BoxRec

Hi all!

I just wonder what is the 1st fight registered in Boxrec.
I have spent some time and I could not find any other before 1869, between Bat Mullins and Arthur Chambers, in Epsom/UK.

I do apologize if this question has been treated before, I have not seen it in the first few pages.

Thanks a lot!

you mean the oldest fight, or the one that was first put into the system?

if you enter a 1 for an event and a fight (1st event on boxrec, and 1st fight entered on that event), you get https://boxrec.com/en/event/1/1 ........benny goldberg win 4 manuel ortiz in 1938

judging by the bout numbers of the other fights on the card, they were all added together at a much later date. meanwhile, the 1869 fight looks to be the 2 millionth + fight added

Hi, I was looking at the oldest fight that you can find in boxrec. I cannot see anything before 1869.
Thanks for your answer.

moggy wrote: ↑27 Feb 2023, 18:29 Hi, I was looking at the oldest fight that you can find in boxrec. I cannot see anything before 1869.
Thanks for your answer.

For the oldest known Boxing info you can find I'd consult the Pierce Egan book "Boxiana" it's the only thing really out there, along with the International Boxing Hall of Fame book where you'll find any info on this era. Even then the info you'll find is spotty at best, but we're lucky to have any info at all on the era.

moggy wrote: ↑27 Feb 2023, 18:29 Hi, I was looking at the oldest fight that you can find in boxrec. I cannot see anything before 1869.
Thanks for your answer.

Well considering the Marquess of Queensbury rules was made in 1865 and was used primarily for amateur contests... I think you might find smaller contests among professionals but they would have been more like hybrid matches that had gloves but were still London Prize Ring Rules.

A lot of John L Sullivan's success was because he had the most experience with the new rules, because the mindset back then was the world heavyweight title could only be fought under the London Prize Ring Rules, so when Sullivan would defend the belt against the likes of Alf Greenfield (ie, British champion) or Herbert Slade or Charlie Mitchell under MQ rules these men were virtually 100% bareknuckle fighters whose strength was wrestling and they would purposely throw themselves down to the canvas to avoid Sullivan which was legal with the London Prize Ring Rules but heavily frowned upon under the Marquis of Queensbury rules.

One can argue that Sullivan did not face someone well-versed with the Marquis of Queensbury rules until he fought Jim Corbett, because the vast majority of fighters out there dabbled in both rules or primarily fought the London Prize Ring Rules.

So I think if you were to find anything on BoxRec prior to 1869 it would be more of a hybrid match, and not a full out MQ rules bout. I do know even in more modern times there are hybrid rules matches listed on BoxRec as boxing matches such as LaMar Clark having bouts with professional wrestlers and there was some bizarre rule set associated with those matches though they went down as boxing matches on his record.

Well I must admit I would not expect this level of knowledge, not even a so quick answer!
Thank you all to satisfy my curiosity.
Regards from Barcelona

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Feb 2023, 18:45

moggy wrote: ↑27 Feb 2023, 18:29 Hi, I was looking at the oldest fight that you can find in boxrec. I cannot see anything before 1869.
Thanks for your answer.

For the oldest known Boxing info you can find I'd consult the Pierce Egan book "Boxiana" it's the only thing really out there, along with the International Boxing Hall of Fame book where you'll find any info on this era. Even then the info you'll find is spotty at best, but we're lucky to have any info at all on the era.

Egan's is a good resource
Also English local newspapers, broadsheets etc will carry reports of incidents, riots, tumults etc. Many of the bare knuckle fights were fairly well organised at a local street level although the newspapers record than merely as incidents of disorder.

You can find info as far back as the 1600's

moggy wrote: ↑27 Feb 2023, 18:29 Hi, I was looking at the oldest fight that you can find in boxrec. I cannot see anything before 1869.
Thanks for your answer.

Here's one for 1866: https://boxrec.com/en/event/43945
Found by seeing what early bouts they were in the database as of two years ago: viewtopic.php?p=5871456&hilit=database#p5871456

Then trying to locate those early bouts from this page: https://boxrec.com/en/locations/event

Hi Rick, that’s exactly what I was looking for. I don’t think there is anything before that date at Boxrec. Great job, thanks you all.