The Wasp — 1891 — page 108: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This 1891 satirical cartoon depicts an arbitrator or referee (center, with top hat and clock-head) presiding over a match between two boxers. The left figure is labeled "L.J. Sluggerman Champion of Boston Record 75,000 Volts" and the right is "Puggy Tough The Champion of Brazil Record 74,000 Volts." The cartoon mocks high-profile "pugilistic encounters" of the era by suggesting they be decided by endurance tests involving electrical current rather than traditional boxing. The satire critiques sensationalized sporting competitions and their dubious record-keeping, proposing an absurdist alternative that exposes the spectacle's underlying absurdity. The caption suggests this method would provide definitive results compared to wire-based match disputes.