nelson Wolgast title fight is in a class of its own.

It lasted 42 rounds and both fighters averaged 80+ punches per round.

[TheGreatA]

The Andy Bowen vs Jack Burke fight from 1893 lasted more than 7 hours.

Thomas McCoy fought Christopher Lilly for 120 rounds in a bareknuckle, London Prize Ring rules bout. It's difficult to say how long the fight actually lasted because there was no time limit, only a knockdown would end the round. McCoy died at the end of the bout from choking on his own blood.

Gilbert Freeland fought Matt Rusk for 169 rounds. Both men were in bad shape and at the end of the 169th round, Rusk KO'd Freeland who could not recover and later died of his injuries.

Report of a 185 round fight:

"Fort Wayne (Indiana) Daily Gazette, July 30, 1868; Dubuque (Iowa) Daily Herald, September 19, 1868; both citing the Denver News. The fight took 6 hours, 19 minutes. Duffy's left eye was closed, two ribs were broken, and his left arm was broken. Jack, who had lost three teeth and had a broken nose, was essentially blind for the last two rounds, and he died ten minutes after the fight. The report said it was the best fight ever witnessed."

[Rock0052]

A few fights of the bareknuckle era lasted over three hours.

I don't know how they could do it. I have enough trouble staying focused during a 3 hour movie. :lol:

[IntentionalButt]

I don't know how they could do it. I have enough trouble staying focused during a 3 hour movie. :lol:

This reminds me, well overdue for my annual viewing of the greatest ever made. :good

[Dempsey1238]

For sheer intensity the Nelson Wolgast title fight is in a class of its own.

It lasted 42 rounds and both fighters averaged 80+ punches per round.


Only seen about ten mins of the fight.

Always wonder if there was a hour or complete version of the fight out there some were lol.

Still Nelson Wolgast in thsos ten mins of film was pretty high intenst, knowing how long they went.

[Dempsey1238]

I don't know how they could do it. I have enough trouble staying focused during a 3 hour movie. :lol:

Lose focused, you get knockout. That might have something to do with it.

[Rock0052]

The Andy Bowen vs Jack Burke fight from 1893 lasted more than 7 hours.

Thomas McCoy fought Christopher Lilly for 120 rounds in a bareknuckle, London Prize Ring rules bout. It's difficult to say how long the fight actually lasted because there was no time limit, only a knockdown would end the round. McCoy died at the end of the bout from choking on his own blood.

Gilbert Freeland fought Matt Rusk for 169 rounds. Both men were in bad shape and at the end of the 169th round, Rusk KO'd Freeland who could not recover and later died of his injuries.

Report of a 185 round fight:

"Fort Wayne (Indiana) Daily Gazette, July 30, 1868; Dubuque (Iowa) Daily Herald, September 19, 1868; both citing the Denver News. The fight took 6 hours, 19 minutes. Duffy's left eye was closed, two ribs were broken, and his left arm was broken. Jack, who had lost three teeth and had a broken nose, was essentially blind for the last two rounds, and he died ten minutes after the fight. The report said it was the best fight ever witnessed."

Interestingly enough, McCoy-Lilly was the first recorded boxing death in the US.

[Rock0052]

This reminds me, well overdue for my annual viewing of the greatest ever made. :good

Braveheart?

[IntentionalButt]

Braveheart?

Seven Samurai. :nono

[Dempsey1238]

Seven Samurai. :nono


Seven Samurai are so great, they made a anime base on it, Samurai 7 lol.

[Rock0052]

Seven Samurai. :nono

I'll have to check it out. :thumbsup

[IntentionalButt]

I'll have to check it out. :thumbsup

One of the greatest stories ever told in any medium, by one of the most meticulous and visionary film craftsman of all time and starring an ATG actor in his virtuoso defining performance, wherein he isn't even the star (and manages to shine without acting as a weed among the rest of the talent).

I may be underrating it a bit with that description, actually. :think

[janitor]

I don't know how they could do it. I have enough trouble staying focused during a 3 hour movie. :lol:

Just standing and keeping alert through a 3 hour fight would be hard enough.

[IntentionalButt]

Now rounds have always been defined as three minutes (with a minute break) under the MQR, yes - or were they more fluid in the old days? That's what I always wonder when reading about epic battles raging on for dozens or even scores of rounds. If that's the case, it boggles the mind. Well-conditioned athletes today can barely nut out half an hour. :!:

:huh

[janitor]

Now rounds have always been defined as three minutes (with a minute break) under the MQR, yes - or were they more fluid in the old days? That's what I always wonder when reading about epic battles raging on for dozens or even scores of rounds. If that's the case, it boggles the mind. Well-conditioned athletes today can barely nut out half an hour. :!:

Under London Prize Ring Rules a round ended when sombody was knocked down.

That meant that a round could last 60 minutes or 60 seconds.

After a knockdown took place the fallen fighter was allowed 30-38 seconds to get to his feet, and he could be carried back to his corner and literaly picked up by his cornermen.

If a fighter was getting the worst of an exchange he could go down to buy time at the other fighters expense.

Some of these fights could last for two or three hours or more. Today they would be classed as bloodsports.

[IntentionalButt]

That's right, had read that.

So MQ rules were 3" from the very first draft, right?

[Mendoza]

Tommy Ryan once went 70 or 75 rounds. I forget, and I'm too lazy to look it up right now. Going 15 rounds is like running marathon, expect your getting hit throughout the duration. I have no idea how some of the old timers fought 50+ rounds in the afternoon sun or in stuffy non-air conditioned rooms.

Back in those days, 20-25 round title fights were the norm.

I believe the last scheduled 20 round title fight was Joe Louis vs Simon.

[Seamus]

The Andy Bowen vs Jack Burke fight from 1893 lasted more than 7 hours.

Thomas McCoy fought Christopher Lilly for 120 rounds in a bareknuckle, London Prize Ring rules bout. It's difficult to say how long the fight actually lasted because there was no time limit, only a knockdown would end the round. McCoy died at the end of the bout from choking on his own blood.

Gilbert Freeland fought Matt Rusk for 169 rounds. Both men were in bad shape and at the end of the 169th round, Rusk KO'd Freeland who could not recover and later died of his injuries.

Report of a 185 round fight:

"Fort Wayne (Indiana) Daily Gazette, July 30, 1868; Dubuque (Iowa) Daily Herald, September 19, 1868; both citing the Denver News. The fight took 6 hours, 19 minutes. Duffy's left eye was closed, two ribs were broken, and his left arm was broken. Jack, who had lost three teeth and had a broken nose, was essentially blind for the last two rounds, and he died ten minutes after the fight. The report said it was the best fight ever witnessed."

Those were the days.