Mike Leonard
VERSUS
Jack Cushing
● LIVE_ARCHIVE
JUN 14, 1894
Historical Narrative
The Black Maria Experiment
Commissioned by the Edison Manufacturing Company, this bout was not fought for a prize, but for the machine. Filmed in the “Black Maria” studio in New Jersey, it was an experiment to see if the new Kinetoscope could capture the speed and violence of combat. It sparked the global film industry.
Tape Analysis
Ring Size12′ x 12′
Film Length37 Seconds
The Finish
The First Cinematic KO
Mike Leonard, a professional boxer, toyed with Cushing before delivering the finish. While likely choreographed to ensure the expensive film didn’t run out before the action ended, it remains the first knockdown ever committed to film.
Official Record
Historical Artifact
Only fragments remain of the original film strip. This restoration stitches together the surviving frames, offering a ghost-like window into the late 19th century and the very moment boxing met technology.
CONTINUE THE JOURNEY
The Rare Footage
