A private club started by Italian immigrant Domenico Duce (in his 30's) in 1891, Legion Hall Boxing & Wrestling was a competitive body that staged both boxing matches and wrestling competitions. The wrestling competition was the popular carnival-fueled draw from where they could build the boxing matches, as this was the time of World Championship bodies for boxing in both the US and UK. Before both inevitably became two of the first recognized champions, James J. Jefferies and Bob Fitzsimmons passed through a Legion ring. The wrestling was known as catch wrestling, grand daddy of the modern 'pro wrestling'-style. Though ever more real and violent.

Also as a sideshow within Legion, inevitable crossover bouts took place, wrestlers against boxers, both within each others weight classes.

Just before Legion's closure due to pressure from both rival boxing outfits, as well as regional sporting authorities and politicians for it's violently crowd-pleasing shows, the first Legion Cup match was held between mixed teams of wrestlers and boxers. Five fights. Two boxing. Three wrestling.

Though the matches where still quite real, this would be a sign of things to come.