Coming up to scratch: I always had it wrong

[APerno]

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I was recently discussing something with the barbarian Caractacus and discovered that I have always misinterpreted the phrase ‘come up to scratch.’

I always (wrongly) assumed that in a bare knuckle fight there would be ONE scratch at the center of the ring and that when the referee called the fighters ‘up to scratch’ that they would toe the mark at ring center and wait for the command to fight. This is incorrect.

Why I would think such a wrong thing may lay in the fact that I was a high school wrestler; wrestlers begin their match standing toe to toe at mat center; or possibly I got the bad image from Hollywood.

Either way I was wrong. There are (according to the London Prize Ring Rule #6, 1838 or Rule #7, 1853) two scratches in the ring, one in each fighter’s corner. The scratch denotes the parameters of the corner and when the referee calls the fighters ‘up to scratch’ they each leave their respective second’s knee and take just a couple of steps forward, toeing the line, but toeing it in their own corner, there waiting for the referee’s command to begin fighting.

Of course I now realize that a view of any modern boxing match confirms the logic; today fighters must remain in their comer (usually standing, but it is not mandatory as it once was) waiting for the bell to begin the fight/round, and if a fighter tries to move to center ring before the bell the referee usually chases him back to his corner.

Secondly, (something else I always had wrong) during a bare knuckle fight a fighter’s seconds never leave the ring, even during the actual fighting. According to the same rule (LPR #6 or #7) a fighter’s seconds stay in the ring but are required to remain behind the ‘scratch’ or risk being fined 5s or having their fighter disqualified, depending on which rule is followed 1838 or 1853.

I suspect this is a mistake made by many; I wonder how many Hollywood films have misinterpreted this scene, having seconds climb in and out of the ring during a bare knuckle fight.

This of course now makes sense the Marquess of Queensberry Rule # 6 which states: “No seconds or any other person to be allowed in the ring during the rounds.”

The Marquess of Queensberry Rules are an addendum to, and NOT a replacement of the London Prize Ring Rules*** - it is only because the seconds had been allowed to stay in the ring (behind scratch) that the MQB rules needed to make the adjustment; if the seconds had already been required to leave the ring during the bout then there would have been no need for MQB Rule #6

*** Marquess of Queensberry Rule #12: “The contest in all other respects to be governed by revised London Prize Ring Rules.”

LPR (1838) Rule #6 That both men being ready, each man shall be conducted to that side of the scratch next his corner previously chosen; and the seconds on the one side, and the men on the other, having shaken hands, the former shall immediately return to their corners, and there remain within the prescribed marks till the round be finished, on no pretence whatever approaching their principals during the round, on penalty of losing the battle.

LPR (1853) Rule #7 That both men being ready, each man shall be conducted to that side of the scratch next his corner previously chosen; and the seconds on the one side and the men on the other, having shaken hands, the former shall immediately return to their corners, and there remain within the prescribed marks till the round be finished, on no pretence whatever approaching their principals during the round, under penalty of 5s. for each offence, at the option of the referee. The penalty, which will be strictly enforced, to go to the funds of the Association. The principal to be responsible for every fine inflicted on his second.

[Monster-Killer-Gang1]

Well.....it IS Amazing you are so enthralled by all that. Actually, now I am more interested in you the person than the subject here! [Though, too..bare knuckle history somewhat interesting!]