Janitors ten most historicaly important British fighters and a bit about each of them

I recently posted a list of what I consider to be the ten most historicaly important British fighters of all time on the British forum. At the request of one poster I wrote a bit about each of them.

I am posting it here in case anybody is interested:

Jack Broughton 1704-1789

British Champion 1734-1750

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Jack Broughton is thought to be the best boxer of the early period of the British Prize Ring. He is described as scientific, fast and posesing a sharp penetrating stare. His favorite punch is described as “the peg to the stomach” suggesting that he was a body puncher. He also often used a blow under the ear to stop opponents.He developed early boxing methodology specialised in “milling on the retreat” (i.e. moving backwards and drawing an opponent into punches so their effectiveness was increased).

In 1741, Jack Broughton beat George Stevenson so badly in a 35 minute contest that a few days later Stevenson died; The tragedy upset Broughton and in an effort to ensure that it would not happen again he drew up the “Broughtion Rules” in 1743 which governed boxing up until the introduction of the “London Prize Ring Rules” in 1883.

Broughton is credited with having invented the boxing glove. Broughton's gloves were lightweight mufflers and used only in sparring at this time.




Daniel Mendoza 1764-1863

Champion 1794-1995

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Daniel Mendoza is the guy who really wrote the book on boxing technique and defined it for the next generation. Our understanding of boxing technique of the era is based on his books.

Although only 5’7” and 160 pounds, Mendoza’s speed and agility allowed him to triumph over larger, slower opponents. He was described by early boxing historian Pierce Egan as “a complete artist” and “a star of the first brilliancy” Mendoza was born in the east end of London to Spanish parents, and was the first Jewish fighter ever to gain prominence

With the retirement of Ben Brain, Mendoza claimed the championship. His grip on the title was solidified with a 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 knocked him out in nine rounds.




Tom Cribb 1781-1884

British Champion 1807-1820

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A former dock worker and later powder ****** in the Royal Navy, Tom Cribb is thought by many historians of the period to be the greatest bareknuckle champion of them all. He is also thought to be the first champion to mount a modern style training camp to prepare for a bout. Like Broughton his style is described as “milling on the retreat”. Cribb held the championship for thirteen years and defeated other all time greats such as Jem Belcher and Tom Molineux.

Cribb defeated Jem Belcher to win the title but he is best known for his two clashes with the American champion Tom Molineux which are seen by historians as the first international superfight. Molineaux was a former American slave and the first black manto fight for a championship. Cribb won the first match controvertialy. In preparation for the rematch Cribb went to a secluded part of Scotland and used runs and long walks to reduce his weight and improved his stamina. He also stayed away from alcohol. His use of the first ever “training camp” was vindicated by an early knockout in the rematch.

On his retirement Cribb was presented with a lion skin belt thought to be the first ever championship belt.




Dutch Sam 1775-1816

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Samuel Elias or “Dutch Sam” was born in the same town as future hall of famers Jackie "Kid" Berg and Ted Lewis.

He is thought by most students of the period to be the best “pound for pound” fighter of the bareknuckle era, and one of the hardest pound for pound hitters of all time. At 5'6" he fought most of his career under the lightweight limit and often knocked out opponents up to 168 pounds. With no weight classes the only way he could make a name or a career for himself was by constantly giving up weight and beating much larger men.

Some historians have credited Sam with the invention of the uppercut. Whether or not this is true his frequent use of, and success with the uppercut led to its widespread use.

 

Tom Sayers 1826-1865

British Champion 1858-1860

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At 5’ 8’’ and 155 lbs Tom Sayers was never much more than a middleweight yet he was able to establish himself as the best heavyweight of his era. He is described by contemporary observers as “a technicaly astute offensive boxer”.

His main claim to fame is participating in the first ever World Championship fight against the American Champion John C Heenan. If the fight had produced a winner it would have unified the British and American titles but the fight eneded in a draw preventing unification. Sayers is regarded by historians of the period as one of the best pound for pound bare knuckle fighters of all time and gave up 40 lbs to Heenan.





Jem Mace 1831-1910

British Champion 1861-1862 1865-?

World Champion 1870-1871

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Jem Mace became the first recognised “world champion” in history when he defeated Tom Allen to unify the British and American heavyweight titles.

Mace was a slick boxer who used the jab as his primary weapon and used footwork to keep out of the way of his opponents. Despite his defensive style he was a punishing hitter and usually finished his opponents with a right hand to the chin. He is the first fighter known to have made extensive use of combination punching.

As world champion Mace oversaw the transition from bare knuckle fighting and London Prize Ring rules to the gloved era and the widespread adoption of the Queensbury rules. He is thought to have developed the current system of “scoring a fight” based on punches landed, defence and ring generalship.

After he retired from active fighting Mace became a boxing instructor training such great fighters as Bob Fitzsimmons, Peter Jackson, Young Griffo, and Frank Slavin.

 

Bob Fitzsimmons 1863-1917

World Middleweight champion 1891-1897

World Heavyweight champion 1897-1899

World Light heavyweight champion 1903-1905

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A case can be made that Bob Fitzsimmons was the greatest pound for pound fighter of all time. He was certainly one of the hardest “pound for pound” hitters of all time. While himself little more than a middleweight he often knocked out men weighing over 200 lbs with a single punch or combination.

Bob Fitzsimmons was the first fighter ever to win titles in three weight classes, middleweight, heavyweight and light-heavyweight. To this day he is the only middleweight ever to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.

By looking at films from late in his career and reading newspaper accounts his style can be pieced together. Fitzsimmons seems to have leaned backward with his hands held low and counterpunched. He threw punches with considerable accuracy and had had an uncanny understanding of human anatomy. He used his footwork to avoid his opponents’ blows and set up punching angles. He often pretended to be tired or hurt to make his opponents careless.




Jimmy Wilde 1892-1969

World Flyweight Champion 1916-1923

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Jimmy Wilde was the first recognised world flyweight champion and the longest reigning. Most historians consider him to be the greatest flyweight of all time.

Wilde went unbeaten in his first 98 and retired with a record of 130-3-1 11 ND's 99 kayo’s. He was one of the hardest “pound for pound” hitters of all time and regularly knocked out bantamweights while himself weighing under 100 lbs.

His style was that of a boxer puncher and his ability to judge distances was uncanny. He fought with his hands by his waist and made his opponents miss by inches by pulling his head back slightly.




Lennox Lewis and Joe Calzaghe

I will not describe these gentlemen since you probably know more about them than I do. I included Lennox Lewis since he was the first British fighter to become the undisputed heavyweight champion since Bob Fitzsimmons in 1898 and dominated that divison for a long time. Mr Calzaghe makes the cut for being the first fighter to unify the supermiddleweight division, his longevity and being a two division lineal champion.

 

Very good work. I'll have to start studying up on the old bareknuckle days.

 

No Top10 Brits list should be without Buchanon, Benn, Eubank, Hamed. Especially if were talking about historical importance

 

Why were these guys anything more than footnotes in historic terms?

What changes did they bring to the fight game?

 

I think we need to define historical importance.It can mean diffrerent things for different people.

I don't seperate it from fighting ability personally.Calzaghe would never be more historically important than someone like Winstone for me.

 

Eubank and Benn transcended the sport. They gave us some of the greatest fights of all time. They also would have both dominated Fitzsimmons, they simply went to a higher technical and physical level in the sport, boxing in this time was semi-profesional.

Hamed again transcended the sport, brought huge money to the featherweights never seen before and was the featherweight king from 1995-2001 cleaning out 126 (aswell as champs from lower weight classes) and beating 10champs. Hes also 1 of the biggest P4P punchers ever

Buchanon is simply 1 of the greatest LWs of all time, sublime boxing skills and defense, beating greats and fighting in a truly great era only losing his championship to the greatest LW of them all in closish battle

 

There is no way either is at a higher physical level than Fitz. His power/weight ratio is simply unmatched in the annals of boxing. He was a true freak of nature. And though the style of his times is antiquated compared to today's expectations, I'd favor him over Benn and give him a good chance of Eubank.

And just so you know, Benn is one of my faves of the last 30 years.

 

I dont think Benn, Eubank and Hamed being famous makes them historically important.

 

I don't buy this, he could punch and as a SMW ko'd a few LHWs and Cruserweights, plenty of SMWs in history could KO those same crusers. Incidently these fighters fought with open defenses in this period making them easier targets to a big puncher.

I don't rate the era, it was basically semi-profesional and unrefined and the same fighters simply wouldnt make it today without vast changes in style and physical ability. Boxing's come a long way since. If you look at footage/pics of their stances it is laughable

 

Good thread Janitor.

 

Janitor, good thread my friend. :good.