Sam Collyer
Encyclopedia
Sam Collyer
Sam Collyer (born: 1842 in France
; Died: December 7, 1904; Brooklyn, New York) was a lightweight bare-knuckle boxer. He was of Scottish-French descent, weighed between 115 and 125 pounds, and stood 5 feet 5 ½ inches.
, and received the Medal of Honor
for his actions in the Siege of Petersburg
.He left the army with the rank of captain.
Later that year, Collyer battled former champion Barney Aaron
for the vacant Lightweight Championship of America. The Title had been vacated since the retirement of Owney Geoghegan
back in 1863. The Aaron/Collyer contest was held on June 20, 1866 at Pohick Landing, VA. 47 rounds and 2 hours and 14 minutes were contested before Collyer was declared the winner.
Below is an account of the last few rounds of the Collyer/Aaron fight as written in the New York Herald
on June 21, 1866:
Rounds 41 to 44—These rounds were merely repetitions of each other, Barney constantly going down on his knees, apparently for the purpose of receiving a foul blow and thereby winning the stakes. At the close of
Round 47—He was entirely blind, and his seconds seeing that there was no possible chance of success and unwilling to subject a game man to further punishment threw up the sponge in token of defeat.
On September 7, 1866 Collyer defended his title against Johnny Lafferty in a contest that lasted 39 rounds and 62 minutes (some sources report 60 minutes). His second defense came against Johnny McGlade at Goldsboro, PA on January 15, 1867. McGlade had suffered a severe fever while training, and was completely dominated during the contest. The two battle for 47 rounds and 55 minutes in the sleet covered ring before McGlade’s corner threw in the towel.
Collyer lost his title in a rematch with Barney Aaron
on June 13, 1867. The two contested in a hard fought battle for 67 rounds and 1 hour and 55 minutes at Aqua Creek, WV. Immediately after winning the title, Barney Aaron
retired from the ring, leaving the crown open for Collyer to reclaim.
The first man to challenge his right to the title was Billy Kelly
. Kelly was a gifted pugilist, and word of the battle quickly spread. The Collyer/Kelly contest was held on November 27, 1867 in Strickland, PA. Collyer pressed the fight from start to finish, and his opponent was forced into the defensive mode for nearly the entire bout. A total of 111 short rounds and 1 hour and fifty minutes were fought before the champion knocked his opponent down for the final time.
Below is an account of the last three rounds (and conclusion) of the contest. They were documented in the New York Herald
the day after the contest:
Round 109—Collyer, determined to close fight before dark, rushed in [? ?] Kelly and struck him a right-hander over the left [?], then gave him the left on the nose, and again the right on the mouth, when Kelly went down.
Round 110—Collyer led off with his left, which brought upon Kelly’s nose, and then, putting in two heavy right-handers clinched, Kelly and threw him, falling heavily on him.
Round 111 and Last—Collyer rushed at Kelly and hitting a heavy right-hander in the mouth knocked him down.
The sponge was thrown up in token of defeat and Sam Collyer hailed the victor. Kelly, the game fellow, was much mortified at the result and shed tears. Collyer went over to him and putting his arms around him, also burst into tears. He then went around among the crowd and collected money for the man he had beaten in a fair fight for the championship of the lightweights of America.
On August 24, 1868 Collyer lost his championship to Billy Edwards
in 47 rounds. Collyer attempted to regain the title in a return match with Edwards on March 7, 1870. This time the former champion was forced to give in after 40 rounds. Following this contest, Collyer’s status as a prize-fighter began to diminish. He lost a third contest with Edwards in 1874, and a bout with Jack McAuliffe
in 1888. His last recorded contest was in 1892.
Citation:
Sam Collyer (born: 1842 in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
; Died: December 7, 1904; Brooklyn, New York) was a lightweight bare-knuckle boxer. He was of Scottish-French descent, weighed between 115 and 125 pounds, and stood 5 feet 5 ½ inches.
Early life
Collyer was born with the name Walter Jamieson. He came to the United States as a boy. During the American Civil War he served with the UnionUnion (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
, and received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his actions in the Siege of Petersburg
Siege of Petersburg
The Richmond–Petersburg Campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War...
.He left the army with the rank of captain.
Boxing career
The earliest contests of Sam Collyer differ from source to source. Some list different dates, locations and people for these bouts. It is certain however, that Collyer did battle, and defeat a man named Mike Carr in early 1866 . The first significant contest of Collyer’s career was his bout with Horatio “Race” Bolster. The two met in Alexandria, VA on May 8, 1866. During the contest, Bolster broke his hand, and was given a tremendous beating. The fight ended after 49 rounds and 55 minutes. Collyer ended the contest when he knocked his opponent off his feet, and Bolster’s seconds threw in the towel.Later that year, Collyer battled former champion Barney Aaron
Barney Aaron
Barney Aaron was an English bare-knuckle boxer.The father of Hall of Famer Young Barney Aaron began boxing in 1819 and became a Lightweight Champion in the 1820s. Called The Star of the East, Aaron got victories over William Connelly, Ned Stockton, Lenney, Frank Redmond and Peter Warren...
for the vacant Lightweight Championship of America. The Title had been vacated since the retirement of Owney Geoghegan
Owney Geoghegan
Owney Geoghegan was a lightweight bare-knuckle boxer. Geoghegan claimed the Lightweight Championship of America in 1861, and held it until his retirement in 1863. He stood 5’ 6”, and weighed between 130 and 140 pounds....
back in 1863. The Aaron/Collyer contest was held on June 20, 1866 at Pohick Landing, VA. 47 rounds and 2 hours and 14 minutes were contested before Collyer was declared the winner.
Below is an account of the last few rounds of the Collyer/Aaron fight as written in the New York Herald
New York Herald
The New York Herald was a large distribution newspaper based in New York City that existed between May 6, 1835, and 1924.-History:The first issue of the paper was published by James Gordon Bennett, Sr., on May 6, 1835. By 1845 it was the most popular and profitable daily newspaper in the UnitedStates...
on June 21, 1866:
Rounds 41 to 44—These rounds were merely repetitions of each other, Barney constantly going down on his knees, apparently for the purpose of receiving a foul blow and thereby winning the stakes. At the close of
Round 47—He was entirely blind, and his seconds seeing that there was no possible chance of success and unwilling to subject a game man to further punishment threw up the sponge in token of defeat.
On September 7, 1866 Collyer defended his title against Johnny Lafferty in a contest that lasted 39 rounds and 62 minutes (some sources report 60 minutes). His second defense came against Johnny McGlade at Goldsboro, PA on January 15, 1867. McGlade had suffered a severe fever while training, and was completely dominated during the contest. The two battle for 47 rounds and 55 minutes in the sleet covered ring before McGlade’s corner threw in the towel.
Collyer lost his title in a rematch with Barney Aaron
Barney Aaron
Barney Aaron was an English bare-knuckle boxer.The father of Hall of Famer Young Barney Aaron began boxing in 1819 and became a Lightweight Champion in the 1820s. Called The Star of the East, Aaron got victories over William Connelly, Ned Stockton, Lenney, Frank Redmond and Peter Warren...
on June 13, 1867. The two contested in a hard fought battle for 67 rounds and 1 hour and 55 minutes at Aqua Creek, WV. Immediately after winning the title, Barney Aaron
Barney Aaron
Barney Aaron was an English bare-knuckle boxer.The father of Hall of Famer Young Barney Aaron began boxing in 1819 and became a Lightweight Champion in the 1820s. Called The Star of the East, Aaron got victories over William Connelly, Ned Stockton, Lenney, Frank Redmond and Peter Warren...
retired from the ring, leaving the crown open for Collyer to reclaim.
The first man to challenge his right to the title was Billy Kelly
Billy Kelly
William Joseph Kelly was an American professional baseball player. He played in parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates from through . He also managed the minor league Port Huron Saints in 1922...
. Kelly was a gifted pugilist, and word of the battle quickly spread. The Collyer/Kelly contest was held on November 27, 1867 in Strickland, PA. Collyer pressed the fight from start to finish, and his opponent was forced into the defensive mode for nearly the entire bout. A total of 111 short rounds and 1 hour and fifty minutes were fought before the champion knocked his opponent down for the final time.
Below is an account of the last three rounds (and conclusion) of the contest. They were documented in the New York Herald
New York Herald
The New York Herald was a large distribution newspaper based in New York City that existed between May 6, 1835, and 1924.-History:The first issue of the paper was published by James Gordon Bennett, Sr., on May 6, 1835. By 1845 it was the most popular and profitable daily newspaper in the UnitedStates...
the day after the contest:
Round 109—Collyer, determined to close fight before dark, rushed in [? ?] Kelly and struck him a right-hander over the left [?], then gave him the left on the nose, and again the right on the mouth, when Kelly went down.
Round 110—Collyer led off with his left, which brought upon Kelly’s nose, and then, putting in two heavy right-handers clinched, Kelly and threw him, falling heavily on him.
Round 111 and Last—Collyer rushed at Kelly and hitting a heavy right-hander in the mouth knocked him down.
The sponge was thrown up in token of defeat and Sam Collyer hailed the victor. Kelly, the game fellow, was much mortified at the result and shed tears. Collyer went over to him and putting his arms around him, also burst into tears. He then went around among the crowd and collected money for the man he had beaten in a fair fight for the championship of the lightweights of America.
On August 24, 1868 Collyer lost his championship to Billy Edwards
Billy Edwards
Billy Edwards was a was a standout lightweight of the late 1860s and 1870s in England.-Professional career:...
in 47 rounds. Collyer attempted to regain the title in a return match with Edwards on March 7, 1870. This time the former champion was forced to give in after 40 rounds. Following this contest, Collyer’s status as a prize-fighter began to diminish. He lost a third contest with Edwards in 1874, and a bout with Jack McAuliffe
Jack McAuliffe
Jack McAuliffe was an Irish-American boxer. Nicknamed 'The Napolean of the Ring', and fighting mostly out of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, he was one of only nine boxers to remain undefeated throughout his entire career. He was the Lightweight Champion of the World from 1886 to 1893...
in 1888. His last recorded contest was in 1892.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: 1st Sergeant, Company B, 139th New York Infantry. Place and date: At Petersburg, Va., 30 July 1864; At Fort Harrison, Va., 29 September 1864. Entered service at: New York, N.Y. Birth: France. Date of issue: 5 April 1898.Citation:
Voluntarily went between the lines under a heavy fire at Petersburg, Va., to the assistance of a wounded and helpless officer, whom he carried within the Union lines. At Fort Harrison, Va., seized the regimental color, the color bearer and guard having been shot down, and, rushing forward, planted it upon the fort in full view of the entire brigade.