In May 1893, Jim Hall beat Frank Slavin by 7th round KO. Boxrec has a description of this bout as follows: "The bout is considered an out-and-out 'fix' arranged by Charlie Mitchell" A report after the bout said of the first round: "When time was called Slavin's face wore a peculiar, dazed expression. He lurched heavily twice as he left his corner and was generally unsteady in his gait" "Throughout the round he never closed his glove, and when time was called went to his corner amid the hissing and groaning of the spectators". A report in the Sportsman titled "DRUNK OR DRUGGED" said: "Slavin was in such splendid condition two hours before the fight that his backer laid $1,300 to $800 on him. Many believe Slavin was drugged or induced to drink heavily before the fight". Slavin claimed afterwards that he had no clear memory of anything that had happened after he arrived at the venue. He said "It was all like a dream. I knew I was fighting, but I had no strength in my arms and legs". The day after the fight, Charlie Mitchell and Jim Hall had a severe argument, which was settled with fists. Hall had "decidedly the worst of the encounter". What they argued about was not reported. Mitchell had worked Hall's corner in the fight, having previously worked as Slavin's trainer and cornerman. A week after the fight, interviewed in an article entitled "WAS SLAVIN DRUGGED, OR BEATEN IN FAIR FIGHT?" Mitchell denied that there was foul play, saying that Hall had won the fight fairly, and a big punch in the first round was what had made Slavin act strangely. Many years later, when Slavin wrote a series of articles about his career in 1926, he wrote the following: "I had practically decided to have nothing more to do with the ring, when Jim Hall, an Australian light-heavyweight, readied London looking for a bout. The first thing I knew I was matched with him. We appeared at the National Sporting Club, and once again I made a showing that made me wild with my self. "Take him out, he's drunk," they shouted in the seventh round. I was staggering about like a sailor on his first night ashore. I had not been hit hard, but there was no use for the bout to continue, and the referee stopped us. I could faintly remember Billy Bevan, who was one of my seconds, passing a sponge over my face during the rests between the first three rounds. There was a peculiar odour to it. The club doctor was called to my dressing room, and he stated that I had been doped." Does anyone have any more information on whether a fix was ever established?
Hard to say. Hall was a good fighter, now very underrated. I have read a lot of the English fight reports and it appears that Hall caught Slavin with a big shot in the first round. However, it is also true that warning signs were in early with Slavin looking sluggish and groggy. Within a few days there were claims of drink or drugging...on the other hand Slavin never really turned any other top class performance. BTW I read the Sporting Life report of the fight quoted in Boxrec, page 4, and nowhere does it say that "The bout is considered an out-and-out 'fix' arranged by Charlie Mitchell" and it is further incorrect in stating that it was a finish fight, it was scheduled for twenty. Hall's fights with Maher, Fitz(in Australia) and McCoy also arroused suspicion.
we certainly can't know for certain on a lot of such bouts, but we do know also that there were many, many others that were Reported - Robberies or Very Questionable, validated further by the workings & dealing leading up to such fights and the insurances of pre arranged important fights made even before said questionable fights and decisions... then of course there is all the insider consensus and hearsay. so again, we can't know them all, but we do know with all certainty, that Boxing IS A Rigged & Corrupt Business with far too many crooked actions & outcomes.
Honestly it seems like Hall wobbled Slavin early which likely caused him to look intoxicated, and the shock of a middleweight like Hall beating Slavin so thoroughly may have caused people to think of foul play.
Its interesting a later match between the two in December 1897 is the earliest LHW title fight on record. And this match was apparently 100% not a fix but had the exact same outcome Hill by KO 7th round.
