Heenan had been trained for the fight by his countryman, John MacDonald. John Heenan's brother James had also helped to look after the fighter. On the morning of the fight, MacDonald was surprised to find out that Sayers would be his assistant in the corner, having been told that James Heenan would be fulfilling that role. In theory this switch should have been a sound decision, as Sayers had displayed crafty ring-tactics as a fighter. However, by this time, he was in the later stages of untreated diabetes and was of no help whatsoever to Heenan as the fight slipped away from him. Sayers had bet heavily on Heenan, losing hundreds of pounds on the fighter's loss. In January 1864, legal proceedings were initiated against the fighters, seconds and other prominent participants in the prizefight. The proceedings concluded in April with the chief participants having to lodge £100 surety with the court in case of further court action.