page_title: Abey Belasco
section_title: Classic match with Jack Randall, Sept. 1817
hierarchical_section_title: Abey Belasco / Classic match with Jack Randall, Sept. 1817
caption_attribution_description: English: A tobacco card produced by Mecca Cigarettes for the T-220 series, featuring a match between boxers Jack Randall and Aby Belasco.
context_page_description: Abraham Belasco, usually Aby or Abey, was an English bare-knuckle boxer who fought between 1817-24, and was considered one of the top rated Jewish boxers of the post-Mendoza era, along with Isaac Bitton, Young Dutch Sam and Barney Aaron. In his prime in 1817-18, Belasco may have been considered among the five highest rated London area boxers in any weight class.
context_section_description: Belasco lost to his greatest adversary, Jack Randall, an incomparable English champion, on 30 September 1817, at Shepperton Range, Surrey, 15 miles southwest of London, for the substantial sum of 50 guineas a side.  This figure would very roughly calculate to $5997 in 2020 American currency or £4850 Pounds Sterling in English currency.  A sizable sum, but far less than a prize fight with the same size audience or interest would bring today, and not enough to secure a comfortable retirement, even if Belasco fought ten fights in his career with the same purse, which he did not.
  In an affirmation of Belasco's considerable reputation as a boxer, Randall, his winning record known, led in the early betting, but by close odds of only 11-10.  Randall entered the ring at around 148 lbs. (67.13 kg), while Belasco weighed roughly eight pounds more. Belasco was known for his desperate and effective infighting, and was considered a skilled, scientific boxer.  Randall's ability to go to the head to finish a fight was known to the crowd, and an integral part of his boxing strategy. Commencing five minutes before noon, the battle was fought in a standard 24 foot ring, using London Prize Ring Rules, as were most of Belasco's matches, with the exception of a few exhibitions in which he may have used gloves.
  As early as the first round, Randall went to the head, but Belasco, still fresh, countered effectively, and no blood was drawn.  The first round was fought with great caution and with as few as four blows delivered, as both boxers were highly skilled and cautious of the other's ability, and it was known that the boxer who drew first blood would greatly affect the betting odds.  Randall dominated the second round, drawing first blood with a blow to the mouth, and in the fourth turned the tide with a powerful left that penetrated Belasco's guard, putting him quickly down.   Belasco was down in the fourth from a left from Randall.  As late as the fifth, though trailing in the match, Belasco demonstrated one of his greatest strengths, skillful infighting to end the round, and floored his opponent, though Randall was still in command of the match.  In a masterfully fought scientific match that drew great interest from the public,  Randall faithfully worked Belaso's body  before finally tasting victory after 54 minutes in the sixth.  At this point in the match, it was clear to Pierce Egan that Belasco, "was a superior boxer in every respect than in his late (last) contest with Reynolds".  The final blow was a powerful right to the eye of Belasco that rendered him senseless and ended the match.  Belasco "staggered, fainted, and fell" from the pain, and though he was able to rise, his eye was closed completely shut.
  Miles of Puglistica wrote of the match that "by the admirers of scientific efforts, ...of seeing a fight won without ferocity and gluttony...the fight between Randall and Belasco may be pronounced one of the most perfect specimens of pugilism ever witnessed."  After dominating Belasco, Bell's Life in London wrote of Randall that "His hitting and getting away, his style of stopping and returning, with the excellent judgment he manifested, added to his activity and quickness on his legs, all tended to stamp him as one of the most finished boxers of his weight."  According to Boxiana, Randal's ring name "The Nonpareil", implying that as a boxer he was unequaled or unrivaled, was earned in this match. Soon thereafter Belasco accompanied his friend Daniel Mendoza on an exhibition tour.
caption: Randall (left) and Belasco
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