Going to bed, but going to do some research into circa 1880s bare-knuckle boxing. Posting some stuff here in case I forget it all by morning

From http://www.proboxing-fans.com/boxing-101/history/1880s-the-age-of-the-great-john-l-sullivan/

This is a guy named John Sullivan, who was kind of a big deal. I suspect one of the characters will look sort of like him.

“Of course, it’s important to note that polite society considered boxing barbaric, and held sufficient sway over lawmakers to ensure that matches were illegal in most jurisdictions.  This is why one reads about this or that bout taking place on a barge, hopefully beyond the reach of the long arm of the law.   The alternative was to hold fights surreptitiously, late at night and in secluded locations.  Still, if discovered, the police would break up the matches.  In 1868, for example, the police arrested Joe Coburn before he could face Mike McCool.  The canny “Deckhand Champion of America” then entered the ring in his boxing togs, and was declared champion.”

” In his 1887 bout with Patsy Cardiff, Sullivan broke his left arm in the first round, but nevertheless went on to fight a six-round draw.”

(I like the name Patsy. Maybe I’ll use it.)

From http://historyofbkb.weebly.com/bkb-figureheads.html

“A common practice at the turn of the century was for athletes to have nude portraits taken. The athletic proportion of boxer Peter Jackson’s body is clearly seen; he was six feet in height and weighed fourteen stone two pound.”

“Morrissey became involved in Democratic politics in New York City and a rivalry with William Poole, also known as “Bill the Butcher”. Poole was an enforcer for the Know-Nothing Party, leader of the Bowery Boys, and a boxer. In 1854, Morrissey was hired to prevent Poole and his gang from seizing ballot boxes and rigging an election. As a reward for having stopped the ballot rigging, Morrissey and his gang, the Dead Rabbits, were permitted by Tammany Hall to open a gambling house without police interference.”

No funnies in this one, but it has video from the era, which is awesome. http://www.boxing.com/strong_boy_the_life_and_times_of_john_l._sullivan_americas_first_sports_her.html

This too. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/h?ammem/papr:@field%28NUMBER+@band%28edmp+4015a%29%29

From http://historyofbkb.weebly.com/the-history-of-bkb.html

“The boxing match then did not resemble a match of today. The fighters were stripped to the waist , but did not wear gloves. Kicking , biting and gouging were not allowed , and neither was hitting or grabbing below the waist. But most other thing were. Wrestling was an essential part. The opponent could be knocked or thrown to the ground, either by picking him up around the waist or by a popular move known as cross buttock. Having thrown an opponent to the floor it was allowed to fall on top of him as heavily as possible.”

Okay, time for sleep. See you all tomorrow.