In the predawn hours of May 10, 1870, about 1,000 people left the New Orleans Jackson Street Railroad Station for Kennerville, where on this site in the City of Kenner the first World Championship Heavyweight Prize fight held in the United States took place. In a makeshift ring in the back of William Butler Kenner's old sugar house about 100 yards from the Mississippi River, Jed Mace of Beeston, Norwich, England defeated Tom Allen of Birmingham, England in 10 rounds. The bare knuckles event carried a $2,500 prize, winner takes all.