In the annals of boxing history, there is one fight that stands out amongst all others for its sheer brutality and endurance. The battle between Andy Bowen and Jack Burke on April 6, 1893, in New Orleans is a legendary tale of grit and determination that has left a lasting mark on the sport. These two fighters faced off in what is recorded as the single longest gloved fight in boxing history, lasting an unbelievable 7 hours and 19 minutes, from 9:15 PM to 4:34 AM the next day.
The fight for the lightweight championship of the south and a purse of $2,500 was a grueling affair that pushed both men to their limits. Bowen, the more experienced fighter at 25, and Burke, a clever boxer with incredible heart, battled it out for an astonishing 110 rounds. The fight started off as an exciting affair, capturing the attention of the 11,000 spectators who had gathered at the Olympic Club. Both men took hits, with Burke opening a cut above Bowen’s eye, but as the rounds dragged on, fatigue began to set in.
As the fight wore on, both fighters suffered a tremendous amount of physical damage. Burke was almost knocked out in round 48 and sustained swollen forearms, broken hands, and had to endure injections of cocaine to numb the pain. Bowen, on the other hand, struggled to land any significant blows on his opponent. By round 105, Bowen fell jaw-first onto Burke’s elbow, only to get back up and continue fighting until the end of the 110th round. The fight was finally stopped, not due to a knockout, but simply because both men were too exhausted to continue.
After the fight, both Bowen and Burke were carried home in a state of utter exhaustion. Burke, in particular, was left bedridden for weeks with two broken hands, swollen forearms, stomach, eyes, and ears, along with violent welts on his side and back. Bowen, surprisingly, emerged from the battle relatively unscathed, with only a cut above his eye. However, the toll of the fight would not go unpunished, as Bowen tragically passed away in 1894 after hitting his head in another fight, while Burke succumbed to a heart attack in 1913.
The Bowen vs. Burke fight stands as a stark reminder of the dangers of prolonged battles in the ring. The sheer endurance and pain tolerance displayed by both fighters are a testament to their unyielding spirit. While they may not have emerged as victors in the traditional sense, their names will forever be etched in the history of boxing as symbols of courage and determination. The lessons learned from this brutal battle have shaped the way fights are conducted today, ensuring that no fighters will ever have to endure the same grueling ordeal as Bowen and Burke did on that fateful night in New Orleans.