Tom Molineaux "The
Moor"
Was Tom Molineaux America's first champion?
When he reached the shores of England in 1809, it was
this title that he claimed. And with it he proceeded to
challenge the world. Presumably Molineaux had partaken
in his share of matches prior to his rise as a fistic
star in Great Britain. But there were and are no records
to back his claim, no newspaper accounts detailing his
so called championship battles. But it was clear, as it
is today, that Tom Molineaux, a former slave from
Virginia, was a world class miller, one of great bottom,
skill and courage. And one who came within a breadth of
winning the Championship of the world.
Maybe history has not been kind to Tom Molineaux. For in
reality, he was America's first sports celebrity and a
great star in his day. It is true that he never gained
any great popularity on this side of the great pond. But
what of his international achievements? Think for a
moment about the courage and determination it took for a
former slave with no formal education, skills or money
to speak of, to travel to a foreign land and become one
of the most celebrated champions of his time. When
taking into consideration the barriers that "The Black"
must have encountered, it is a great wonder that Tom
Molineaux even made it to scratch against Tom Cribb "The
Champion of Champions".
What happened that cold, dreary and rainy day on
Copthall Common in the winter of 1810 may have been the
most blatant robbery in the history of the prize ring.
For on that day, it was Tom Molineaux who should have
been crowned Champion. In the 28th round of what had
been a titanic struggle, The Moor, as Molineaux was
known, knocked the great Cribb to the ground with a
telling series of blows. The champion was dragged to his
corner by his seconds and worked on feverishly. Both
combatants were feeling the affects of their fierce
combat, but Cribb was near insensibe. When the referee
signalled "time" to call the men to scratch, Molineaux
rose from Bill Richmond's knee and toe'd the line. Cribb
rose as well, but as he swayed in the air like a
weakened tree, his knees buckled and the great champion
fell face first to the ground. His seconds rushed to his
aid as the referee, for the second turn called "time".
Cribb's seconds tried in vain to prop their man at
attention but to no avail. Molineaux stood and watched
as the rain peppered his face, he himself swaying on
unsteady pins. The call of "time" rang out for the third
time and Tom Cribb was no closer to scratch than he was
at the first call. The referee turned towards Molineaux
as Bill Richmond burst from his corner in jubilation of
his charge's victory. But before the coronation had
begun, Jem Ward sprang from Cribb's corner and grabbed
old Bill by the neck. A melee ensued, as Ward accused
Richmond of giving Molineaux "bullets". The referee
called to Molineaux to open his hands in order for the
foul to be disclaimed and the Moor exposed his naked
palms. Richmond took after Ward and a hot brawl
commenced as men from the warring factions broke the
outer ring. Molineaux was caught in the tempest as
bodies banged, cursed and entagled. It was a full
fifteen minutes before order was restored. Tom Molineaux,
who now stood in a solitary corner of the set-to his
skin wet, his bones chilled and his teeth chattering,
had lost his championship before he had ever won it.
Of course the record books only record that Cribb, who
received a steady diet of Brandy and blankets whilst the
pademonium created by Ward continued on, went on to
outlast the brave Molineaux who in the fortieth round
turned to no one in particular and stated through
swollen, bloodied lips, "I can fight no more."
Tom Molineaux, America's first champion, had lost. To
Cribb yes, but even more so to the weather, the
chicanery of Joe Ward and his crew and to the racial
climate of his time which simply did not make room for
fair play.
By Kevin Smith
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