Photograph of two bare-knuckle boxers, each standing facing each other in side profile. The boxer standing on the left is possibly the Staffordshire heavyweight prize fighter William Perry (1819-80) also known as the 'Tipton Slasher'. The fighters are bare-chested and are surrounded by a group of male spectators within what appears to be a quarry setting.
William Perry was the Pugilistic Champion of England between 1850 and 1857. He was reluctant about having his image taken and was photographed only twice during his lifetime. The first occasion was in 1862 when he had his portrait taken aged 43 years old. The other was most likely when this photograph was taken by Oscar Rejlander in 1855. Perry died in 1880 at Bilston from alcoholism.
