Joe Coburn

Street Fighting Man

Over a span of eight years and thousands of miles Joe Coburn and Jem Mace attempted to fight for the championship.

The first planned meeting in Ireland disolved when the two could not agree upon a referee, that was in the fall of 1864. Coburn returned to America where five years later he happened into a Twenty-Third Street New York City saloon and restaurant owned and operated by none other than Jem Mace. Words were exchanged and finally a date was set for the match, May 11, 1871.

What ensued was one of the most bizarre events in the history of the prize ring. For over an hour both men stood in their corners and never exchanged a blow. Each time the two would come to scratch Coburn would immediately return to his corner and there surrounded by his cohorts who as George Siler put it, " had knives and guns in their hands and murder in their eyes." To again quote Siler, " Mace thought more of his life than the money involved in the battle.."refused to be lured to his certain doom. After fifteen minutes had passed Mace ,with bottle in hand ,approached Coburn saying "I'll drink with you, Joe", to which Coburn responded, " And I'll take a drink with you, Jem". Immediately, as Mace drew closer Coburn unleashed a volley of abuse calling him , among other things, a coward. Mace returned to his corner where he remained for an hour and fifteen minutes. Finally, local officials stepped in a put a stop to the stand-off.

After much name calling and accusation, another match date was set for November 30, 1871. This time the two fought furiously for eleven rounds. Then at the coming to scratch for round twelve the odd waltz of the first event began anew, Mace, fearful of Coburn's crew, Coburn likewise unwilling to be drawn to Mace's side of the ring. Finally, the referee declared a draw, saying, " ...one was afraid and the other daresn't."

Thus, ended the eight year odyssey of Coburn vs. Mace. The two were never to meet again. Joe Coburn in March of 1877 was sentenced to ten years in prison for felonious assault with intent to kill Policeman William Tobias in New York City. He served five and a half years of the sentence.

Joe Coburn died December 6, 1890 of consumption. He was fifty-five years of age.

Vintage Large Format Second Generation Photograph

Size: 11 X 14 inches

Condition: Fair Two closed tears at right margin edge. Small area of paper loss to confined to white margin areaa.Surface creasing at mid point left margin. Presents as pictured, most defects would matt out.

Price: $65.00

2000-3036

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