Owen was “so desperately beaten in this contest, after a struggle of forty minutes, that he was incapable of coming to the scratch in due time, leaving [Houssa] the conqueror”.

[4] (A round in prizefighting ended when a fighter was downed, he then had 30 seconds to return to the mark - or scratch - in the centre of the ring or he automatically lost the bout.

It was while working as a second that he ended up serving three months imprisonment in 1805 after being convicting of riot and conspiracy due to his involvement in the organisation of a prizefight on Putney Common.

He was described by the leading boxing writer Pierce Egan as follows: “Owen is of prepossessing appearance, and in height about five feet ten inches, weighting 12 stone.

He is full of fun and anecdote; a good knowledge of life; of a cheerful disposition; sings a flash song with characteristic point and humour; and the company Tom spends an evening with will not have to complain that the time proved tedious or dull upon their hands.

He is also well acquainted with the old school of boxers; and has given a public imitation of their various attitudes and modes of fighting with effect and success.”[7] Tom Owen died in Plumstead in 1843 aged 75 years.