The Wasp — 1893 — page 27: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical page compares boxers across eras. The top panel mocks an "Old Time Sporting House Proprietor" offering dubious perks—worn-out women's clothing for money. The right panels contrast past and present fighters: an older, gentlemanly boxer versus a modern one described as merely "a broken man," suggesting contemporary fighters lack honor or substance. The large central image depicts a "Corbett" (likely boxer James J. Corbett) displayed like merchandise in a glass case, with crowds and valuations—satirizing the commercialization of boxing and fighters as commodities. The bottom panel shows two men struggling over a "$40,000 purse," illustrating how modern boxing has become purely about money rather than sport. The overall message critiques boxing's transformation from athletic pursuit to crass commercial enterprise.