Heavyweight Champions from Ancient to Present (WIP)

Illegible of Samos vs. Mike Weaver, prime against prime. Who you got?

I think Weaver stops him late, but is then stoned to death for some reason.

 

I notice you list Varazdat as 385 AD, but online he generally gets listed as 365 AD.

I'm pretty clueless on ancient boxing, is this a typo or is there some chronological disagreement?

 

I'm pretty sleepy and was having a little trouble reading TBH, I plan on rereading it, so I might have missed it.

 

Another I'll have to look into

Derby Mercury - Thursday 26 May 1785
Last Week died, John Reddell, Grinder, the Champion of his Day in the Art of boxing, though stout, he was seldom known to be insolent or overbearing, and though in his Youth, he fought several pitched Battles, he always (as we are informed) proved victorious.
On the Death of John Reddell, the cool and intre-
pid Champion of his Day.
The stoutest by all conquering Time,
We find at length laid low;
For he grim death, whom man ne'er beat,
Has level'd at a blow.

Edit:
Oxford Journal - Saturday 17 November 1764
On Monday last a Battle for Twenty Guineas was fought at Castle Bromwich, between Reddel and Dallaway, two famous Champions both of Birmingham; when Reddel proved Victorious, after an obstinate Contest of near Twenty Minutes ; in which he acquired vast Reputation as a Bruiser, as well for his coll Intrepidity, as the forcible Judgment with which he placed his Blows. There were a prodigious Concourse of People, and Bets depending on the Amount of several Hundred Pounds.

Edit:
Leeds Intelligencer - Tuesday 23 September 1760
Died. At his seat in the County of Lincoln, Edward Dimock, Esq; who succeeded his Brother as Champion of England, about six Months since. His Brother in Fenchurch-Street will succeed him as next Heir to the Honour of Champion, also to a very large Estate
Edit:

Don't know if there's anything new here, but found this
https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=kjsGAAAAQAAJ&rdid=book-kjsGAAAAQAAJ&rdot=1

 

@BitPlayerVesti @GlaukosTheHammer @Senya13 Hey guys i'm finding some discrepancies with Tom Johnson. Some sources say he "Claimed" the english championship in 1784 but here and other sources don't credit him until 1787. Any clarification would be helpful.

 

I've not looked into him yet, I'll have a look in a bit, I've been meaning to anyway. He seems oddly overlooked for being one of the most important.

Though it's not really uncommon for their to be a gap between claiming it and more general recognition, I mean it's not like there was a sanctioning body or anything.

 

Yeah I understand, but the sources on everything about him seem really controversial CBZ has him claiming the championship after his first pro fight, then again a year later having had fights in between, then finally in 1787 which actually seems quite concrete since all fights afterwards were for the title. Also his birthday was either 1750 or 1760, this makes a big difference when trying to write a narrative of the guy. Any help would be hugely appreciated.

 

Sorry, but I have had a surfeit of boxing research, won't be of help for a while, need to take a break and do something else. Happens from time to time. Waiting for Adam's new version of John L's bio and 2nd volume of JJ bio, maybe that'll revive me.

 

Theagenes of Thasos vs Shannon 'The Cannon' Briggs of Brooklyn......who wins this battle of champions!!!

 

Pierce Egan wrote, that Tom "Johnson was now firmly established as the Champion", as the result of his victory over Bill Warr on January 18, 1787.

In fact, that bout was ruled a draw by the umpires.

 

Pierce Egan is an 18th century way of spelling Bert Sugar.

 

The strange part is after I mailed this correction to Johnson's record to Tracy Callis 8 years ago, he added the "assistance provided by", but forgot to change the result (a draw, like I said) and the duration (2 hours 20 minutes) of the bout.