New book charts Wales 19th Century boxing heyday
This is the first in-depth study of a major part of Wales’ recreational culture. Prize fighting attracted crowds in their thousands who would have walked many miles just to watch their heroes. Prize fights were brutal and dangerous - an area not far from Newport city centre was known as ‘the Bloody Fields’ because of the savage bouts that took place there - and could go on for hours, leaving losers, and winners, massively disfigured - and in many instances dead. The lives of these men outside the ring were just as colourful. Several were lucky to escape the hangman.
Source: southwalesargus.co.uk