 The death of Tom McCoy following his loss to Chris Lilly in Westchester County on September 13, 1842, led to a more vigorous enforcement of the laws against prizefighting, and ultimately delayed the matching of Hyer with Yankee Sullivan.Sullivan had been arrested and imprisoned for nearly two years after the fight for working as its principal promoter.In 1842, Hyer was challenged by the heavyweight champion of England Ben Caunt, but no fight was held.