Were Women at Boxing Matches Common in the Regency Era?

Well, let me tell ya somethin’ ’bout them women at boxing matches back in the regency era. It weren’t somethin’ proper ladies were supposed to do, ya know? But, bless their hearts, some of ’em just couldn’t stay away.

See, back then, England was all about boxing. Big, strong fellas beatin’ the tar outta each other. Folks called it “pugilism” – fancy word, huh? The best boxer in England, well, he was the best in the whole wide world, they said. Only competition was them fellas over in America.

Were Women at Boxing Matches Common in the Regency Era?
  • Proper ladies weren’t supposed to be there, no sir.
  • But some, they’d sneak in, wearin’ disguises and all. Imagine that!
  • Others, well, they didn’t give a hoot ’bout what folks thought and showed up bold as brass.

And get this, some of them gals even took boxing lessons! In their own homes, mind you. Can ya picture it? Lady so-and-so, punchin’ away in her parlor. Times were changin’, even if some folks didn’t like it.

Now, the newspapers, they’d sometimes write ’bout these fights. And they’d mention the women, too. Not the fancy ladies, though. Mostly the ones who were tough as nails, like Joanna Heyfield, the “basket-woman,” or Martha Jones, the “fish-woman,” or Ann Field, the “ass-driver.” See, a lot of these women, they worked in the markets. Tough jobs, made ’em tough people.

Regency era boxing was a big deal, it seems. Everybody talked about it. They had their champions, like “Gentleman” John Jackson. Now, there’s a fella with a fancy name for a boxer. He weren’t no gentleman in the ring, though, I reckon. Fought three times, only lost once. That’s what people said, I wasn’t there, mind you.

These fights, they weren’t like the boxing ya see on TV today. These were bare-knuckle brawls. No gloves, no fancy rules. Just two fellas, sluggin’ it out till one of ’em couldn’t stand no more. Brutal, they said. But folks loved it.

Were Women at Boxing Matches Common in the Regency Era?

And the women, well, they were part of it, too. Even if they weren’t supposed to be. They cheered, they bet, and some of ’em even fought. Guess they wanted a piece of the action, just like the men. Can’t say I blame ’em. Life’s too short to be sittin’ around doin’ nothin’, right?

Some say this time, the Regency Era, was the best time for boxing in England. The peak, they called it. Makes ya wonder what it was like, huh? All them crowds, the excitement, the fights… And the women, right there in the thick of it. Good for them, I say. Good for them.

They tell stories ’bout them fights, ya know? Epic battles, they call ’em. And they talk about the sport, the history of fightin’. It’s somethin’ else, ain’t it? All that history, all them stories.

So, next time ya hear ’bout boxing, remember them women of the regency era. The ones who weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. The ones who broke the rules and showed up anyway. They were tough, they were brave, and they were part of the story. Don’t let nobody tell ya different.

Were Women at Boxing Matches Common in the Regency Era?

And that’s all I got to say ’bout that. It ain’t fancy, but it’s the truth, as far as I know. Them women, they were somethin’ special. Just like all women, if ya ask me.

Tags: Regency Era, Boxing, Women, Pugilism, British Boxing, History, 19th Century, Sports, Society

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