London, England: The London fancy may have been put out by the fact that the world heavyweight champion hailed from the West Indies but it went into absolute fits when an Irishman snatched the prize in May.
Unheralded Squire O'Connor of Dublin took the crown with a devastatingly boring fifteen round decision over Joe Lashley. It was only Lashley's second defense but the Barbadian appeared to have aged ten years since his victory over Thomas Owen the previous year. O'Connor, perhaps the most unpopular champion in REC history promptly lost the title to Owen in another humbug of a match. Owen, who wears the crown for a second time, is old and dull to behold but at least he is English.
The Royal Explorers Club has rather a mess on their hands with interest and confidence in the world champion at a dreadful low.
OTHER DOINGS:
Tom Cribb of Gloucestershire has become London's darling. Though only the English champ, Cribb's popularity out-strips that of any world titleholder. 1805 has born witness to two bone-crushing English defenses as Cribb stopped Jack Firby and Tom Pratt in the fourth and ninth rounds respectively. His record stands at eight wins against one loss and with another title defense scheduled for month's end he may burst onto the world stage in 1806. Fear not o Realm, a hero comes!
The Realm in Need of a Champion