While the bare-knuckled fights were of importance to the British, the results were not quite as important in America. The Americans took no notice to these boxing bouts. Boxing in the USA, during the 19th century, could be placed in two categories. 1. There was prize fighting. Boxers fought for money in bare knuckled contested bouts. Both categories of boxing was to the attraction of professional gamblers and consolidated organised criminality that found their way into the boxing circles, that caused the sport to fall foul of local authorities laws There was the sparring sessions. The combatants wore gloves during sparring sessions endeavouring to display the mastery of pugilistic science, and did not provide the winner with a purse or try to inflict bodily harm. Sparring was considered a genuine sport and exhibitions were given on stage and in private gymnasiums. On the 13th September 1842 in Hastings, New York went on record noting that more than two thousand men witnessed a prize fight between Christopher Lilly and Thomas McCoy.
