On April 6, 1893, in New Orleans, Louisiana, two boxers, Andy Bowen and Jack Burke, engaged in the longest fight in boxing history, lasting an astonishing 110 rounds over 7 hours and 19 minutes.

The match, which began at 9:15 PM and ended at 4:34 AM the following day, was initially declared a “no contest” but was later changed to a draw.

The fight, which was for the lightweight championship of the south and a purse of $2,500, was a brutal and grueling affair.

Both men hit the mat numerous times, with Burke opening a cut above Bowen’s eye. By round 30, the pace had slowed, and the large crowd of 11,000 spectators, who had paid an entrance fee of either $1 or $3, grew restless.

Despite the length of the fight, it was also brutal in other ways. Burke was nearly knocked out in round 48 and suffered from broken hands, with a piece of bone protruding from one of his hands.

He also had swollen forearms, a swollen stomach, puffy eyes and ears, and violent welts on his side and back. Burke was bedridden for weeks after the fight, while Bowen, remarkably, was only marked by the cut above his eye.

The fight was a testament to the bravery and endurance of both men, but it also highlighted the need for stricter regulations in boxing.

No fight should have been permitted to last as long as this one did. The lesson was learned, and both men continued their careers, but their fates were ultimately tragic.

Bowen tragically died in 1894, after hitting his head on a non-canvas floor in the 18th round of another fight. Burke passed away from a heart attack in 1913.

Together, Bowen and Burke hold a unique and untouchable place in boxing history as the participants in the longest fight ever recorded.