In Maryland, Philadelphia-based Joe Coburn retains his American heavyweight boxing title

Two Irish-born fighters, Joe Coburn of Philadelphia and Mike McCoole of St. Louis, fought for the American heavyweight boxing title near Cumberland, Maryland, each side putting up $1000. Coburn was older, five inches shorter than bargeman McCoole's 6 feet two inches, but with a reputation for clever boxing.  The fight went on for seventy minutes and sixty-seven bruising rounds before McCoole was not able to "make the mark."  With "East" fighting "West," the contest had a strong sectional interest, though prizefighting was still illegal. (By John Osborne)
Source Citation
Nat Fleischer, Sam Andre, Don Rafael, An Illustrated History of Boxing (New York: Citadel Press, 2002), 53 
    Date Certainty
    Exact
    Type
    Education/Culture
    How to Cite This Page: "In Maryland, Philadelphia-based Joe Coburn retains his American heavyweight boxing title," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/index.php/node/39487.