Jake Kilrain

Circa 1887

On a island in the River Siene, near Dieppe, France in bone-chilling drizzle Jake Kilrain fought the English Champion, Jem Smith, for 106 rounds and nearly three hours.

The contest arranged by Richard K. Fox, to crown the champion of the world, following Sullivan's refusal to agree to meet Kilrain, was viewed by exactly seventy-nine spectators, who paid upwards from $200 each. Seventy-four of the specatators were English, and thus backers of Smith, among them the Marquis of Queensberry, and the brother of Oscar Wilde, Willis.

In all Kilrain knocked Smith to the ground thirty-six times. The first twenty-two of these knockdowns came in the first fifty rounds. In the proceeding round fifty-one Smith attempted to gouge out Kilrain's eye, this was finally brought to a halt by the vociferous protestations of Charlie Mitchell, who although English was one of Kilrain's cornermen. From that round through the 105th round, Smith would take to the ground voluntarily whenever Kilrain threatened. Finally, in round 106, Kilrain caught Smith with a telling right hand and he went down, but before the fight could be declared a victory for Kilrain the crowd forced the referee to call a draw due to darkness.

Thus, a fight viewed by seventy-nine spectators, in a freezing drizzle in France, was by means of the considerable voice of Richard K. Fox's Police Gazette known all around the world. With the telling for many Jake Kilrain had become Champion of the World, and to reign as such until that July morning in the Mississippi heat, some two years hence when at long last he and John L. Sullivan would meet to settle the matter in the very last heavyweight championship fight under London Prize Ring rules.

Vintage Albumen Print Type Photograph

Blind Stamped Copyrighted by J. W. Wood N.Y.

Cabinet Size

Price: $ 525.00

Size: 3 7/8 X 5 5/8 on 4 1/4 x 6 1/2 inch studio mount

Condition: VG Some surface wear visible mainly in raked light.

6000-0071

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