The program dealt more with the social issues of the time and why the women would fight. It seems there were two distinct types of women's fighting bare knuckle boxing where they fought with rules and some degree of professionalism in front of big crowds and the more dangerous type of fight between often untrained women where there were no rules these were known as "catfights!" The fights often took place in the same unsanitary pits that used for dog and cockfighting, bull and near baiting etc. in the dilapidated rookeries of London. The fighters not only ran the risk of serious injuries in the fights but even a small cut could and often did lead to fatal infections. Contrary to what people think they didn't rip each others clothes as only the poorest in society, often prostitutes, took part in the "catfights" so they would often strip to the waist so as not to get what few clothes they owned destroyed. The topless element then as now was also seen as a way to draw a bigger crowd, more crowd more betting and with luck the winner could earn more fighting than "whoring".
