english 18th century engineer man reputed possess strength mild manner fought lost notorious boxing matches era physically contest english champion described hercules fighting boy period worked manufacturers steam engines based birmingham travelled country times acted informant people thought breached employer patents later years life ran public house manchester undertook engineering work account appointed lead manchester fire brigade died little months later performance duties early life little information early life probably born father called worked stationary steam engines death year junior offered work cornwall business turned subsequently accepted birmingham based job firm fighting particularly popular birmingham lifetime legal standpoint fights ran risk classified assemblies practice authorities concerned mainly number criminals patronage aristocracy including royal princes wealthy people ensured legal scrutiny generally particular fights place private estates increased support sport interest shown later king brothers future king duke kent early 18th century england took forms referred noted boxing champion noble science defence middle century term generally denote boxing fights appeal time compared historian saying patriotic writers sports british claiming reflected courageous robust nation pride regarded humane fair practice presented terms symbol national courage worth placed individual honour french argued like free people relied authorities resolve disputes contrast british dealt problems straightforward manner according established rules fair play reported long practised area local records find october knock professional called fighters received won minutes knocking thirteen times friends apparently won betting record exception rule records fights detailed period particularly case involve men london death remarkable incident occurred information scarce london premier centre boxing aristocratic supporters sport dispersed country estates summer months tended city winter period birmingham portrayed second london sport series challenges issued fighters birmingham area opponents based london challenges intended demonstrate level organisation confidence birmingham supporters challenges accepted including issued general challenge offering fight man england prize having beaten counties birmingham johnson fight took place october billed battle birmingham london english championship venue intended race meeting permission obtained men age physically different stood tall weighed pounds johnson weighed pounds claimed lifted pounds iron ease universally allowed possess skill excellent acknowledged courageous physical later described fight hercules form boy minutes competition saw man strike blow tried contact johnson return recovered hold upper hand rounds johnson began dance ring forcing follow fight shifting confused custom time fighters stand hit rules particular fight prevent specify happen contestant fell ground johnson avoid hit action thought spectators permitted long fighters showed signs opponent attacks johnson suffering cut eyes damage faces fight end head scarcely traces left human according history boxing contest lasted rounds took total minutes complete totally exhausted said overwhelming physical advantages owing clause inserted articles agreement prevent shifting inexperienced sport found adversary celebrated champion supporters gone way rules based work earlier champion called johnson time loose interpretation implementation supporters heavily reputation advantage size event major supporter johnson gained won equivalent favour johnson gifted victor event recorded gentleman magazine month great boxing match took place johnson turf stage erected foot inches high feet square combatants set afternoon rounds fair hard fighting victory declared favour johnson exactly minutes number persons family fortune interested brutal conquest astonishing proper add paid diversion contestants received johnson receiving thirds entrance costs receiving net number spectators variously stated johnson called left guinea buy drink leaving fight proved hardest brilliant encounters took place copper medals struck commemorate contestants contained picture respective fighter reverse latin inscription quotation translated wars horrible wars words strength case science johnson speculated produced employers says bear similarities work french die maker called supplying firm industrial items holds pictures fight published possible fight minute contest july widely reported london press provincial cities subsequently denied newspapers local event unsuccessful attempts date match known time defeated johnson attempts conducted help cause employment firm thought distraction expressed concern commitment work despite brutal nature opinion boxing historian book lamb like disposition intelligent modest liked man anecdotes ready sing tune stood good nonetheless erratic genius reckless riot ruined extinguished higher gifts work employed birmingham sent country firm visited scotland reported invention possibly patent held employers device creator installed stationary steam engine manchester june spotted copy product examples firm patents engine built fire place similar patented instance matter pursued position firm sufficiently elevated received business correspondence factory example letter survives october sought advice educated standards time economic historian said engine needed understand fitting instructions sent work site employers eventually moved manchester permanently run public house unusual thing retired received proceeds financial collection supporters enable buy licence operate premises today fighter merely tomorrow waiting review sporting prints titled old new lamented passing style discipline prize fighting goal successful sporting public house generally streets house command trade sporting large room upstairs open night week saturday public conducted note running public house continued work engine dismissed employment arguing firm engineers upset customers manner accused failing maintain engines manchester area satisfactory standard tried charge particular grounds firm pay maintenance work allowed kept clean afraid sic hands servants send hands heads like lord engineer thought lose time neglect business consideration setback work firm tracked informed firm patent copies engines leeds probably thing subsequently lancashire manchester shows engineer living public house street street listed turn great street called entry references term engineer found documents job description time relatively new stated time death running public house neptune historian believes source statement unreliable engineering work employers manufacturing problems shortage engine running business engaged general called manchester engine owners preferred use services machine erection maintenance needs moved december appointed position conductor inspector engines manchester police commissioners positions effectively charge fire brigade source considered unreliable stated held position years prior death death death age announced december noted engine worker register said hero remembered contested battle fought celebrated johnson possessed astonishing muscular power rendered calculated united disposition death violently assisting save life property fire manchester announcement demise premature fact died january contracting fever rescue occurred huge fire burned night december fire described annals manchester warehouses square burnt december caused damages extent exclusive buildings december awarded commissioners services memorial wife mary months placed john church street manchester
Isaac Perrins