[Vano-irons]

This is taken from 'The Ultimate Boxing Enclyclopedia' by Harry Mullan and Bob Mee. I've cut it down significantly

The first English boxing champion was a guy called James Figg from Oxfordshire in the 1720s

Figg, and boxing, were so popular, King George I had a ring erected in Hyde Park for public use.

The first boxing rules were drawn up in 1743 after Figgs' successor, John Broughton, killed Hull's George Stevenson in the ring

boxing was first outlawed in 1750 after the Duke of Cumberland lost a £10,000 bet when Broughton lost to Jack Slack.Boxing went underground

Boxing was rescued by champion Thomas Jackling, who was supported by the future King George IV, with peers sponsoring fighters.

For the first time in boxing history, a man could escape poverty with his fits. That's what Daniel Mendoza from East London did

Mendoza fought Richard Humphries in a legendary trilogy, with people travelling from London to Doncaster to watch. Mendoza won the series 2-1.

Mendoza was finally beaten by John Jackson in Hornchurch Essex. Jackson was a technical boxer, and outsmarted his opponent in 1795

Jackson only lost once when he broke his ankle. He asked to carry on if he could be strapped to a chair, but the ref said no!

In December 1800, Bristol's Jem Belcher became British boxing champion by beating Ireland's Andrew Gamble.

Belcher was injured and lost an eye playing racquets, with Henry Pearce becoming champion

A bitter, one eyed Belcher challenged Pearce, who beat him after 35 minutes. Belcher, a once popular man, died penniless 10 years later

Tom Cribb succeeded Pearce, fighting Afro-American Bill Richmond. Cribb became a nation hero when he beat Tom Molineaux in 1810

Molineaux started well, but was worn down by Cribb's illegal tactics before Tom quit the fight. In the rematch, Cribb won again.

By 1823, Tom Spring had succeeded Cribb. Spring would draw a crowd of 30,000 people when he beat Bill Neat.

When Spring retired in 1825, boxing began to decline.

Simon Byrne became the first Brit to try his hand in the US. He was beating Sam O'Rourke before the Mob (O'Rourke fans) broke up the fight

but boxing has a way of surviving. Despite the decline, along came Tom Sayers, a Welterweight by today's standards who took on anyone

Sayers met John Heenan in 'The Last Great Prizefight' Britain ever saw, a fight which single handedly brought boxing back to the limelight

The police let the fight go on, after finding tickets with 'To Nowhere' printed on them.

Sayers cut Heenan in the 1st but was one armed by the 7th. By round 25, Heenan was tiring and his eyes were closing fast.

By round 36, Heenan was in an awful state. The police tried to stop the action in the 37th, and they finally succeeded a few rounds later

Both Heenan and Sayer died penniless, but they had transcended the sport.

Just a few years later, Jem Mace came along, and tried his hand in the US and Australia. Peter Jackson and Bob Fitz were his pupils

By the late 1870s, the boxing landscape had shifted, with the US becoming the 'scene'

Bare knuckle boxing was declining in England as The Queensberry Rules of 1867 introduced glove fighting

The Queensberry Rules outlawed wreasling in boxing, made rounds 3 minutes with a minute rest, and ruled that gloves had to be worn

For some time, gloves boxing and bare knuckle lives side by side, but the future was gloved fighting.

By 1880, a 23 year old John L Sullivan was the champion, and did as he pleased for 10 years. Sullivan was the heir to the brutal Figg, not the talented Broughton

The last bare knuckle contest in history was Sullivan vs Jake Kilrain, who was stopped in the 75th round of a gruelling affair.

In 1892, Sullivan tried his hand at gloved boxing, only to be outclassed by James Corbett

Corbett brought a new era to boxing, one which science prevailed over brute toughness. The rest, as they say, is history. Hope you enjoyed

 

[JamieC]

good read, thanks for posting, werent there attempts to bring it back on reservations in america?

 

[NoMas]

the last barekuckle fight was bobby gunn wernt it??? thought he won john l sullivans title

 

[bask]

I've got Jem Belcher as my #1 of British bare knuckle fighters.

 

[bask]

Jem Belcher

Career Record: W11(KO 11) / L3(KO 3) / D1 (CBZ)

Approx. Reign 1800-1805 (IBHOF)

"Napoleon of the Ring"

Career Start: 1789 (17 Years Old)
Career End: 1809 (28 Years Old)

A very agile, quick-hitting fighter, Jem Belcher held the English prize ring title for five years at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

Belcher first fought professionally in his hometown in 1798 when he defeated Jack Britton.

A year later, Belcher fought Jack Bartholomew to a fifty-one round draw. At the time, Batholomew was considered the champion in many quarters because he had beaten title-claimant Tom Owens.

When Belcher triumped over Batholomew in a seventeen-round rematch in 1800, he was hailed as the new champion.

In 1803, Belcher lost sight in one eye when he was struck by the ball in a game of racquets. Half-blind Belcher avoided defending his title for two years, fighting exhibition bouts only.

In 1805, Belchers former protege, Henry Pearce, made a claim to the championship because of Belchers inactivity. The weakened Belcher agreed to fight, but the loss of the eye and his intemperate lifestyle, he could not stand up to the aggressive, slugging Pearce.

After the Pearce defeat, he agreed to fight future Hall of Famer Tom Cribb, a champion in the making in 1807.

The fight attracted a large crowd. For the first twenty rounds, Belcher dominated. Then Cribb hit Belcher over his good eye, nearly closing it. Belchers hands were seriously injured and his punches weak. Finally after fourty-one rounds, the incapacitated Belcher could not go on.

In a rematch two years later, Cribb outclassed Belcher and won in thirty-one rounds.

The defeat was particularly painful for Belcher because he had wagered his entire fortune on his own victory. He served four weeks in prison for starting a fracas after the fight and, while there, became seriously ill.

A ruined man, Belcher died in 1811 and was honored at a well-attended funeral.

 

[Vano-irons]

Jem Belcher

Career Record: W11(KO 11) / L3(KO 3) / D1 (CBZ)

Approx. Reign 1800-1805 (IBHOF)

A very agile, quick-hitting fighter, Jem Belcher held the English prize ring title for five years at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

Belcher first fought professionally in his hometown in 1798 when he defeated Jack Britton.

A year later, Belcher fought Jack Bartholomew to a fifty-one round draw. At the time, Batholomew was considered the champion in many quarters because he had beaten title-claimant Tom Owens.

When Belcher triumped over Batholomew in a seventeen-round rematch in 1800, he was hailed as the new champion.

In 1803, Belcher lost sight in one eye when he was struck by the ball in a game of racquets. Half-blind Belcher avoided defending his title for two years, fighting exhibition bouts only.

In 1805, Belchers former protege, Henry Pearce, made a claim to the championship because of Belchers inactivity. The weakened Belcher agreed to fight, but the loss of the eye and his intemperate lifestyle, he could not stand up to the aggressive, slugging Pearce.

After the Pearce defeat, he agreed to fight future Hall of Famer Tom Cribb, a champion in the making in 1807.

The fight attracted a large crowd. For the first twenty rounds, Belcher dominated. Then Cribb hit Belcher over his good eye, nearly closing it. Belchers hands were seriously injured and his punches weak. Finally after fourty-one rounds, the incapacitated Belcher could not go on.

In a rematch two years later, Cribb outclassed Belcher and won in thirty-one rounds.

The defeat was particularly painful for Belcher because he had wagered his entire fortune on his own victory. He served four weeks in prison for starting a fracas after the fight and, while there, became seriously ill.

A ruined man, Belcher died in 1811 and was honored at a well-attended funeral.

Great addition to the thread mate :good

He certainly wasn't the first bare knuckle boxer in Britain tho. Perhaps he was the first to get national recognition?
@NoMas I consider the bare knuckle era dead when John L (the champ) decided to lace up the gloves, only to be hammered by Gentlemen Jim. It was the end of the era IMO

 

[bask]

Great addition to the thread mate :good

He certainly wasn't the first bare knuckle boxer in Britain tho. Perhaps he was the first to get national recognition?
@NoMas I consider the bare knuckle era dead when John L (the champ) decided to lace up the gloves, only to be hammered by Gentlemen Jim. It was the end of the era IMO

Sorry I meant Belcher is top of my list at #1 spot. The British era was good, I can post up some more biographies I have of the top fighters of that era if interested.

 

[Vano-irons]

Sorry I meant Belcher is top of my list at #1 spot. The British era was good, I can post up some more biographies I have of the top fighters of that era if interested.

Sorry, I completely read it wrong!

Yeah by all means post away!

 

[bask]

Just edit Belcher post, add picture and his nickname. Then get onto others.

 

[bask]

James Figg

Career Record: W6(KO 6) / L1(KO 1) / D0 (CBZ)

Approx. Reign 1719-1734 (IBHOF)

Career Start: 1719 (24 Years Old)
Career End: 1734 (38 Years Old)

Six feet tall and a multi-talented athlete, by 1719, Figg's claim to be bare-knuckle championship was secure.

He fended off several challengers, including three-time opponent Ned Sutton. Figg defeated Sutton with his fists, sword and cudgel.

Fighting infrequently in formal contests, Figg retained the championship until his retirement in 1734, when his premier student, George Taylor, declared himself successor to the title.

Figg is called "The Father of Boxing" for his role in popularizing and teaching the sport.

 

[bask]

Jack Broughton

Career Record: W15(KO 15) / L1(KO 1) / D0 (CBZ)

Approx. Reign 1738-1750 (IBHOF)

"Father of Boxing"

Career Start: 1725 (21 Years Old)
Career End: 1767 (63 Years Old)

Broughton is best remembered for his skill as a fighter and for the innovations he brought to the free-for-all fisticuffs that preceded modern boxing.

More than any fighter before him, Broughton saw the advantage of sizing up a rival and adjusting his methods to overcome a perceived weakness.

In 1738, Broughton defeated George Taylor, a student of Englands first champion, James Figg, to win the title.

Broughton devised "Broughtons Rules" in 1743, two years after he unintentionally killed ring opponent George Stevenson.

Broughton also invented "mufflers," forerunners of modern boxing gloves, for use in training and exhibition matches.

Broughton lost his title to Jack Slack, Figgs grandson in 1750.

The bout with Slack lasted only fourteen minutes because Broughton could not recover from a blinding punch.

After this defeat, Broughton never fought again.

 

[bask]

Thomas Johnson

Career Record: W10(KO 10) / L1(KO 1) / D0 (CBZ)

Approx. Reign 1784-1791 (IBHOF)

"Jackling" Johnson

Career Start: 1783 (33 Years Old)
Career End: 1791 (41 Years Old)

Johnson restored to boxing a modicum of credibility and public respect - lost since the days of Jack Broughton.

After Broughton's demise in 1750, the title was held for ten years by Jack Slack, inventor of paralysing rabbit punch and accused fixer of fights.

By the time Slack was defeated, crooked fights were common. The championship bounced from one fighter to another, and by the 1780s, no one had a firm hold on it.

In 1783, he became champion almost by chance when he offended a fighter named Jack Jarvis. This led to a challenge and a boxing match in which Johnson convincingly defeated Jarvis in just fifteen minutes.

After the Jarvis victory, some acclaimed him champion. But not until a year later, after victories over Croydon Drover and Stephen "Death" Oliver, that Johnson declared himself champion.

In 1786, Johnson whipped four more opponents easily then faced and then faced Irish champion Michael Ryan the next year.

The two champions fought ferociously. When Ryan landed a hard punch to Johnsons temple, sending him reeling against the ropes, Johnsons second entered the ring and grabbed Ryan. Ryan could have claimed victory on the foul but did not. Given time to recover, Johnson came back to defeat Ruan ten minutes later. He also won a rematch.

In his next contest, he fought and beat Isaac Perrins in a grueling sixty-two round battle. Though he suffered several knockdowns, Johnson hung on to win.

In 1791, the aging Johnson lost his title to Ben Brian in eighteen rounds.

Johnsons refusal to engage in "crosses" as fixed fights were called, rekindled the publics interest in boxing and restored much-needed integrity to the sport.

 

[bask]

Benjamin Brain

Career Record: W7(KO 7) / L0(KO 0) / D1 (CBZ)

Approx. Reign 1791-1794 (IBHOF)

"Big Ben"

Career Start: 1774 (21 Years Old)
Career End: 1794 (41 Years Old)

Brain outweighed most men and even most professional fighters in England of the 1780s.

In 1791, Brain met Hall of Famer Tom Johnson for the title at Wrotham-in-Kent. Brain, then 37, prevailed to take the title from the 40 year-old Johnson.

Brain's toppling of Johnson is sometimes seen to mark the end of the first era of boxing, when men stood toe-to-toe and punched and grappled until one of them could no longer go on.

There is no question that the early brawlers were courageous, but the boxers who came after Brain began to rely on more than just strength and stamina.

After winning the championship, with no challengers coming forward, Brain retired from boxing. The title was declared vacant.

After three years, a suitable challenger was found and Brian agreed to return to the ring as the acknowledged titleholder to fight Will Wood in February 1794. However, Brian was stricken with an illness and died, still considered the champion.

 

[bask]

Bill Richmond

Career Record: W16(KO 16) / L2(KO 2) / D0 (CBZ)

"Black Terror"

Career Start: 1791 (28 Years Old)
Career End: 1818 (55 Years Old)

The first African-American fighter to gain prominence in British boxing, was born to slaves.

Brought to England by the Duke of Northumberland, because of his fistic prowess and his good character, as the Dukes valet in 1777.

His first recorded fight was in 1791 against George Moore. Though Moore outweighed him by approximately fifty pounds, Richmond easily dispensed with him.

Despite this success, Richmond declined offers to become a prizefighter and continued as cabinetmaker for the next seven years, fighting only in response to insults and personal affronts.

After thrashing Frank "The York Bully" Meyers in an impromptu match, reportedly over a women, Richmond decided to turn to fighting on a full-time basis.

In 1805 fought future Hall of Famer Tom Cribb, despite giving away almost thirty pounds, Richmond displayed a knack for avoiding Cribbs heavy blows, and landed some of his own. He struggled gamely, but clearly took the worst of the fighting before succumbing in the twenty-fifth round of a ninety-minute contest.

Richmond never contended for the championship.

 

[bask]

Daniel Mendoza

Career Record: W32(KO 32) / L5(KO 5) / D1 (CBZ)

Approx. Reign 1794-1795 (IBHOF)

Career Start: 1780 (16 Years Old)
Career End: 1820 (56 Years Old)

Mendoza was the first to truly put the "science" in the Sweet Science. More than any previous fighter, Mendoza relied on footwork, jabs, and defense rather than pure brute force.

Although relatively small at 5'7" and 160 pounds, Mendozas speed and agility allowed him to triumph over larger, slower opponents.

Mendoza was a popular fighter who enjoyed a short reign as England's champion.

After he defeated Sam Martin "The Bath Butcher" in 1787, Mendoza established a reputation as a fighter of the first rank.

In 1788, Mendoza embarked on a bitter three-fight series with Richard Humphries. Mendoza lost the first fight when he suffered a leg injury and threw in the towel after twenty-nine minutes.

In the rematch the following year, Mendoza thoroughly dominated Humphries to win in fifty-two minutes. Mendoza also won the third enconnter in fifteen minutes.

With the retirement of Ben Brain, Mendoza claimed the championship. His grip on the title was solidified with victory over Bill Warr in 1794. As champion, Mendoza toured England, Scotland and Ireland demonstrating his skills as part of the Aston Circus.

Mendoza held the title until 1795 when John Jackson rather easily knocked him out in nine rounds.

Mendoza retired only to return, for financial reasons, at the age of 41 with a victory over Harry Lee in 1806. He even fought one losing effort in 1820.

Mendozas contributions to boxing had a lasting impact. His impressive ring displays further ppularized boxing, and by teaching and example, he advanced the use of more sophisticated tactics in the ring.

 

[bask]

Gentlemen John Jackson

Career Record: W2(KO 2) / L1(KO 1) / D0 (CBZ)

Approx. Reign 1795 (IBHOF)

"Emperor of Pugilism"

Career Start: 1788 (19 Years Old)
Career End: 1796 (27 Years Old)

Won England's prize ring championship in the third and final fight of his sparse career, John Jackson exemplified the "gentleman boxer."

Jackson was of a higher socio-economic status than his predecessors, and he hobnobbed successfully with the nobility. He dressed well and behaved in a polite manner, and so brought an often-missing gentility to the sport.

Defeated previously unbeaten William Fewterel in his first professional contest. Proving himself to be a fine two-handed puncher, using his left more than most fighters of the time.

Historians disagree, but Jackson either twisted or broke his ankle in his second contest, resulting in opponent, George Ingelston being declared winner.

So thoroughly disappointed, it was not until the chance to face the highly regarded Daniel Mendoza, six years later, that Jackson was finally motivated to return to the ring.

Jackson scored an easy victory in under eleven minutes, by means of grabbing Mendozas long hair and slugging him mercilessly with his free hand. A manoeuvre that was not against the rules of the time.

During King George IV coronation, Jackson was recruited to assemble guards to keep order. He assembled a complement of eighteen prizefighters.

 

[bask]

Henry Pearce

Career Record: W7(KO 7) / L0(KO 0) / D0 (CBZ)

Approx. Reign 1805 (IBHOF)

"Hen" Pearce

Career Start: 1803 (26 Years Old)
Career End: 1807 (30 Years Old)

Although he did not possess the boxing skills of his immediate predecessor, Jem Belcher, Henry Pearce used his great strength and slugging ability to take the championship.

In 1805, he fought a memorable battle with his friend John Gully, an inmate of debtors prison. The two staged the bout on the prison grounds with Gully getting the best of Pearce by a small margin.

Impressed by Gullys showing, Pearce arranged a sponsor to pay Gullys debts so that he could be released from prison, so that the two men could met again, this time for a public battle.

Pearce dominated Gully, knocking him down in each of the first seven rounds. Gully beat Pearce badly in the eighteenth, and by the twentieth one of Pearce's eyes had swollen shut. It continued back-and-forth until the thirty-third round, which Pearce controlled, and the remaining thirty-one rounds. Until Gully was unable to continue.

Pearce laid claim to the title in his next fight, when he battled Jem Belcher. Although blind in one eye from an accident, Blecher agreed to the challenge. Pearce outfought Belcher for eighteen rounds to win the undisputed title.

Pearce never fought again, instead he toured the country celebrating in high fashion.

 

[bask]

Thomas Cribb

Career Record: W14(KO 14) / L1(KO 1) / D0 / NC2 (CBZ)

Approx. Reign 1809-1822 (IBHOF)

"Black Diamond"

Career Start: 1803 (22 Years Old)
Career End: 1822 (41 Years Old)

One of the first fighters to actually train for bouts, Tom Cribb is remembered as the master of milling on the retreat, or attacking and then stepping away.

He held the championship for thirteen years and defeated the first fighters to arrive from America.

Cribbs first recorded fight was a victory over George Maddox. He then defeated the black American fighter Bill Richmond in a ninety-minute bout before facing former champion Jem Belcher in 1807.

Belcher came close to winning at one point, but Cribb was able to close Belchers one good eye to gain the victory. In a rematch in 1809, Cribb won easily and was generally considered to be the champion.

In 1810, Cribb fought Tom Molineaux, a former American slave and the first black to fight for a championship.

The two fighters battered each other mercilessly. Molineaux seized control of the contest for long periods. However after thirty-three rounds Cribb prevailed after closing both of Molineauxs eyes.

Before a rematch with Molineaux, Cribb went to Scotland to train. Using runs and long walks, Cribb reduced his weight and improved his stamina. He also stayed away from alchol.

The fight was short, for those days, and brutal.

Molineaux again dominated the early rounds until Cribb, with his nose and mouth bleeding and both eyes swollen, turned to body punching.

In the ninth round, Cribb knocked his opponent down. Molineaux did not get up in time, but Cribb, wanting to prove his worth, allowed the fight to continue. In the eleventh, he knocked Molineaux unconscious.

Cribb then retired except for one comeback bout, a victory over Jack Carter in 1820.

 

[bask]

Thomas Molineaux

Career Record: W6(KO 6) / L4(KO 4) / D0 / NC1 (CBZ)

Career Start: 1810 (26 Years Old)
Career End: 1815 (31 Years Old)

Tom Molineaux was the first American to fight in England for the heavyweight title.

Born a slave, he participated in fights with slaves from neighbouring plantations as arranged by the plantation owners. Before one of these bouts, Algernon Molineaux, his owner, promised his fighter freedom should he win.

Molineaux won the fight and was granted his freedom. First he travelled to New York, but on hearing of better opportunities for fighters in England, Molineaux set sail for England.

In London, he declared himself to be the American champion, even though no such title existed. Molineaux further boasted that he could beat anyone, including the retired champion, Hall of Famer Tom Cribb.

Eager to prove British superiority, Cribb arranged for his protege, Bill Burrows to fight Molineaux. Seconded and trained by Bill Richmond, Molineaux overpowered Burrows with short arm jolts and blows to the head.

Cribb came out of retirement to face Molineaux on December 18, 1810, on a cold, rainy day.

Molineaux drew first blood in the second round. In the 28th, Molineaux floored Cribb, who failed to come to scratch within thirty seconds.

Under the rules, Molineaux should have been declared the winner. However, Cribb's second accused Molineaux of hiding bullets in his hands to give his punches more power. The referee searched Molineaux, found no foreign objects, and then let the revived Cribb continue.

By the thirty-third round, Molineaux was exhausted, shivering from the cold, and dazed from hitting his head on a ring post. He fell to the ground, unable to continue.

Molineaux immediately challenged Cribb for a rematch. While Cribb trained ardously, Molineaux, now estranged from Richmond, preferred carousing.

Molineaux dominated for five rounds. A Cribb right knocked the wind out of him in the sixth. Molineaux never recovered and was knocked out in the eleventh when a Cribb right broke his jaw.

Molineaux never again fought for the title. Instead he toured rural areas of England, Ireland and Scotland in a boxing and wrestling show.

 

[bask]

Just to help break up bio posts, Molineaux is perhaps my favourite fighter from this era. If for nothing else but his ingenuity of claiming a fictional title to gain status.