Harry Sellers is viewed as Champion of England due to his victory over Peter Corcoran in 1776, until his loss to Duggan Fearns in 1779, he, however reclaimed the title, I don't know when this reign is considered to have ended, though he lost to William Harvey in 1785 From Boxiana HARRY SELLERS Was brought into notice by his conquest over Peter Corcoran. Sellers was a west-countryman, possessing some science, and not deficient in strength ; but he was not generally considered as a pugilist of stanch bottom, although he had gained several battles in the country parts of England. Whenever the fight proved too hot for him, Sellers had recourse to dropping on his knees, and striking his adversary as he fell, by which manoeuvre he saved himself many a leveller, and was able to protract the combat. He never ranked as a thorough-bred Boxer, nor was looked up to as a first-rate Pugilist. Joe Hood fought with Sellers, at Ascot-heath races, for fifty pounds; but was compelled to give-in; yet Joe, in a short time afterwards, flattered himself that he could beat him, and insisted upon another trial with Sellers; which was agreed to upon the part of the latter, and another set'to commenced : the battle was well contested, and Joe made use of all his judgement and bottom; but Sellers, as before, proved victorious. Harry also beat the Nailer. [William Stevens, the man who beat Jack Slack] An Irish Boatswain, Jack Feams, had a set-to with Sellers for fifty pounds, and disposed of him in a few minutes! The amateurs were so taken by surprise, that their money was lost before they had scarcely time to recover from their astonishment, and much grumbling ensued ! The odds had been betted upon Sellers. Harry, after his victory over Corcoran, was continually insulting the Paddies; and being, one St. Patrick' severing, at the Black Dog, Hollovvay-mount, a Mr. Harvey, alamp-black-maker, was among the company, who had a Shamrock in his hat, in honour of that Saint! Sellers (who, it appears, was unknown) began sneering and laughing at Harvey, and observed, " that he ought to take that thing from his hat, as the conceit had been completely taken out of the Paddies since their Champion Peter had been defeated !" In consequence of this insult, words arose, and Harvey, feeling warmly for the honour of his countrymen, talked about resent ing such conduct ; when Sellers immediately offered to (ight him nine guineas to four, which was accepted by Paddy i the stakes were instantly made good; and it wasagrced the contest should be decided, the next morn ing, in the most convenient field near the house. Harvey was a tall, well-made man, but a total stranger to the science; yet possessing that manly courage which would not let him put up with a gross affront pusillanimously. Harvey was there at the time appointed, contrary to Sellers' expectation, who vainly imagined, that if his antagonist had found out who he was, that he would forfeit the money rather than enter the lists with so great a man! — but viewing Harvey to cool and collected about the business, Sellers did not half like him ; and, by way of terrifying Harvey, said, " my name is Sellers — I don't want to hurt you, and will let yon off for a leg of mutton and trimmings!" — " By de powers of Moll Kelly," replied Paddy, " if a single potate would buy me off, I'll not give it you, Honey! and Devil may care whether you're Sellers or any other big blackguard ; but I mane to give you a good bating for your impertinence !" Words were now useless, and Sellers finding his fame at stake, the combatants entered the ring, and the set-to commenced — when the anticipated fears of Sellers were too soon realized, and he found that Harvey was not to be trifled with. Sellers tried all the manoeuvres of the art to puzzle and exhaust his antagonist — but Harvey's true courage rose superior to all the attacks of his adversary, and straight forward completely punished Sellers in a quarter of an hour. Sellers, thus deservedly disgraced and beaten, soon fell into disrepute and oblivion.
From Pancratia October 16, 1776, a boxing match was fought between the well-known Irish pugilist Peter Corcoran, and Harry Seller, a West-country bruiser, for 100 guineas, and bets to the amount of £500 or £600 depending on the event. The combatants met at the Crown Inn, Staines, to decide the contest; at the first onset, Corcoran gave his anragonist a most violent blow, which threw to the fartest end of the stage, and the odds increased from three, to five to one in Peter's favour. Sellers afterwards fought very shy for about 18 minutes, in order to wind his antagonist, which having accomplished, he advanced boldly, and beat him by straight forward hitting in ten minutes. This was the first conquest gained over this Hibernian champion It has been reported that Sellers absolutely died with grief, on account of his friends neglecting to match him with the celebrated pugilist Johnson, when he first came into fame. . . . June 4, 1777, at Ascot-heath races, Joe Hood and Harry Sellers fought a battle for £50 a side, in which though Joe displayed astonishing judgment and bottom, he was overcome by the superior skill and activity of Sellers. July 2, these two champions again contested the palm, when Hood proved equally unsuccessful. In the Summer of 1778, Sellers fought Bill Stevens, the nailer, for £25, in which he was also victorious. . . . September 25, 1780, a boxing match for 50 guinneas was fought at the Crown, at Slough, between Harry Sellers and Duggan, an Irish boatswain. The contest lasted only one minute and a half, victory declared in favour of Duggan, and the amateurs swindled to a large amount. . . . June 7, 1785, Harry Sellers contested a battle with William Harvey, an Irishman, in the Ass-field, near Holywell-mount, in which, notwithstanding he exerted himself to the utmost, he was completely conquered by dint of the Irishman's strength, in 20 minutes.
Pugilistica lists Harry Sellers reign from 1776-1885 HARRY SELLERS, a west country boxer of deserved provincial reputation, was "chosen by some friends as a likely young fellow to reduce the bragga- docia of Corcoran, whose challenges were of the true Hibernian cut of some hedge-schoolmaster transplanted to the Seven Dials. The match was made for 100 guineas "and a bet of 500 or 600 on the event,"- We do not profess to know what the last phrase means and the combatants met at the Crown Inn, Staines, October 10, 1776. The attendance appears to have been remarkably good. Corcoran, with the " gift of the gab," was the landlord of the Elakeney's Head, St. Giles's, and was a sort of " Stunning Joe Banks" of his day : what he was good for as a pugilist we cannot say. " At the first onset," says the report, " Corcoran gave his antagonist a violent blow, which threw him to the farthest end of the stage, and the odds increased from three to four to one in Peter's favour. Sellers now fought very shy for about eighteen minutes, in order to wind his antagonist, which having accomplished, he advanced boldly and beat him by straight-forward hitting in ten minutes." Did any one ever read a more "plain unvarnished tale" of how a natural fighter and good boxer beat a bounceable publican? What need of the farrago we find at pages 86, 87, 88, vol. i. of " Boxiana," to explain that which needs no explanation? Corcoran was thrashed, and, we believe, couldn't help it. Pierce tells us a story of his house in St. Giles's flowing with " all sorts of spirits, plenty of new pots, etc., inside and outside painted, and got up in superior style to what it was ever witnessed before," etc. Moreover and here is the detail that clinches it " Peter was playing skittles next morning with all the activity and cheerfulness of a man who had never been engaged in pugilism." As Pierce about this period was a Dublin " gossoon," he must have had an exact knowledge of the decorations, interior and exterior, of Peter's hostelrie, and a reliable tradition of his morning's amusements. For ourselves, a much more careful search than that of the inventor of "Boxiana" (who made none, by the way), fails to tell us more than we have hereinbefore set down. On the 4th of June, 1777, at Ascot Heath races, Joe Hood,* a hardy and sucvcssrul boxer, fought Harry Sellers for 50 guineas aside. Joe fought with jreat courage and skill, but the science and activity of Sellers secured the victory. Hood fought Sellers again, four weeks afterwards (June 2), and was again beaten. In June, 1778, Harry Sellers met the once formidable champion, Bill Stevens, the Nailer. It was a one-sided affair. Stevens, still courageous, could not stand against the rapidity, skill, and freshness of Harry, and was defeated. The stake was but 25, which shows how the mighty Stevens had fallen. The Crown, at Slough, a favourite rendezvous of the swell patrons of pugilism, was the scene, on the 25th of September, 1780, of a boxing match between Harry Sellers and Duggan Fearns, an Irish boatswain (called Jack Fearns in "Boxiana"). The accounts read very like a cross, though we can hardly say that there is clear evidence. "The battle lasted one minute and a half, when victory was declared in favour of Duggan." We are not told how the event was brought about, but the reporter adds his own opinion : " the amateurs were swindled to a large amount," and certainly very clumsily. On the 7th of June (1785), we find that Harry Sellers contested a battle with William Harvey, an Irishman, in the Ass Field, near Holywell Mount, Grays Inn Road, "in which, notwithstanding he exerted himself to the utmost, he was conquered by dint of the Irishman's strength in twenty minutes." The reader will observe the date is the 7th of June. This may give him sufficient insight to value accordingly the story of "St. Patrick's evening" (17th March), the " insult to Mr. Harvey's shamrock in his hat," the "leg of mutton and trimmings," offered by Sellers to be let off a thrashing, and the wretched rubbish in "Boxiana," pp. 88, 89, "for the greater glory of ould Ireland." The red hot ire of Mr. Harvey remained to cool from March 17th to the 7th of the following June, if there be any truth in the periodical contemporary press. The appearance of Humphries, Big Ben (Brain), and the rise of the great Tom Johnson, seem to have quite extinguished the minor pugilistic stars, and so occupied the whole attention of the patrons and historians of the ring, that Sellers disappears from the scene. In "Pancratia," p. 63, we read, " It has been reported that Sellers actually died with grief, on account of his friends refusing to match him with the celebrated pugilist Tom Johnson when first he rose into fame." This proves, at any rate, that Sellers was what the west countrymen call "a good woolled one:" there was no deficiency in breed, whatever there might be in his probity or judgment.
From boxing reviewed (1790) SELLERS Was stronger and had more art than Corcoran, yet did not hit with equal vigor. He was celebrated for rallying, or recovering himself, when closely presed. This he effected by a stratagem practised long before, but not frequently used till he revived it. When he found it impossiblc any longer to stand an assault, he fell on one of his knees, and thus evaded the disgrace of a knock-down blow. He was the more censurable for this practice, as he rarely encountered his superior in ftrength. He was very successful in striking his adversary as he himself dropped, and this has more than once terminated a battle in his favor. The following anecdote is relate of Sellers, by some of the fighting men of his time. The neglect of his friends in not backing him against Johnson, when this celebrated pugilist first came into notice, so affected him with sorrow, that it caused his death. For the truth of this I will not pledge myself.
Derby Mercury - Friday 21 June 1776 About six Weeks ago a Bet was made for a Battle for 50 Guineas a Side, between Cochran, the noted Irish Bruiser, and Seller, a Sawyer, from the West of England. The Combatants tossed up which should chuse the Place of fighting, and Seller winning, chose Staines in Middlesex, where he had a Number of Acquaintance. Leonard was chosen as Second to Cochran, and the famous Maggs was sent for from Bristol to second Celler. Monday being the Day fixed for the Battle, a stage was erected at the White Lion Inn, and Thousands of People assembled in Coaches, Landaus, Post and single Horse Chaises, and on Foot; and Road from Hounslow to Staines being a perfect Fair. The Combatants mounted the Stage at Two of the Clock, and it being agreed that the Conqueror should have the Door Money, it was deposited in the Hands of a Gentleman, amounting to about 60l. Just as the Antagonists had shaken Hands, and were putting themselves in a Posture of Defence, a Barn, on which were above a Hundred People, fell at once to the Ground, but not one Person was materially hurt. The Battle now commenced; and after a sever Contest of twenty Minutes, Victory declared in Favour of Seller, who by one Blow cut Cochran's Cheek bare to the Bone from the Top of the Jaw to the Neck. Immense Sums were lost by the Friends of Cochran, who was never beaten before; whereas Seller had never before mounted a public Stage. One Gentleman lost 1,800l. and Seller cleared about 110l by the Victory. The News was brought to Whitechapel by Pigeons in forty Minutes after the Battle ended. The Ipswich Journal – Jun 22 1776 (page 2) 6. Yesterday a desperate battle was fought at Staines, in Middlesex, between the noted Cockran and Henry Selvey, a sawyer, belonging to Mr. Thomas Weston, of Blackwall, for 50 guineas a side. After fighting upwards of 20 minutes, victory declared in favour of Selvey, he having giving his antagonist a desperate blow which cut Cockran’s check bare to the bone from the top of the jaw-bone to the neck. Immense sums were lost by the friends of Cockran, who was never beat cefore, whereas Selvy has never before mounted a public stage. One gentleman lost 1800l. and Selvey cleared about 110l. by the victory, besides 60l. door-money, which was agreed to be given to the conqueror. London Evening Post - April 14, 1778 Yesterday a battle was fought on Wimbledon Commons, between Sellers and Turner, two noted bruisers, for 50l. besides bye-bets to a large amount, which was won by Sellers with great ease, who beat his antagonist honourably. Oxford Journal - Saturday 05 September 1778 Yesterday a great Boxing-Match was fought on a Stage erected for that Purpose on Hounslow-Heath, between the celebrated Stevens, a Nailor, and Sellers, the Sawyer; when after two or three Rounds, Victory decleared in Favour of the latter. The Odds, two to one on the Victor. After this a very desperate Battle was fought for thirty Minutes between two Pupils of the First, which proved as severe a Contest as has been known for some Time. Not a Shock-Head within twenty Miles of London but was present on the above Occasion. Drewry’s Derby Mercury – 04 Sep to 11 Sep 1778 (page 1) Tuesday was fought on Hounslow-Heath the much-talked-of Battle between Sellers, the West-Countryman, who lately fought and beat Cochran the Irishman, and the noted Naylor, for Fifty Guineas a-head. A Stage was erected on the Heath for the Combatants, who appeared at Half past Two o’Clock, and soon after began. The Odds before the Battle were in Favour of Sellers seven to five, and more as soon as they were ready for Combat, increasing still higher as the Battle continued, which lasted about nine Minutes. The Naylor fought with the Disadvantage of Age and debauched Constitution, being fifty Years old, whilst Sellers is not thirty, and a remarkable abstemious Man. The Naylor, however, had not entirely forgot the art, for he once fairly laid his Antagonist at length, but in Retaliation suffered the same three successive Times, till at last Victory proclaimed in Favor of Sellers, who, by a West-Country Trick, disabled his Antagonist from any further Defence. The Seconds, on this Occasion, were Peter Leonard for Sellers, and Pitt for the Naylor Dublin Evening Post - Tuesday 01 June 1779 Yesterday, the day, the important day, arrived, which was to have decided the Broughtonian honours between the renowned west-countryman, Sellers, (who some time ago stripped off the laurels from the brows of the celebrated Irish bruiser, Peter Cochran) and Pitt, the famous Butcher, who has twice before paid forfeit to his antagonist, Sellers, A stage was built in a farm-yard at Isleworth, and the competitors were to fight for 50 guineas a side, at any time between twelve and four o'clock, half forfeit. The avenue to the farm-yard was shut up bu planks nailed up, but the mob at three o'clock made their way through by pulling some of the planks down. At a quater before four Seller came on the Stafe, and staid there till a quater past four ; but the butcher, who was at Isleworth, sent word he would not fight except all the people were turned out of the yard, and paid 6d. each for entrance. A thing impossible in its nature. At quater past four, Seller went off the stage, when the mob immediately pulled it down; and soon afterPitt came by on horseback, and attended by some friendly butcher, with clubs, &c. and the hisses, groans, and peltings of all the gentlemen present, who were fired with indignation at his dishonourable conduct. They proceeded to such lengths as to pull him off his horse, and threaten to duck him; to save himself from which, Mr. Pitt heroically returned, and sent word to Sellers he would fight him in a ring. Sellers sent word for answer, by the advice of his friends, that he would fight him in a ring directly, but it must be for a fresh bet, as he would not fight for a sum he has already won. This Pitt did not chause to agree to, and he retied with a worse clamour against him than before, till at length, a man bestowing on the butcher the epithet of a raseal and a coward, an engagement ensued, when Pigott got himself most heartily drubbed, besides losing 25 guineas to the West-countryman. Thus ended this affair of honour, for the third time, between those two great champions in the noble science of boxing.
Plenty more research into this guy is needed. Heavyweight Champions from Ancient to Present Bareknuckle history meta-thread
