Hyer, Tom (Thomas)
Boxing
b. Jan. 1, 1819, New York, NY
d. June 26, 1864
Hyer's father, Jacob, was generally considered America's boxing champion on the basis of one fight, an 1816 draw with Tom Beasley in the first recorded boxing match in the U. S.
Tom won general recognition as American champion after beating Country McCloskey (George McChester) on September 9, 1841. In early 1848, he and English boxer Yankee Sullivan clashed briefly in a New York saloon. That led to a match between the two on February 7, 1849.
This was the first widely publicized bout in the country. Hyer won easily in just 17 minutes and 18 seconds when Sullivan failed to answer the call for the 17th round. (At the time, a round ended whenever one of the fighters went down.)
The U. S. press proclaimed Hyer the world champion on the basis of that victory, which led to an enormous increase in boxing. Genuine boxing matches had been rare until then, but they became regular events in New York City during the 1850s.
Hyer never fought again. He was challenged by England's William Perry, known as the "Tipton Slasher," in 1851 but nothing came of it. When John Morrissey challenged him, Hyer demanded a $5,000-per-side bet and Morrissey couldn't come up with the money.
A saloon operator for most of his adult life, he became a supplier to the Union Army during the Civil War. Hyer died of dropsy and rheumatism probably brought on by sleeping on the ground.