... was more than a spectator sport, there was a large amount of betting, and many of the gently born participated. In the mid-1700s, Jack Broughton completed the first set of rules to be used at bouts in his club. Not counting cock fighting, these rules were the first applied to sporting events in modern history (GI). Regency violence was personified by 'the Fancy', followers of the bare-knuckle boxing championships. The fights captured the interest of many, and were frequently viewed by crowds between 3,000 and 10,000 people (Channel4). The drawn-out fights of massive blood and even bigger egos were regularly fought in and around London, and observed by the elite of the Regency male society. In addition to wagering on the outcomes of these fights, fashionable gentlemen sponsored fighters and often acted as promoters. The competition was not finished until one man lay unconscious, and this often took hours (channel 4). ...

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