Tom Juchau is condsidered Champion of England from his win over George Millsom in 1765 until his loss to William Darts in 1766. From Boxiana TOM JUCHAU— The Paviour, A most excellent bit of flesh, and a glutton of the first mould, was matched against Charles Coant, a butcher, for a considerable sum ; the battle was decided at Guildford, in Surrey, and, on the set-to, the odds were high upon the Butcher, who kept increasing them for the first half hour, that Juchah could scarcely put in a blow to do any harm to his antagonist. The Butcher kept getting on in such superior style, that they were all betters and no takers. A fair opportunity now offering, Juchau put in a desperate body-blow, which levelled this prime cove, when the odds began to move directly, and the next round Juchau followed up his advantage so quickly, that the bets became even. Juchau now showed off in such a spirited manner, putting in his blows right and left, that Coant, in a few rounds more, was compelled to cry stop, and Juchau pronounced Conqueror ; the fight lasted near fifty minutes. Milsom, who had beat the temporary Champion Meggs, now entered the field with Juchau, near St. Alban's. Milsom by no means disgraced himself in the contest; but was under the necessity of allowing Juchau to be his master. The Paviour was now considered a first-rate man, and soon matched himself against some of the most distinguished Pugilists. From Pugilistica "Tom Juchau, the paviour," once bid fair to seize the championship- on June 20th, 1764. His name in pugilistic circles was " Disher ; " how derived, we might in vain inquire. His first fight of importance was with Charles Cohant (or Coant), a butcher, who had fought several severely-contested battles. Cohant, being the best known man, was the favourite, and the contemporary account says, "During the first twenty-five minutes 'Disher' was scarcely able to give him a single blow, but was knocked down several times. At thirty-five minutes odds were so high that money was offered at any rate. At this time Disher (Tom Juchau) changed his mode of fighting, and giving Cohant a most tremendous blow, by which he fell ; the odds immediately changed in his favour. After this they fought but four rounds, when Disher, having played in several dreadful blows, Cohant yielded, acknowledging him-self to be vanquished. The fight lasted forty-seven minutes." There is a Spartan brevity, an heroic simplicity, and a simple trust in the reports of these olden fights, which is truly " refreshing " (we believe that is the tabernacle phrase) in these days of prose -showering and persiflage. The next report is equally commendable for its brevity. "On August the 27th (1765), Millsom, who had defeated the two Meggs (see ante), fought a battle with Thomas Juchau, the paviour, at Colney, near St. Alban's, in which he failed to enjoy his usual triumph, Juchau proving his conqueror." After half a page of undated rigmarole, headed " Tom Juchau, Pierce Egan says, vol. i., p. 74, "The paviour was now considered a first-rate man, and soon matched himself against some of the most distinguished pugilists." We cannot find that he ever fought again. From Pancratia June 20, 1764, a famous boxing match was fought at Guildford, between Thomas Juchau, a pavior, well known by the name of DISHER, and Charles Coant, a butcher, who had fought several very severe battles. The odds were four to one on Coant, and during the first 25 minutes Disher was scarcely able to give his opponent a single blow, but was knocked down several times; 35 minutes, odds were so high that money was offered at any rate; at this time Disher changed his mode of fighting, and giving Coant a most tremendous blow, by which he fell, the odds immediately changed greatly in his favour; after this they fought four rounds, when Disher having played in several dreadful blows, Coant yielded, acknowledging himself vanquished. The contest lasted 47 minutes. . . . August 27, 1765, Millsom, who had so successfully beat the two Meggs, fought a battle with Thomas Juchau, at Colney, near St. Alban's, in which he failed enjoying his usual triumph, Juchau proving the conqueror. May, 1766, Tom Juchau fought a famous boxing match with William Darts, a dyer, at Guildford, for 1000 guineas, which after a most severe battle of 40 minutes, was won by Darts. From Modern Manhood; or, the Art and Practice of English Boxing by Henry Lemoine, 1788 MUCH about this time, or a little afterwards, a famous battle was fought at Guildford, between Thomas Juchau, a Pavior, otherwise known by the name of Disher, and one Coant, a Butcher from Clare-market. Before the fight, the odds were 4 to 1 upon Coant, and for the first 25 minutes the Pavior could scarce get a blow at his antagonist, and was knocked down five or six times. At 35 minutes, the odds were so great, that money was offered at any rate; but just then Disher changing his mode of fighting, gave him such a blow as turned the odds greatly in his favour. After three or four rounds more, the Butcher coming full up to the Pavior, and missing his stroke, fell flat on his face, and not being able to continue the contest, gave it in, and the Pavior was pronounced victorious. The engagement laſted 47 minutes. Some time after this affair, Mr. Juchau married his mistress, and she made him sign articles that he never should fight any more upon the stage, in the penalty of 300l. and he now lives in credit near Shoreditch Church.
London Evening Post - February 11, 1764 We hear from St. Alban's, that a great boxing match between Smallwood and Disher, which was to have been fought this day, on which many thousand pounds were dependin, is entirely put a stop to by the laudable activity of the worthy magistrates of that borough, after the example of Sir John Fielding, who has suppressed all such riotous meetings in the county of Middlesex.—As it is said that the said bruisers declared, that they must and would fight in some other place, it is hoped that all justices, and officers of the peace, will exert their authority in their several districs, so as effectually to prevent a number of idle and disorderly people assembling together, as there are on these occasions. London Evening Post - February 14, 1764 Tuesday evening the battle was decided between the Paviour's son Dishaw and Tom Smallwood, in favour of ther former, after six minutes and an half boxing. Old Tom Smallwood, like Milo, Is wedged in the timber that be Strove to rend;— Being obliged to give it up, veteran as he is, to the more powerful youth and strength of his antagonist. The battle was fought at Colney, as they were prevented fighting at St. Alban's by the activity of the magistrates. Oxford Journal - Saturday 16 June 1764 Yesterday there was a great Boxing Match at Guildford, for a considerable Sum of Money, between Kannan a Butcher in Clare Market, and one Ditcher, a noted Pavior ; when after a Battle of fifty-eight Minutes, the Pavior beat his Antagonist. Their Seconds were Slack and Faulkner Leeds Intelligencer - Tuesday 19 June 1764 Wednesday there was a great boxing match at Guildford, for a considerable sum of money, between Koant, a butcher in Clare-market, and on Dicher, a noted Paviour ; when after a battle of 58 minutes, the Pavious beat his antagonist. Their seconds were Slack and Faulkner. Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 21 June 1764 Wednesday there was a great Boxing Match at Guildford, for a considerable Sum of Sum of Monet, between Kannam, a Butcher in Claremarket, and one Dicher, a noted Paviour: The Butcher knocked the Paviour down six or seven Times succeslively, and the Odds were in his Favour l but the Paviour recovering his Wind, in his Turn threw the Butcher several dreadful Falls; which obliged him to give out, after having fought exactly 46 Minutes and a Half. Their Seconds were Slack and Faulkner. It is said there were above 4000l. depending on this Boxing Match ; several Persons of Distinction also were present ; and before the Battle began, the Bets were Three to One, and Two to One on the Butcher ; so that the Knowing ones were largely taken in. Reading Mercury - Monday 11 June 1770 Thursday noon a brusing match was fought in Moor-fields, between a Butcher, and one Disher, brother to the noted fighter Disher, which lasted 75 minutes, when Disher was carried off with no appearance of life, and the Butcher was so much brused that it is though he cannot recover. The list of bankrupts in Norfolk Chronicle - Saturday 26 April 1783 includes "Thomas Juchau, of St. Leonard, Shoreditch, paviour." Also from the list of bankrupts in Hereford Journal - Wednesday 09 December 1795 "Thomas Juchau and Thomas Arceer Juchau of Bateman's-row, Shoreditch, Middlesex, paviours" There are several other similar ones. Kentish Gazette - Wednesday 23 April 1783 Thomas Juchau, of the parish of St. Leonard Shoreditch in the county of Middlesex, Pavier, Dealer and Chapman ; to surrender on the 29th of April instant, and 6th and 31st of May next, at eleven each day, at Guildhall, London.
There is also this report but I think it's probably not Juchau Derby Mercury - Friday 19 April 1765 London 11 April Sunday Morning a severe Battle was fought, for five Guineas, in the Long Field behind Bedford House, between one Thomas Cooke, a Journeyman Baker in Red-Lion-Street, Holborn, and the noted bruising Paviour in the Borough; when, after an abstinate Engagement of near Hald an Hour, the Baker beat his Antagonist. I think it may have been this Paviour Derby Mercury - Friday 13 September 1765 Tuesday Morning early a Battle was fought in St. George's fields, between James Ellis, a Carman, and William Round, a Paviour, called Stick-in-the-Mud, for five Guineas a Side, besides, many Bets depending ; when, after a Contest of near twenty-two Minutes, Round beat his Antagonist ; but they were both so much bruised, that they were obliged to be carried home by their Companions ; and neither of them were able to speak when put to Bed I've cleaned up this thread a bit. There's still not a lot on this guy, and the newspapers I have found mostly don't add much new. Heavyweight Champions from Ancient to Present Bareknuckle history meta-thread