In 1810, Tom Cribb, Boxing Champion of England, fought Tom Molineaux for the championship of the world.Molineaux was born a slave in Georgetown, Virginia, and began his career fighting other slaves in bouts organised by plantation owners. It's said that Molineaux was promised his freedom if he won a particular fight. When he did, after some time fighting in New York, he was taken to England and began to box professionally, with a view to challenging the Champion of England, Tom Cribb.
Molineaux was trained by Bill Richmond, another freed American slave and prizefighter. The difference between the two men was that Richmond had been to school and could read and write.
Molineaux seems to have been more of a George Best type man with an eye for the ladies. His story is told in Black Ajax, written by George Macdonald Fraser.
Molineaux lost the two fights he had against Tom Cribb and his boxing career came to an end in 1815. After a stint in a debtor's prison he became increasingly dependent on alcohol, and died penniless in Dublin in 1818 from liver failure.
Incidentally, Cribb was one of eighteen of the leading boxers of the day invited by George IV to be ushers at his coronation ceremony in 1821. He retired from the ring undefeated in 1828 and became landlord of a public house in Panton Street, London.
The reason for this dalliance into the world of boxing, is that, last Sunday, I went to the theatre to see Black Atlas, the story of Tom Molineaux, in words and music, performed by the London Shakespeare Workout. This charity runs drama workshops in prisons, and professionals and ex-offenders work alongside each other, performing in high-quality productions across the country.
It was excellent and very moving, while demonstrating how a prized prize-fighter was subject to the most appalling racist abuse, from his owner and later people he worked for.
The tour is continuing and it comes highly recommended. Especially in this year of the 200th anniversary of the passing of the Act for the abolition of slavery.
1 comment:
That was a very interesting post, Liz. Sounds like the boxer had a rather sad life all around.
I was interested in reading about "your" beach and the reason for all the stones. Dredging, eh? Sounds feasible, doesn't it.
The council have stopped dredging the Brisbane River. A few years ago, it was a dubious looking waterway to say the least. Now, the fish are coming back and the water is gradually clearing. One time a local body has done something right!
Post a Comment