Sam Hurst is generally considered to have held the championship from a victory over Tom Paddock in 1860, until losing his honours to Jem Mace in 1861 From Pugilistica Volume III Once more, and for the last time, our hero [Tom Paddock] appeared in the P.R. This was in combat with the gigantic Sam Hurtst, who, in 1860, put forth a claim to the Championship. Hurst, who weighed 15st., and stood 6ft. 2½ in., was renowned as a wrestler. Hurst, of whom the reader may know more by a reference to the Memoir of Jem Mace, in a future chapter of the present volume, was, of course, formidable from his strength, weight, and bulk; his boxing pretensions were of a mediocre quality. Paddock lost the battle by a chance blow from the Colossus, in the fifth round, at the end of nine and a half minutes; and thus closed an ative, chequered, but not inglorious Ring career as a defeated man. The Morning Post - 7 Nov 1860 (page 5) The champion's belt was yesterday scrambled for by Old Tom Paddock, a well-known veteran of the prize-ring, and a Lancashore man named Hurst, alias the Staleybridge Infant. The fight, after being stopped near Basingstoke, at last came off near Hungerford. Paddock, whose age is 36, and some 5ft. 11in., is a burly, florid, good humoured looking fellow. He has, however, lost his former science, and years have told upon him. Hurst is a young man of 23, whose height is 6ft. 2in.; his ordinary weight is 19 stone, but his training had brought him down to a little under 15st. He is larger and heavier than Heenan, and a clumsy fellow to look at. The "battle" was hardly worthy of the name—only five rounds were fought. Hurst drew "first blood;" but in the first four rounds both men fought very poorly. Instead of the swift, lightning-like blows and ready agility of such athletes as Sayers or Mace, there was only an exhibition of clumsy sparring, in which the men's fists described slow movements, more like those of heavenly bodies in Adams orrery than those of boxers seeking the belt. In the fifth round Paddock delivered the only fine blow given in the course of the fight, full and straight upon the left eye and cheek of Hurst. The "Infant" fairly staggered under it, and was in the act of retiring to his corner, when Paddock made an absurd rush at him unworthy of any novice. Hurst, recovering himself, turned suddenly round, and struck, with the whole force of his prodigious weight, a wild sort of blow, which happened, as luck would have it, to light on the left side of Tom, somewhere about the heart, and felled him as if a cannon ball had struck him. He sank senseless, breathless, and prostrate. He was, of course, "knocked out of time," and the sponge thrown up. Poor Paddock was a long while in coming to himself, and was apparently in great pain. Hurst is now Champion of England, and it remains to be seen whether he will be allowed long to retain the belt he has won. From the unscientific mode in which he fought, it is expected that, notwithstanding his great strength and weight, other boxers will not be slow challenging him. Another fight between two clever feather-weights, named Lead and Hartley, was next carried on with great spirit for twelve rounds, when the police arrived, and the whole pary returned to town. Thearrangements were very excellent, and none of the scenes which have disgraced late prize-fights were complained of on this occasion. Liverpool Mercury - 7 Nov 1860 (page 2) THE FIGHT FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP. The fight between Sam Hurst (the Stalybridge Infant) and Tom Paddock having been appointed to come off yesterday, about 300 persons started by a special train on the Great Western Railyway at 5 o'clock a.m. The train halted between Mortimer and Basingstoke. A move, however, was soon insisted on by the police, both those of Berks and Hants being present, doubtless enlightened by telegram from London. The train retraced its way to Reading, and thhence proceses on the Hungerford branch towards Aldermaston, about seven miles from Reading. Hurst was seconded by Jim Hodhkiss and Jemmy Welsh. Paddock was seconded by Jerry Noon and Jem Robinson. When stripped, the disparity between the men was even more marked than that between Sayers and Heenan. In the first round, Paddock led off with his left, but was short, Hurst counteres on the collar bone, and tried to close, but Paddock got down. 2nd Round.—The infant got on heavily on Tom's mouth, drawing first blood, and both scrambled down, Tom under. 3rd Round.—After some very wild exchanges, Tom got down to avoid a close. 4th Round.—Hurst got on Tom's mouth, but without effect. Tom countered short; they closed, when the Infant threw Tom heavily. 5th and Last Round.—Hurst again forced the fighting, and delivered his left on Paddock's damaged mouth. Tom countered hotler on Hurst's left eye, which half turned the Infant round. Tom immediately ran at him to follow up his advantage, but met a terrific lunge from Hurst's right, which got home below Paddock's heart and completely floored him. Tom was quite unable to come up in time, and Hurst was deeclared the victor. Hurst showed but slight punishment. The fight between Hartley and Lead, for £50, was next proceeded with, but in the twelfth round the police stopped the affair.
There's a much longer Bell's Life in London report I will type up if there's interest. I haven't done one of these sorts of threads for a while, though I'll try to add more info to get it more up to standard.
