Boxing was a popular sport in Victoria's early days.
In 1866, after a considerable amount of cloak and dagger secrecy, and pointed hinting from the Daily Colonist newspaper, Victoria held its first boxing match. According to Islander author J.K Nesbitt, the exact reasons for the clandestine nature of the match are unknown. However, he suggests that perhaps the civic luminaries of the day did not approve of the art of pugilism, and had instigated a ban of the sport.
In order to circumvent the law and delude those who disapproved of a boxing match in Victoria, the organizers of the match decided to hold it in a secluded location, out of town. When the news spread that popular fighters George Baker and Joe Eden were to fight many Victorians were extremely interested and many of them began to place furtive bets upon the out come of the fight.
On the day of the match, February 25 1866, in pitch black darkness the steamer Emily Harris, arrived in the Victoria harbour to pick up the passengers and spectators for the big fight. Leaving the harbour, the ship steamed to the west, heading in the direction of Race Rocks. At length, the Emily harris arrived at Weir’s Farm near Pedder Bay and her passengers were let off on the beach at the spot where the match was set to occur.
One of these passengers was a reporter for the Colonist, who via J.K. Nesbitt, provides the following description of the ensuing fight.
“As the sun rose the scenery was magnificent; the atmosphere was singularily lucid and the distant mountains tipped with snow, were tined with gorgeous roseate hues.
As the passengers recognized each other in the growing light the conversation became very animated. Eden and Baker moved amongst the crowd, greeting acquaintances with full faith in their own ultimate triumph.”
Once all the passengers came ashore and move up to the field where the fight was to happen, the fight began.
“The terrific right hand stingers delivered with such precision by Eden began to now tell a tale.
In the 119th and 120th rounds, the fight was virtually finished to all intents and purposes. Baker staggered up to time, only to be punished usefully by his adversary, who, however, dealth generously to him. until the 128th and last round, when a powerful right-hander from Eden knocked Baker out of time, at which time the sponge was thrown in.
The fight lasted just one hour and 52 minutes.
Eden as a proof of his gameness, jumped twice over the ropes with ease.
The defeated man may solace himself with the thought that every important judge in such matters will say that he did all in his powers to achieve a legitimate victory, and that the failure must be ascribed to circumstances quite beyond his control.”
Each competitor incurred damage from the fight
“Baker’s face was much disfigured, the left eye being closed, and he also suffered a cut over an eyebrow.
Eden’s cheeks were much bruised and his lips swollen, but his eyes were not marked, and, what is very strange, his proboscis – which is very prominent – escaped damage, beyond some slight scratches.”
When the ship returned to Victoria at four in the afternoon, crowds packed the wharfs of the harbour and greeted the two boxers like conquering heroes. For four days, the champion Joe Eden was wined, dined, and lauded by half the city he boarded a steamer for California. After receiving a handmade belt with a gold buckle that was presented to him by his admirers, he boarded a steamer for California where he would continue to work as a prize fighter.
As for the loser, George Baker, it can be assumed that he did not gain the same notoriety for his role in the pioneering boxing match. The article does not mention him again at all.
