Longest Boxing Match: The 110-Round Marathon You Won’t Believe

The longest boxing match ever didn’t just set a record—it left jaws on the floor. Imagine stepping into the ring and trading punches for over seven hours straight. That’s not an exaggeration. Back in 1893, Andy Bowen and Jack Burke fought for an eye-popping 110 rounds. This wild brawl lasted so long that the referee called it off because both men were too tired and battered to keep going. People in the crowd came for a fight and ended up witnessing an endurance test even ultra-marathoners would dread.

If you think boxing is intense now, back then there weren’t round limits or the kind of medical checks we see today. Fights went on until someone quit or couldn’t keep his gloves up. Most fans today don’t realize how different the sport was—and why no one wants to see that kind of marathon ever again. These stories aren’t just fun trivia. They show how far boxing has come in keeping fighters safe while still giving us the drama and action everyone loves.

• The Legendary 110-Round Marathon
• How Did They Survive That Long?
• What Changed in Boxing Afterward?
• Other Infamous Long Matches
• Modern Boxing Rules: Why the Time Limits?
• Tips for Boxing Fans: Staying Sharp and Safe

The Legendary 110-Round Marathon

Boxing fans still talk about the night of April 6, 1893, in New Orleans because nothing like it had ever happened before—or since. Andy Bowen and Jack Burke climbed into the ring at the Olympic Club and set out on the longest boxing match in history. Both fighters were lightweights, but they ended up showing more guts than most heavyweights ever did. The match started at 9 p.m., and you wouldn’t believe it, but it didn’t end until nearly 4 a.m. the next day.

The conditions were almost unreal. No fancy gloves, no water breaks every round, and a crowd that grew restless the longer things dragged on. By round 50, everyone—including the fighters—looked like they couldn’t take much more. But Bowen and Burke just kept going, round after round, even as neither could really land a knockout punch. The referee finally stopped the fight after round 110, calling it a no contest because both boxers were dead on their feet.

Here’s a quick look at what went down that night:

Some crazy facts: Burke reportedly lost 10 pounds during the brawl, and he was so worn out he couldn’t leave town for weeks. The referee said it was impossible to keep going—both men were just too beaten up.

• 110 rounds is equivalent to over seven hours of fighting. Imagine the stamina.
• By modern standards, a fight is just 12 rounds at most. These guys fought more than nine times that length.
• Neither boxer ever really “won” the match—there just wasn’t anything left in the tank for a proper finish.

This bout changed what people thought was possible in the ring and kickstarted conversations about making boxing safer for everyone who steps into that squared circle.

How Did They Survive That Long?

It sounds totally unbelievable, but both Andy Bowen and Jack Burke made it through the entire 110-round longest boxing match. Neither guy was superhuman—they were just stubborn, determined, and probably a bit out of their minds. People didn’t know as much about sports medicine or hydration back then, so fighters just pushed themselves way past the point where most would quit today.

The rules helped them, weirdly enough. Rounds lasted just three minutes, but there was a whole minute of rest between each. That break gave them enough time to catch their breath and, once fatigue really set in, even more: as the fight dragged on, action slowed to a crawl. Both were so exhausted after hour five that in some rounds they barely swung at each other at all. The real enemy was physical wear, not just your opponent.

Here’s what Bowen and Burke had to handle over those 110 rounds:

• Broken hands: Burke broke ALL of his knuckles. Bowen’s hands weren’t much better by the end.
• Food and drink: The men took sips of water and nibbled oranges between rounds to stay upright.
• No knockdown rule: If you went down, you had a full ten seconds to get up. They used every second when things got rough.
• No corner doctors: No medical checks, nobody to stop the fight for safety.

The fight started around 9pm and ended after 4am. When it was over, both boxers were barely standing, and needed help just to leave the ring. Burke reportedly slept for more than two days straight to recover—if that tells you anything about how brutal the night was. Neither man fought much afterward, showing just how much this one match took from them.

Want the numbers? Check out this quick breakdown of how the 110-round battle really stacked up:

If you’re wondering how anyone survived this, the truth is, barely. And after this circus, the boxing world knew something had to change.

What Changed in Boxing Afterward?

The insane 110-round boxing match between Andy Bowen and Jack Burke was more than just a wild night. It straight-up forced people to rethink how the sport should work. Fans loved the grit, but no one could ignore the fact that fighting for over seven hours was dangerous and just plain brutal.

After spectacles like this went down, boxing commissions started to step in and set boundaries. The first big move was creating round limits. Most championship fights got capped at 15 rounds, and by the 1980s, that dropped to 12 rounds—what you see today. This change wasn’t just about comfort. It came after some tragic injuries in the ring. The goal was simple: if boxers didn’t have to go endless rounds, fewer would leave with long-term damage.

Also, things got serious with medical checks. Referees started keeping an eye on the fighters for signs of exhaustion or trouble. Doctors became a part of ring-side staff at every major event. If they saw a boxer was too hurt or tired, they could stop the fight, period. Safety was taking the wheel.

To keep things more fair and less chaotic, boxing started using standardized gloves, official judges, and strict rules about what was allowed and what wasn't. No more bare-knuckle slugfests until someone collapsed. The longest boxing match in history made it clear—limits were needed to keep fighters safe and the sport respectable.

These changes didn’t just pop up overnight, but Bowen versus Burke was the fire alarm. If no one had drawn the line, boxing might have stayed a dangerous free-for-all instead of becoming the organized combat sport we know now.

Other Infamous Long Matches

Think the 110-round throwdown was a fluke? Actually, boxing history has a handful of other matches where fighters just wouldn’t quit, leaving everyone wide-eyed—and sometimes worried for their safety. Here are a few that stand out:

• Jack Jones vs. Patsy Tunney (New York, 1909) – This insane match went for 49 rounds before it ended. That’s almost four times more than today’s limit for championship bouts. Both men were completely spent, and the crowd had started leaving out of boredom and pity.
• Jack Scully vs. Jimmy Murray (Melbourne, 1856) – Another marathon, this one ran 51 rounds. The match went on for over three hours until Murray simply couldn’t take any more punishment and collapsed from exhaustion.
• John L. Sullivan vs. Jake Kilrain (Mississippi, 1889) – You can’t talk about epic boxing endurance without this famous duel. It lasted 75 rounds—yes, seventy-five. Both fighters had to deal with brutal summer heat and injuries. Sullivan finally won when Kilrain’s corner gave up. Fun fact: Sullivan only had water and whiskey for fuel.

Want a quick side-by-side look at how these matches stack up? This table keeps things simple:

It’s wild to think that fighters willingly kept going for five, six, or even seven hours. If you ever feel like a 12-round match drags on, just remember these early pioneers who basically treated the ring like an all-day job. That’s why the longest boxing match and its legendary cousins will always have a spot in boxing lore—and remind us why safety rules even exist in the sport today.

Modern Boxing Rules: Why the Time Limits?

These days, you're not going to see any fights go 110 rounds, and there’s a good reason for that. Modern boxing limits championship matches to 12 rounds, with each round lasting three minutes. That’s just 36 minutes of fighting, not counting the breaks between rounds. This is no accident—it’s all about protecting fighters’ health and safety.

The push for shorter matches didn’t just come from thin air. In 1982, there was a tragic fight where Duk Koo Kim died after a 14-round battle with Ray Mancini. That was a wake-up call. Regulators and the World Boxing Council (WBC) acted fast, slashing the round limit from 15 to 12 for world title bouts. Other major bodies like the WBA and IBF quickly followed suit, locking in the rules most fans know today.

This change wasn’t just about saving lives, though that’s a huge reason. Shorter matches help prevent things like brain injuries, major dehydration, and exhaustion—basically the stuff that makes those old, endless fights so dangerous. Medical experts now monitor fighters before, during, and after each bout. If a boxer shows even a hint of trouble, doctors can stop the fight on the spot. The days of ‘fight until you drop’ are long gone for good reason.

On top of saving fighters, these time limits also keep the action sharp and exciting. Fans don’t have to sit around for hours, and athletes are pushed to give their best every minute. Everyone wins. That’s why you’ll only hear about the longest boxing match as a crazy story from the past, and not something you see on Saturday night fights now.

• Championship fights: 12 rounds max, 3 minutes each
• Regular pro bouts: usually 4, 6, 8, or 10 rounds
• No more rounds added for a draw; most draws today just stay a draw
• Referees and ringside doctors can call off a fight any time for safety

These rules are there to keep fighters standing and the excitement high—nobody needs another 7-hour marathon in the ring.

Tips for Boxing Fans: Staying Sharp and Safe

Watching boxing isn’t just about cheering for your favorite fighter or arguing over scorecards with your buddies. If you’re someone who trains, spars, or even just hits the bag on weekends, knowing how to stay safe is just as important as keeping up with the biggest bouts. Here are a few things every boxing fan—especially those who lace up the gloves themselves—should keep in mind.

• Longest boxing match stories are wild, but today's matches have strict round and time limits for a reason. Amateur fights are usually three rounds, pros cap out at twelve. This isn’t just to keep it exciting—it’s for safety.
• Always use the right gear: a good mouthguard, quality gloves, and a solid headguard if you’re sparring. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons recorded more than 90% of boxing injuries are brain-related—that's why protection is no joke.
• Pace yourself. Even if early rounds feel easy, fatigue sneaks up. Professional boxers land an average of 30-40 punches per round, and that adds up, especially over several rounds.
• Keep hydrated and listen to your body. Cramping or feeling dizzy? That’s a sign to slow down or stop. The World Health Organization suggests a water break every 15-20 minutes in intense training sessions.
• Learn proper defense technique—don’t be the guy who only moves forward and forgets to guard his chin. That’s how injuries pile up fast.

"The best defense is making sure you don’t take unnecessary shots, even in training. You only get one brain." — Teddy Atlas, Boxing Trainer and Commentator

If you’re at a live event or watching at home, there are a few bonus tips. Don’t get sucked into crowd hype and bet more than you can afford, and if you’re taking kids to a fight, bring ear protection—those ringside bells are way louder than you’d expect.

Long crazy matches might grab headlines, but here’s how the numbers work out in modern boxing for fans and fighters alike:

Staying sharp—whether you’re a fan in the stands or a fighter on the canvas—comes down to respecting your limits and the sport’s modern rules. Save the marathon efforts for your next movie binge, not the ring.