http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-27632884 In the brutal world of bare-knuckle boxing a fight, more than 200 years ago, between a freed American slave and a Bristol-born boxer remains one of the most controversial and bloody battles in boxing history. The contest - the first ever world title fight - between Tom Cribb, the son of a Bristol coal worker, and Tom Molineaux, a slave who won freedom with his fists, is an "an incredible story of racism, intrigue, gambling and above all courage". The story of the fight is now being turned into a play - Prize Fighters - by director Ed Viney. Jack Allen, Author, said it was the struggle of the fighters to make something of themselves in 19th Century society which he found fascinating. "These characters seem to represent to me a huge amount of change and struggle which was going on in society as the country comes to terms with the abolition of the slave trade and the huge social and economic changes that brought about." Heroes of their day, the pugilists drew in huge crowds and won and lost fortunes for their rich and aristocratic patrons.
Bravo. It was an exciting and dangerous time to be in England. When bare-knuckle boxing reached its summit a good portion of those who bit their thumb still enjoyed the odd fight. Some looked at boxing like a second flag. The Cribb-Molineaux saga is a great story, but any true fan should note these men weren't just the drunken sluggers history often depicts. There was method in the madness and plenty of training. The Queensberry era didn't spout from a desert. They look well cast; Cribb needs to chisel up.
Ted Spoon I never knew you were so old! The fight took place just up the road from me, like you suggest, a very interesting time in the development of boxing.
Assuming the play depicts the fight as the article describes, it sounds like an incredibly one-sided version of events. As far as I know all the stuff about Molineaux being racially abused by the crowd and repeatedly, blatantly cheated of the win isn't supported by any contemporary account. Molineaux himself, in his letter challenging Cribb to a rematch, made no accusation of unfair treatment and merely said that he thought the cold, wet weather had counted against him.
I have read the London Times coverage of this fight, and if memory doesn't fail, there was no mention of any of this controversy. I was wondering if this was unique with primary source coverage, and where this story actually comes from. That Molineaux might be shafted by a biased crowd certainly doesn't seem out of the realm of possibility, but I would like to know what the primary source is. Does anyone know the first time this version of events appeared in print?
There's that story of Molineaux being accused of having bullets in his hand and there may be another, to buy Cribb extra recovery time. Whether it's true is difficult to tell. Cribb was apparently gifted extra time against Jem Belcher in their first fight to save him. Given the nature of the bouts, with the seconds being inside the ropes, you could undeniably get away with various trickery. Everyone seems to agree that the first was a tremendous bout; Cribb the better schooled boxer, Molineaux probably stronger. The rematch was one-sided as the champion showed up in great condition while Molineaux had been enjoying his new fame.
With the abolition of the slave trade coming into effect during 1807 there is reason to believe the black man was enjoying something of a privileged existence. Sure there would have been jeers, and they definitely weren't equals with whites, but there was respect and appreciation. Bill Richmond was later honoured at the coronation of King George IV.
Bill Richmond was Molineaux's chief second, the other being Bill Gibbons.Cribb's seconds were John Gully and Joe Ward.
Captain Barclay who trained Cribb reduced his weight from over 224lbs to 188lbs. Cribb was the 3 to 1 on favourite, 6 to 4 that he would strike the first knockdown blow. I have the round by round summary ,and Molineaux did blame the weather for his showing. The fight lasted 19 minutes and 10 seconds, the first fight lasted three times that.After the fight, Molineaux was thought to have a suspected fractured jaw and two fractured ribs. Cribb was badly disfigured about the face, but unmarked about the body. There is no mention of foul play or anyone employing slugs in their hands.
I think the important thing to take away from the supposed incident is, whether true or false, that kind of thing did go on and gives you a flavour of how volatile bare-knuckle bouts could be. It's interesting to hear of Cribb's facial injuries in the second bout, though there can be no doubt he did a number on Molineaux. There's another one of those amusing rumours about Molineaux having consumed a chicken, an apple pie and other goodies before stripping at the waist to face Cribb a second time. He wasn't the most refined of chaps but that seems ridiculous.
Molineaux was described as having improved his skill , but Cribb was in much better condition for the return fight. As their respective injuries indicate, Cribb threw a lot of body punches whereas Molineaux concentrated almost entirely on the face. You're right about foul tactics,in their first fight which lasted 55 minutes ,the ring was broken down in the 19th round and Molineaux sustained a broken finger in the melee. Cribb at 199lbs was considerably heavier in the first fight, he stood 5'10.5 Molineaux was only a pound lighter but at 5'8.25" over 2 inches shorter.
