On June 17, 1894 the very first boxing match was filmed. Thomas Edison operated his motion picture camera as Mike Leonard fought Jack Cusing. The fight went six rounds and made history. Edison then hired Jim Corbett to fight Peter Courtney for the September 7, 1894 bout filmed at the Black Maria, Edison's indoor movie studio.
Watch the rare Leonard-Cusing fight as well as the 1894 bout between Gentleman Jim Corbett and Peter Courtney. Bat Masterson, the famous Old West Sheriff is there ... at the first heavyweight championship fight ever filmed .. the March 17, 1897 bout between Jim Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons in Carson City, Nevada. Also included is the 1899 title defense fight between Jim Jeffreis and Tom Sharkey. While the original Edison film has been lost, you will see the fight as filmed from a camera hidden in a cigar box.
