The history of boxing has recorded many tough events which put the boxers to tremendous test. With fights before modern regulation limiting bouts to twelve rounds contestants and their opponents endured grueling marathon bouts sometimes lasting for hours as much as strategy as strength and stamina were required.
In this article let us look at the top 10 longest boxing bouts in history, the epic fights that prove the indomitable spirits of gladiators in the ring.
Boxing Knockdown Rules
In professional boxing knockdown rules refer to how matters stand when one of the boxers has been knocked down. While these rules can vary slightly depending on the organization (e.g., WBC, WBA, IBF), most follow these general principles:
Definition of a Knockdown
A knockdown occurs when a fighter receives a blow and whether or not both feet leave the ground or any part of the fighter’s body besides the feet (hands, knees, the whole body) comes in contact with the ground.
A fighter is trapped in the ropes or falls into ropes with no option to defend himself or herself. The referee perceives that a fighter fails to be able to protect himself or even maintain his balance after a strike.
The 10-Count Rule
In case of knockdown, the referee will count for a maximum of 10 seconds for the downed fighter. It never involves a knockout, the fighter is counted out of the corner and has to get up on its own by the count of 10 and convince the referee that he can continue.
Neutral Corner
In neutral corner rule, the one who initiates the knockdown must vacate to the center rope as soon as possible (a corner without the fighter’s corner). Sometimes, the referee won’t start counting over the standing fighter before the fighter gets back to the neutral corner.
Three-Knockdown Rule
In some jurisdictions or specific fights, a three-knockdown rule is in effect: This is bad enough, but if a fighter is knocked down three times in a single round the bout is over immediately. But this rule is not strictly applied in major championship fights.
Saved by the Bell
Unlike the premodern boxing rules, a fighter cannot be ‘saved by the bell’ in most of today’s knocked down. If a knockdown takes place when the round is almost over the count will proceed even after the final bell has sounded. There could be some circumstances that this does not hold when it comes to the last stage of the game.
Standing Eight Count
Some organizations permit a standing eight count: if a fighter is beaten down but is not a knocked down fighter the referee will stop the fight and allow the fighter to take an 8-count to determine whether the fighter is okay or not. This is experienced in either amateur or regional fights more so than in professional matches.
Referee’s Discretion
Even if the fighter comes out to the count, which is usually 10, the referee can stop the fight at any one time if the fighter is deemed not fit to continue in the fight any further in what is deemed to be safe for him.
Top 10 Longest Boxing Matches in History
Below are the top 10 longest boxing matches in history:
Bob Fitzsimmons. vs James J. Corbett
Year: 1897
Duration: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Rounds: 14
Fitzsimmons clashed with Corbett on 17th March 1897 one of the most fierce bout that took 1 hour and 45 minutes. This fight culminated in the series 14th round where Fitzsimmons knocked out Corbett to become the new holder of lightweight and heavyweight championship titles.
Staged as one of the most energetic fights in boxing history this sparring became an important event defining the emergence of Fitzsimmons as one of the greatest fighters.
Tom Sayers vs. John Heenan
Year: 1860
Duration: 2 hours, 27 minutes
Rounds: 42
Few fights are more significant in early boxing chronologies than the 1860 fight between Tom Sayers and John Heenan. The boxing bout was however under bare-knuckle and it went for a grueling 2 hours 27 minutes of boxing.
Even with such a strong-willed behavior of fighters, the match did not have an imposing conclusion though both participants displayed excellent endurance and desire to win. The bout ended in a twelve-round draw when the police halted the exceptionally brutal fight.
This bout which people considered one of the most famous fights characterized the essence of nineteenth-century bare-knuckle boxing.
Jack Britton vs. Ted „Kid” Lewis
Year: 1921
Duration: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Rounds: 20
The match between Jack Britton and Ted “Kid Lewis in 1921 was a dramatic fight that depicted the typical fight between the two great boxers. Just as expected from two warriors, the two fighters had to be stretched to their limits for 20 unyielding rounds.
This match, lasting an exhausting 1 hour and 45 minutes, highlighted their contrasting styles: Britton’s tactics as a defensive player as opposed to Lewis as an attacking player.
This became real evidence of their abilities, wishes, and the sheer hard physical effort of the early twentieth-century prizefighting, which was memorable to both – spectators and historians.
Sam McVey vs. Joe Jeanette
Year: 1909
Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Rounds: 49
Their most famous bout was in 1909, and this was one of the most hardships in the history of boxing. Even though, this fight was one of the longest on record it lasted for 3 hours and 45 minutes and comprised 49 rounds in total.
The fight was in Paris and for most of the fight, Joe Jeanette was on the canvas after receiving powerful shots from McVey in the first few rounds. That said, Jeanette underlined great desire and endurance, coming back from the knockout position to give arguably the best performance of her career. Indeed, he bogeyed the last and still won what is undoubtedly one of the best of the sport’s many contests.
Abe Attell vs. Owen Moran
Year: 1908
Duration: 2 hours, 3 minutes
Rounds: 42
Abe Attell and Owen Moran’s fight in 1908 was a 42-two-round fight which took 2 hours and 3 minutes to complete. Attell proved once again to be the wiser fighter and successfully defended his featherweight title while Moran gave him a good fight but was unable to secure victory due to his inability to outsmart his opponent Through round 12, Moran continued to bring pressure on Attell while the latter continued to counter Moran’s advance although it was a very close call for Attell.
Jack Jones vs Patsy Tunney
Year: 1825
Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes
Rounds: 276
The bout between the two legends comprised one of the largest rounds any two fighters in the history of the sport had set. Because the bout occurred before the adoption of boxing rules in 1867, each round lasted until a man was knocked out.
The contending boxers were pulled off from each other after the knockout and the officials resumed the fight. Limits regarding time/rounds were not an issue in this case.
James Kelly vs Jack Smith
Year: 1855
Duration: 6 hours and 15 minutes
Rounds: 17
The match between Kelly and Jack in Australia in 1855 was the longest bout that was ever recorded and the fighters wore no gloves. With bad weather, the opponents fought for more than six hours and the battle happened in one of the communities with many people witnessing the fight.
The prestigious champion was able to keep his opponent at arm’s length for more than two rounds before anything important happened. The audience forced the fighters to be meaner. This precipitated a rather lowly provocation from Kelly who gave Smith a strong blow at the neck to bring the fight to an end in the seventeenth round.
Ad Wolgast vs Battling Nelson
Year: 1910
Duration: Around 4 hours
Rounds: 40
The first break of the 1910 World Lightweight championship fight took place in the United States of America to a significant place in the record book among the longest boxing match fought in history. In an entertaining fight, American Ad Wolgast and Dane Battling Nelson were engaged for forty rounds of blood.
Finally, the fight got nasty, with the two throwing punches at each other and the audience could not endure any longer asking the referee to call it off. Both fighters lost their lives as a result of the bout, but Wolgast was declared the winner.
John Sullivan vs Jake Kilrane
Year: 1889
Duration: 2 hours and 16 minutes
Rounds: 75
It was amazing that two great boxing champions, John Sullivan and Kilrain, were fighting each other for 75 rounds. In the bout, Kilrain threw Sullivan to the ground in a wrestling move that put an end to the first round.
Sullivan threw up in the forty-fourth round probably due to the iced tea mixed with whiskey as was his routine between rounds. The boxers chugged more and more with the progression up to the successive round. It was reported by onlookers that Kilrain consumed over a liter of whiskey during the fighting.
Jake was so exhausted in the 75th round when he was down he could not get up 30 seconds after a knockdown. It took them 2 hours, 16 minutes and 23 seconds to dispatch each other and this fight will be remembered in the annals of boxing history as the heavyweight’s longest bout.
Jack Burke vs Andy Bowen
Year: 1893
Duration: 7 hours 19 minutes
Rounds: 110
Burke and Bowen met in the ring in 1893, in New Orleans, and started fighting from 9:00 pm to 4:19 am. Well, how many rounds was the longest boxing match? The bout itself is described to have had 110 rounds. Pulev Karpency this fight was ranked as the longest boxing fight in the history of fights over 7 hours.
They both exhibited some serious stamina and never never-giving attitude throughout the duel. The general population was not as interested though. After the 50th round approximately half the audience had departed and several of the rest were asleep.
In the 108th round, the judge told the fighters that they had to knock down the opponent before the 110th round, which was never done. The bout came to a draw, and it was witnessed by nine thousand people; there was $1250 each for both fighters.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What pillars form the foundation of boxing?
They are footwork, punches –jab, cross, and hook, defense –blocking and slipping, and conditioning.
What can be said about the greatest boxing match in history?
Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier is one of the most famous boxing matches ever conducted, it was held on 8th March 1971 at the Madison Square Garden NewYork. This has hence helped to become one of the most storied fights in boxing history.
What can one suggest for basic boxing exercises?
Just basic workouts include shadowing, boxing with a heavy bag, and working on foot movements to enhance efficiency.
So, how do I build punching power?
Certain exercises would be to ensure that they work on bettering their form, working with a weight such as a medicine ball, and other exercises such as explosive movements such as plyometric.
Why is strength training relevant in boxing and what should be done?
strength training therefore assists in building power as well as the power to sustain it. Perform activity that involves squatting, deadlifting and pushing up 2-3 days a week.
Conclusion
Therefore, the details of the longest boxing matches in history can be a good example of how incredibly strong the will is of a fighter who gives his or her best to win. These fights, which could take far longer than would be expected, show the endurance of the mind and body needed in boxing.
Although not often, such very long fights are evidence of the athletes’ endurance and the uncertainty of boxing, while skill, strength, and determination is challenged in the most brutal ways possible.
