fight and his handler threw up the sponge ending the fight after twenty-three minutes. The match was fought for £50 a side, and saw a good crowd considering both men were novices. Pugilistica took note of Mace's speed, and the precision and strength with which he delivered his punches. On 21 September 1858, Mace met Bob Brettle on the banks of the River Medway at Thames Haven, on the Essex Coast, for £100 a side, using London Prize Ring Rules, with Mace conceding the bout in only 2 rounds lasting three minutes. A number of boxing historians now consider the bout to have been for the Welterweight Championship of England. In a second attempt at Brettle, Mace took the Welterweight title in five rounds near Foolness Island, by Yanklett Creek in Essex. On 25 January 1859, Mace met the undefeated Posh Price for £50 a side at Aldershot Common, Hampshire. In the 11th and last round, Mace hit Price with a strong blow on the left arm causing swelling, and likely a break. Price's seconds threw up the sponge after the injury became apparent in only 17 minutes of fighting. In a rough and damaging match, Mace displayed his characteristic scientific style of boxing. Mace was aged less than 27 in this early match, but his blows were hard and precise, and he showed his customary speed, which would serve him well in his later career. Mace met the boxer Bob Travers on 21 February 1860. Travers, like Mace, was a friend of Nat Langham, and had boxed, and entertained, at his club at Westminster's Cambrian Stores. Mace would later compete against Travers in foot races. Their boxing match was for £50 a side, and they first fought six rounds off the Thames at the North Kent Marshes and then, after the police intervened, they moved to a second location which was closer to, but still to the southeast of London. By the 33rd and 34th rounds, it was evident that, though Travers tried to lead, Mace had the better defence, and continued to get in more and harder punches. Having had the better of the match, Mace finally won on a foul that occurred in the 57th round, when Travers appeared to intentionally throw himself on the ground to avoid his blow after one hour, thirty-one minutes of fighting. English heavyweight champion, 1861 On 18 June 1861, he first