Let's See Some Awesome Boxing Cards!

[G1911]

This is another amusing one I like. Jack Randall died in 1828, never fought with gloves in his career. Even the card back references the bare-knuckle nature of the bout. And yet one of the ALC artists padded up both gentleman's fists.

Instead of changing the entire background on Donovan's card or erasing a man in the background on Coburn's, you'd think ALC would edit the gloves on this card if they wanted to make some changes. Here it is in all 4 versions, Mecca 30, Mecca 649, Tolstoi, Dixie Queen

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by G1911

This is another amusing one I like. Jack Randall died in 1828, never fought with gloves in his career. Even the card back references the bare-knuckle nature of the bout. And yet one of the ALC artists padded up both gentleman's fists.

Instead of changing the entire background on Donovan's card or erasing a man in the background on Coburn's, you'd think ALC would edit the gloves on this card if they wanted to make some changes. Here it is in all 4 versions, Mecca 30, Mecca 649, Tolstoi, Dixie Queen

Randall did perform a lot of sparring exhibitions and benefits with gloves on. That image was basically lifted and transposed from this 19th Century print, purportedly showing Randall and Turner giving an exhibition at the Fives Court.

Randall and Turner did fight, but it wasn't there, and it certainly wasn't in an elevated ring with gloves on.

[GasHouseGang]

Here's a Mayo's Cut Plug of Sullivan.

[Exhibitman]

Nice Sullivan!

This is a real bear of a cabinet set, from 1904:





Also known are Sullivan, O'Brien, Fitzsimmons, Jeffries. I will definitely trade for those if anyone has them.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

Randall did perform a lot of sparring exhibitions and benefits with gloves on. That image was basically lifted and transposed from this 19th Century print, purportedly showing Randall and Turner giving an exhibition at the Fives Court.

Randall and Turner did fight, but it wasn't there, and it certainly wasn't in an elevated ring with gloves on.

Good to know, I haven’t seen that image before. I like this full painting better. I know some sparring and exhibitions were done with gloves in this time, but not “official” (semi-official? Wasn’t exactly organized) fights as I understand it.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by G1911

Good to know, I haven’t seen that image before. I like this full painting better. I know some sparring and exhibitions were done with gloves in this time, but not “official” (semi-official? Wasn’t exactly organized) fights as I understand it.

No, not official. They were basically an excuse to get a bunch of money in the room, and let the fancies rub shoulders with the boxing celebrities. Lots of shadow boxing and punch pulling. More a display of technical skill, rather then the real brutishness they saved for the actual bouts.

If you do a search for "Interior Of The Fives Court" on Google, you could probably find some better images, of both vintage examples and reprints. This was the first one I could actually grab a link for.

I had a large vintage example years ago. A beautiful piece up close. Even vintage examples of these type of prints, don't really sell for much when they pop up occasionally at auction houses. Probably less then the price of a PSA 3 T218 Jack Johnson.

[D. Bergin]

Actually found the example I had in my files. There is a key that exists that lists the various boxing celebrities purportedly in the crowd.

[Exhibitman]

Here's a copper plate etching of Randall from an 1840 edition of Boxiana by Pierce Egan.



Jack The Prime Irish Lad was 23 when the original drawing was made.