Jim Cusick, determined that his easy-going protégé should not rest on his laurels, pushed him to challenge for the national title. The American champion at this time was the Irish-born John Morrissey Morrissey had been raised in Troy, near to where Heenan had grown up and had also been out to California during the gold rush. After much wrangling, the two men finally met in 1858 – in Canada, where the US authorities could not intervene. As well as there being a personal rivalry between the combatants, there was a social and political dimension to the fight as the nativist faction in the city tended to favour Heenan. The location of the fight, chosen by the Morrissey camp, was Long Point Island, about 80 miles from Buffalo. Stakes were set at $2500 a-side. Heenan was trained for the fight by the English prizefighter, Aaron Jones, who had recently fought and been beaten by Tom Sayers. Heenan, whose training had been disrupted by injury, and who was not fully fit, was an unlucky loser.