The Earliest boxing in America?

@escudo

The Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser - July 1, 1786 (page 2)
The following savage act of Gouging, is copied from a Philadelphia paper of the 21st inst. andfully evinces the neccessity that the different States are under to enact such laws as may deter such unprincipled wretches from the perpetration of that brutal and savagelike crimt in future.
There cannot be traced in all antient history so detestable and infernal a custom as has been known of late in America, in the fighting way, betweens human rational beings!—The brute creation are far more honourable by nature in their resentments to each other: the victor is satisfied with the victory he obtains, and leaves his prostrate yielder to recover his wonted vigorL but the fell malice of an inexorable imp-like mortal, pursues with unremitting vengeance, to maim and destroy the conquered victim, by that infernal method of gouging out the very eyes which his Maker bestowed on him as the greatest of earthly blessings.

Lately a friend to humanity was an eye witness of a horrid scene between two mortals engaged at the fists, having previously promised to act failry and honourably by each other, agreeably to the true Broughtonian rules. One of them religously kept his promise; often threw his antagonist, and honourably premitted him to rise and renew the contest: and this lenity he expected from the other; but, O wretched to recounr the scene that followed! the first fall he gave his generous combantan, the monster threw his pnderous caracse on the unhappy victim, and in an instant thrust his fingers into both eyes, plucked them out, and threw them on the ground, and left him, exulting in the barbarous act; well knowing there were no human laws to be accountable for this horrid act, worse than murder! This poor unhappy sufferer by his dailyt labour supported an affectionate wife and six tender children, now left forlon, helpless and wretched, and the poor blind parent remains an object distressing to behold. Ought not our christian law-makers immediately to set about restraining this wicked practice, by making death or gouging the penalty, and without benefit of clergy? What lengths will not depraved men go to, when unrestrained by penal laws? The destructive consequences, if it be permitted to continue with impunity, will bring a curse on the land.

 

Glaukos did a thread on rough and tumble fighting a while ago, eye gouging was apparently pretty common in it.

 

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...es-alternative-to-lprr-broughton-rules.598581

I should also note that the Jacob Hyer fight, traditionally considered the first American boxing match also is said to have devolved into rough and tumble (though not eye gouging), so that shouldn't disqualify this one.