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The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia -- English Bare Knuckle Champion

James Figg
(the "First Champion")

BORN   1695; Thame, Oxfordshire, England
DIED December 7 1734; London, England
HEIGHT.. 6-0
WEIGHT 185 lbs
BACKER Earl of Peterborough

Figg was athletic and very strong, tough and courageous; He was an outstanding boxer and wrestler - and swordsman too; He was well-versed in such competitive sports as fencing, quarter staff, small backswords and cudgel fighting

He was admired and respected by all men, especially those who aspired to excel at the various competitive fighting methods he espoused; In particular, Jack Broughton and George Taylor appreciated his skills at boxing

Figg was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992

Undated (Prior to 1719)
          -Figg was well-known as a skilled with swordsman and cudgel fighter;
          When he opened a fighting school, he devoted most of his time to 
          boxing; Over time, he was recognized as the best boxer in England

1719
Sep 18 -Figg claimed the Championship of England and opened
          an amphitheatre on Oxford Road in London, Eng

1720-1723
       Timothy Buck              London, Eng                          W   
          -Championship of England
       Tom Stokes                London, Eng                          W   
          -Championship of England
       Bill Flanders             London, Eng                          W   
          -Championship of England
       Chris Clarkson            London, Eng                          W   
          -Championship of England

1724
       Ned Sutton                Gravesend, Eng                       L   
          -Some sources report Championship of England

1725
May 31 Ned Sutton                London, Eng                          W   
          -Some sources report Championship of England

1727
May 23 Ned Sutton                London, Eng               (1:00:00) EX   
May 30 Ned Sutton                London, Eng               (1:00:00) EX   
Jun  6 Ned Sutton                London, Eng                 (10:00)  W  8
          -Championship of England

1730
          -Figg announced his retirement from the ring and
           relinquished the Championship of England

1733
May  6 Jack Broughton            London, Eng                         EX   


*** Some Data Was Provided By Rich Zampetta (of England) ***

*** Assistance Was Provided By Sergei Yurchenko ***

Record courtesy of Jan Skotnicki, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
 

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