The Great Yankee Sullivan (also known as James Ambrose, Frank Murrayand James Sullivan) traveled to Duchess County, N.Y. to defend his title against John Morrissey in a bare-knuckle fight at the age of 42.

John Morrissey only 22 years old at the time, would later be known as Old Smoke, fought Yankee Sullivan on October 5, 1853 in front of over 3000 spectators, in a battle that lasted 37 rounds. The younger, fresher Morrissey won the fight and claimed the American Boxing Champion Title.

Photo courtesy of Ken Hanks