A silver cigar case presented to Tom Sayers ''The Champion of the World'' in 1860, hallmarked Hilliard & Thomason, Birmingham ,1860, the body engraved

A silver cigar case presented to Tom Sayers ''The Champion of the World'' in 1860, hallmarked Hilliard & Thomason, Birmingham ,1860, the body engraved PRESENTED BY L.ABRAHAMS TO TOM SAYERS, THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, the case with elaborate decoration, hinged lid, 13.5cm., 5 1/4in. This case was presented by a Mr Abrahams, who is named in contemporary newspapers as Sayer's promoter. Thomas Sayers was born in the deprived slum district of Pimlico in Brighton on 25th May 1826. He was one of the most brilliant pugilists in the history of the Ring and was involved in contests lasting up to 85 rounds. He became the bare knuckle Champion of England when he beat 'The Tipton Slasher' in 1857. Sayers was the first English boxer to fight an international match when he fought the American John C. Heenan ('The Benicia Boy') at Farnborough in Hampshire on 17th April 1860, witnessed by 12,000 spectators from every rank of society. The American was both taller and three stone heavier than Sayers and had incredible reach. Sayers was knocked down numerous times during the contest but he recovered every time to deliver blow after blow on his opponent. After 37 rounds in two hours and six minutes Heenan began to tire and was rescued by an American party who burst into the ring, which provoked a riot. The police who had been watching events from afar, even though it was an illegal acticity at the time, then entered the ring to stop the fight. A draw had to be declared and both pugilists were awarded silver belts. Sayers who was reaching the brink of victory at the time of the police interruption was later acclaimed as the ''World Boxing Champion.'' Sayers was persuaded to retire after this fight and such was his acclaim that the sum of ?3,000 was raised by public subscription by way of a benefit. Lord Derby was known to have been a patron and there were many donors from the House of Commons and the Stock Exchange. Sayers and Heenan became close friends afterwards and toured the country providing theatrical re-enactments of their celebrated contest. Sadly, Sayers began to lead a dissipated life in retirement. He died just five years after the famous fight aged 39 from diabetes and tuberculosis. He is buried at Highgate Cemetery in North London. He was elected into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954.