Up to this point, most of the fights I had watched had been heavyweight fights, and that had not been by choice, just that most of the earliest films were heavyweight ones. This was a flyweight fight, and far more exciting than any of the previous fights I had seen up to this point (just since I started rewatching boxing again). The 12th round was a pretty good one. Both engaged in a few toe-to-toe exchanges before Wilde hurt Symonds and then pinned him in the corner where he gave him a pummeling until Symonds collapsed to the canvas. End of the fight. Even my dad, who dislikes anything that's not heavyweight agreed it was the best fight we'd seen yet. Verdict: A very, neat, orderly fight. Certainly not a classic, but not too dull either. It was a decent fight. Unlike previous fights though that were at least significant historically, or to boxing, I would not suggest anyone watch this one.
If a person is at all interested in the history of divisions other than heavyweight, then this fight is essential watching. Wilde was one of the greatest early champions, and this is by far his greatest performance among the very few examples we have of him on film.
