Bittoon, Isaac

A bare-knuckle English fighter in the early 19th Century, Bittoon -- also known as "Old Ikey" -- was known not only for his great strength, but also for his coolness in the ring. Following his retirement, Bittoon opened a school that taught both boxing and fencing. During his career, Bittoon fought in the era of "Broughton's Rules." Established in 1743 by Jack Broughton, considered the father of English boxing, the Rules stated that wrestling moves above the waist were allowed, but a fighter could not hit an opponent once he was down. In fact, knockdowns marked the division of rounds; the downed fighter had 30 seconds to return to the center of the ring, or he would lose. If the fighter, with the help of his handlers, made it to the center, the fight resumed in what was considered a new round. In this way, fights were recorded according to the number of rounds and amount of time. "Broughton's Rules" were replaced in 1838 by the Pugilistic Society's "London Prize Ring Rules."

Birth and Death Dates:
b. 1778 - d. February 1839

Career Highlights:
Bittoon's first recorded fight came in July 1801 when he stepped into the ring with Tom Jones and defeated his opponent in 22 minutes. The following year, Isaac fought George Maddox in a bout at Wimbledon. Boxing historian Pierce Egan, in Boxiana or Sketches Of Ancient and Modern Pugilism, observes that the bout was initially postponed. "The magistrates...sent out their officers to prevent [it]...[after] all difficulties being overcome, a ring was formed on Wimbledon-common; when Maddox entered, followed by Joe Ward, who acted as his second; and the Jew was attended by Lyons [perhaps veteran Jewish pugilist Keely Lyons]." (italics included in original writing)

Egan then describes Bittoon taking advantage of his superior strength and attacking Maddox with vigor. Isaac succeeded in "levelling [knocking an opponent down] him [Maddox] in the first three rounds...milling was the order of the day, and the science was but little resorted to, as both combatants seemed to prefer making use of their strength: Bittoon, in the latter respect, seemed to have the advantage." Isaac continually showered punches upon Maddox, bruising his opponent's face and body, but he could not defeat him. According to Egan, after 1 hour and 10 minutes, spectators had witnessed "...the long and trying conflict of seventy-four rounds; when, owing to either accident or design, the ring was broken, and it was considered a drawn battle!"

Two years later, Bittoon fought a distinguished fighter named Bill Wood. On July 16, 1804, Wood and Bittoon battled for 36 rounds, with Isaac emerging the winner (the purse was 50 guineas). Egan says that Bittoon was the better fighter in the fifth round, but in the sixth, "The effects of the sun had a visible effect upon Bittoon's face." Although Bittoon was knocked down in the sixth and seventh-rounds, Wood became visibly tired. Bittoon attacked with vigor in the ninth; three rounds later, "Bittoon displayed some excellent specimens of science, particularly in stopping very clean, and returning very sharply."

In the fifteenth round, Bittoon was fighting extremely well. He hit Wood with "a tremendous stomacher, which not only levelled Wood, but so nearly deprived him of all his wind -- that he could not return exactly on his time (half a minute)." The crowd thought Bittoon had won the fight, and the ring became chaotic, as people milled about within it. The delay allowed Wood to recover, and the bout continued after order was restored. In the 25th round, the ring was broken again. Confusion reigned as Bittoon supporters "declared it was done designedly, on purpose to deprive him [Bittoon] of the fair advantage which he had obtained." By the 32nd round, both fighters were exhausted. In the 36th round, "Bittoon...had the advantage of vigour, and just lasted long enough to hear his antagonist had given in."

Following his fight with Wood, Bittoon "confined himself...officiating as a second." Among those he seconded, was Hall of Famer Dutch Sam in Sam's bouts with Tom Belcher. By the 1910s, Bittoon had "grown too heavy for fighting, weighing 17 stone [238 pounds]; but keeps school for the promulation of the science ...ranking with the first sparrers of the day!" Bittoon continued to live in London until his death in 1839.

Origin:
London, England

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