A friend of mine did USMC duty in the 70s at the US Embassy, Dublin. Told the story that he and his Irish girlfriend, later wife, were at a village pub out in the sticks and watched two big fellas stand toe to toe, straw on the floor to absorb blood, and trade punches with bets going on who would drop first. Not a fight, just literally one by one trade punches to the head. Pretty sure the frill knickers EU has put a stop to such by now.
Sounds like the slapping contests they have today- blow for blow till someone gets knocked out or quits