Fairground boxing booths have been around mainly since the 1860s at the start of the Queensbury Rules, the so called glove era in boxing. The first most notable traveling boxing booth was that of Jem Mace, the Swaffam Gypsy. Jem would travel with his show doing exhibitions or fighting when called upon to do so. The Boxers themselves would set up the large tent and erect the ring early morning,before the fair opened around noon time. Then the boxers would parade on a small stage, and the shows barterer would ask the crowd that would gather if anyone fancied there chance’s of having a go. As money was very tight and most people barely making a living, the offer of Half a crown to go three rounds was a tempting offer.And many willing hands would go up, if accepted you could pick the boxer you thought did not look that tough and could go three rounds with. When around three or four bouts had been arranged, you paid 2penny’s to enter and watch the fights. The tents would hold up to 100 to 150 people, and mainly it was standing only as it meant the booth owner would squeeze more into the tent.Most of the opponents very rarely managed to go three rounds, but if they put up a good show they would share the nobbins thrown in the ring by the excited crowd.
As boxing booths became more popular and the transport of large fairs became motorised, they sprung up everywhere all over the country. And many very good pro boxers would box on the booths during the summer months, when the pro shows use to slow down for the summertime break. Many pro managers would encourage their boxers to travel with the fairs in the summer break, knowing they would be kept fit and active. It was a hard life on the booth for the boxers,not only boxing sometimes on every show that day which could be as many as 10 shows. They had to put up the tent and ring also box, after the show which could only be for the day break down the ring and tent and travel on to the next site. Where they would go through the same all over again.
The booth fighters received a small, wage plus meals would be provided by the Booth owner, but it was a income and kept them fit and active in the closed season. Many great fighters fought on the booths during there careers, also after there pro careers was over they could still earn a small wage on the circuit. The most well known pro’s who fought on the booths were Benny Lynch, Randy Turpin, Tommy Farr, Freddie Mills, Jimmy Wilde, Len Johnson, the list go’s on and on of top fighters.
One boxer who fought pro and also fought on the booths, was a Manchester fighter named Matt Moran. Matt eventually purchased his own traveling booth, and traveled all over the country. He also produced a very good book on his life story all about life on the booths,the book Matt Moran’s Shamrock Gardens. I met Matt many years ago at London ex boxers meeting, he was in his late 80s. He was selling copies of his book for only 50p, even though i had a copy i could not resist in getting a signed copy. It was very funny a friend and i paid Matt for the book, then we asked him to sign the books. Matt said could your mate sign it i’m not very good with a pen, but we insisted and he did scribble his name.
I could no help but ask Matt about the booths and all the great fighters who fought on the shows,and what a shame the booths went out of fashion in the early 70s. Matt agreed it was a shame the booths had faded away, as they were a breeding ground for some really great fighters. I asked Matt seeing you have followed the fight game all your life who was the best you ever saw, in either pro shows or booths. Matt smiled and said the greatest of them all was Len Johnson, Len never even fought for a British title due to the colour bar in force at the time. But in Matts opinion he said Len had the goods to be one of the greats of British boxing, shame we shall never no the if, could he have.
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