won the title of Heavyweight Champion of England by defeating reigning champion Sam Hurst in 8 rounds, and 40 minutes at Medway Island, Kent. Langham had carefully schooled Mace in the finer points of boxing. Though Hurst was as much as 50 pounds heavier, and at least three inches taller, he may have been better schooled and experienced in wrestling, and had broken his leg the year before, likely affecting his speed and form. He was considered by many to be an awkward boxer and to lack speed due largely to his weight and size. After taking a commanding lead, in the eighth, Mace stepped back after lightly hitting Hurst, who had lost nearly all ability to defend himself. Hurst unwisely made another charge, and Mace was forced to land another blow, after which Hurst's seconds threw up the sponge, ending the match after 50 minutes. Mace showed skill both in his defence and attack. Hurst, who fought relatively few professional bouts, retired from the ring not long after his loss. Heavyweight title defences His victory over Hurst led to his first defence of the English heavyweight title against Tom King on a cold and rainy 28 January 1862 for £200 a side, before a crowd of around 400. This first title defence, staged in Godstone, England, was fought bare knuckle under London Prize Ring Rules and lasted for 43 rounds and 68 minutes. Mace had studied King and taken careful notes on his style, but King outweighed him by as much as twenty pounds and had a height advantage as well. For the first 30 rounds King fought evenly with Mace, the reigning champion, but in the second half of the fight Mace took control, and despite being nearly blinded in both eyes by King's blows in the early fighting, finished King with a crushing blow to the throat in the final round. In the 30th, Mace tripped King with the back of his heel, pushing him forward, and King fell hard, awkwardly landing on his head. In the 40th, Mace downed King with two uppercuts to the jaw, and fell upon him. In the 43rd and final round, Mace landed another uppercut to the jaw or throat prior to several close in blows, and then threw King who collapsed and was unable to rise. Mace's most prominent injuries were to the left side of his face and eye.