Owen Swift

Owen Swift "The Wonder", A. Clark, 19th century. Oil on canvas, private collection. The Fight between Hammer Lane and Owen Swift (1834) as imagined by Famous Fights: Past and Present, No. 52, published circa 1903. Arranging a fight at Owen Swift's, Illustrated Sporting News and Theatrical and Musical Review, 1863. Owen Swift (1814 – 9 June 1879) was a British bare-knuckle prize fighter, who killed three men in boxing bouts. The death of "Brighton Bill" in one particularly savage 85-round bout in 1838, and Swift's subsequent conviction for manslaughter, led to the adoption of the London Prize Ring Rules.

Career His 1 June 1837 fight with Israel "London Izzy" Lazarus (the father of Harry Lazarus) is recounted in detail in Frank Lewis Dowling's 1855 book, Fights for the Championship; and Celebrated Prize Battles; Or Accounts of All the Prize Battles for the Championship &c.

After one of his fights in 1838, which lasted 85 rounds and 95 minutes, Swift's opponent, William Phelps, known as "Brighton Bill", died. The London Prize Ring Rules were introduced by the Pugilists's Protective Association and replaced Broughton's rules of 1743. There were 29 rules, built on Broughton's rules, but with more depth and detail.

Death Swift died in 1879. He is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery.

Homonym Another professional boxer active in 1931–1932, Forest Hall, also used the name Owen Swift.

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