Lazarus, Johnny

The son of Izzy Lazarus, Johnny fought professionally in the United States in the 1850s during the era of the "London Prize Ring Rules." Established in 1838, the Rules were modified in 1853 to state that the ring was to be 24-feet square and surrounded by two ropes. Any knockdown marked the end of a round and the downed fighter had to "come to scratch" in middle of the ring unaided within eight seconds or the fight was over (previous rules allowed seconds to assist the fighter).

Birth and Death Dates:
unknown

Career Highlights:
While a young boy, Lazarus and his brother Harry Lazarus travelled throughout England giving exhibitions and were dubbed "The Infant Wonders." Bare-knuckled fighters, the Lazarus boys travelled to the United States in 1852 when they were teenagers because boxing had been banned in many English cities and towns in the 1840s. The two boys helped build interest in boxing by giving lessons and putting on exhibitions around the country (their parents joined them in America in 1855).

Origin:
England

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References:
encyclopedia of JEWS in sports, by Bernard Postal, Jesse Silver, and Roy Silver (New York: Bloch Publishing Co, 1965)
Fistiana, or, The oracle of the ring : results of prize battles from 1700 to December, 1867 (London: W.H. Crockford, 1868)
The Manly Art : bare-knuckle prize fighting in America, by Elliott J. Gorn, (Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1986) .