Round Two: 1897

Could photography freeze the motion of something happening as fast as a boxing match in this period? At night in low light conditions? I'm starting to develop a bit of skepticism on whether we're really seeing what we think we're seeing in this one.

Maybe this was a staged "tableau" where the fighters and audience were all told not to move for a minute for the photographer.

[I think you mean "posed." Most flash photos of the eras were time exposures; you can tell how much the various sailors were moving by how blurred they are. - Dave]

That guy whose face is right in the middle of the two fighters. I remember him from a recent Shorpy post. He still looks ready to get into the ring.

By the way, my money would be on the boxer on the right, if I was willing to wager. He seems to have a little better defensive stance. The fighter on the left just left his face wide open.

That's the way the fighters seem to look at each other. I wonder who won.

Can't be. No ciggie with an inch of ashes hanging over the guy below him. Cf. Camp Swampy.

If radio had been invented by 1897, I would have loved to have heard the great sportscaster Clem McCarthy call this fight. No one did boxing or horse racing better than Clem.

I wonder what is the story about the guy with the boots.

I just bet this guy was the ship's cook -- looks like he belongs over a pot of boiling potatoes somehow. At least if every military cook in every war movie ever made is an accurate guide.