In its 16 March 1928 edition, the Lykens Standard of Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, reported on what was claimed to be the longest fight bout in history. The fight occurred in 1890 in Shamokin, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. One of the fighters in that contest was Matthew Williams, who later moved to Wiconisco.
MAT WILLIAMS FOUGHT LONGEST BOUT IN HISTORY
ONLY ONE OF THE CONTESTANTS IS STILL LIVING AT LAVELLA;
MAT WILLIAMS DIED AT WICONISCO SEVERAL YEARS AGO;
FOUGHT 103 ROUNDS
A sports editor at Shamokin recently brought to light the story of a former Wiconisco resident Matthew Williams (now dead several years), who participated as the pugilist in the most strenuous fight in the history of Shamokin, and probably the United States. The story as told on the sports page of the Shamokin paper reads:
Thirty-eight years ago the most strenuous pugilistic contest in the history of Shamokin and probably the United States, was pulled off on the old Jenkins farm, over the side of which is now W. Montgomery and other streets on the top of the mountain most of the Neilson Colliery.
It appears that an English pugilist of much ability had landed in the western section of town, and he began to blow around of his wonderful prowess.
At the time William (Bill) McCarthy was yet in his teens but he had already gained much local fame as a good fighter.
One day the Englishman and Irish-American product met and after the Englishman, who was none other than Mat Williams, who had gained much publicity in England as a fighter, had boaster of his wonderful ability in the ring and his man conquests, he was challenged by the local youth to a fight to the finish.
They agreed to fight with bare fists and the battle was to a finish. A ring was pitched on top of the mountain between two large apple trees, and the battle was on at sunrise.
A large crowd of local sports witnessed the contest, which was one of the hardest ever seen.
They fought all day, becoming exhausted at times and resting. When the sun sank in the western skies both contestants were still battling, but utterly exhausted.
One hundred and three rounds were fought when those around the ring decided to stop the slaughter and the fight was declared a draw.
Both contestants were in a terrible physical condition after the battle ended and were in bed for several days afterwards from the pummeling received.
The receipts from the battle wasn’t enough to buy them sticking plaster.
Mat Williams left here some years after, but McCarthy is still living in this section, residing at present in the little village of Lavella, just across the Schuylkill County line.
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News article from Newspapers.com.
Special thanks to Sue Petres of Michigan, for revealing this story about her ancestor, Mat Williams.