Boxing has seen a whole host of wars in the ring, from the Gatti vs Ward trilogy to Hagler vs Hearns, but one in 1893 sets the precedent for the longest and potentially bloodiest bout in the history of the sport.
There has been recent discussion around reintroducing 15-round contests to boxing, after Teofimo Lopez backed the idea for high-profile fights such as undisputed title fights.
Many were opposed to this idea, with the knowledge that every additional round marks more chance of injury and brain damage.
But many years ago, fighters were not afforded the luxury of this knowledge and would fight for upwards of twenty or thirty rounds and in one case, many more.
Jack Burke and Andy Bowen fought for 110 rounds
In 1893, some 132 years ago and long before the times of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s enthralling fight watched by 10% of Earth’s population, or Joe Louis’ heavyweight reign lasting 11 years, or even The Boston Bonecrusher’s bout with Jack Johnson, Jack Burke and Andy Bowen were set to fight, not knowing that it would go on to become the longest boxing fight in history.
The fight began in the evening, lasting until the next afternoon, and took place over seven and a half hours.
It was contested for 110 rounds, at which point neither man could continue, and, after hours of grueling battle, no winner was declared as the bout was ruled a no contest.
According to Mental Floss, Burke reportedly broke several bones in both of his hands throughout the ordeal, but Bowen would end up worse off only a short while later.
After another war, this time lasting 85 rounds, Bowen went on to fight George Lavigne the following year, a bout in which Bowen fractured his skull on the floor after being dropped in the eighteenth round.
This injury would prove fatal.
The shortest boxing match in history didn’t have a single punch thrown
From the longest fight to the shortest, this fight happened in 2018 and lasted only once second, without a single punch being thrown.
Efe Ajagba, who is now set to face Martin Bakole, was set to defend his then 5-0 record against a 13-5 Curtis Harper in Minnesota. However, the fight took a bizarre turn when Harper exited the ring and left the venue as soon as the bell rang.
Ajagba won the bout as Harper was disqualified. He later explained that he did this as a result of a pay dispute with his team.
Harper was reportedly set to face Deontay Wilder, though this fight has now been axed.