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The Rest Is History

The Fight of the Century

The Rest Is History

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10 min
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Why did two men - John Heenan and and Tom Sayers - illegally meet in a field in Hampshire, in 1860, to brutally fight one another, captivating Britain in the process? What can the fight tell us about the nature of Britishness in the 19th century? Was this the birth of boxing? Who won the infamous boxing match? And, how did the fight change the course of British sport, forever?

In this week's episode, Tom and Dominic are joined by Professor Robert Colls, to discuss one of the most legendary clashes in English history…


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Credits

Hosts: Tom Holland, Dominic Sandbrook

Guest: Professor Robert Colls

Producer: Theo Young-Smith

Assistant Producers: Tabby Syrett, Aaliyah Akude

Executive Producers: Jack Davenport, Tony Pastor

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