I have three hardbound British magazine collections from 1822-24 'Annals of Sporting and Fancy Gazette' that document even the most trivial boxing match in any part of England. They cover all sporting events, but particularly cricket, boxing and hunting. Given that boxing is given seeming equal status to the other two sports, I'm thinking it was popular with the upper class (who would have been into hunting and cricket), at least in England.
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