Presented with permission granted by Christopher
James Shelton
Thomas Molineaux painting by Federica Coppolecchia
200 years ago, without
gloves
The bareknuckle war:
American Thomas Molineaux vs. Englishman Tom Tough
By
Christopher James Shelton
Historian for The Boxing Amusement Park
Sporting Magazine
(February, 1804)
“The
town has never been for these many years to be so full
of amateurs and patronizers as it is at present ... They
caused it to be published against the fighting squad,
that a purse of twenty guineas would be ready in a few
days for any two heroes of the fist to fight for, who,
on due examination, should be considered as qualified to
engage. Among the numerous candidates on the occasion,
Tom Blake, alias Tom Tough, and Jack Holmes, a
Knightsbridge coachmen, were selected. These men,
though not mentioned of late in the fighting world, were
nevertheless considered to be in the front rank of
pugilists. The Coachman acquired great celebrity from a
terrible battle which he fought in Harley Fields, about
twelve years ago, which he won, after an hour’s severe
contest. As for Tom Tough, fighting has been his trade
for three years past; during which time he has seen a
little service on board one of His Majesty’s ships…. An
immense crowd had assembled, anxiously waiting for the
arrival of the combatants, who were prevented from
meeting at the time appointed, in consequence of
receiving information that the owner of the field had
sent for the Bow Street Officers, to clear the ground,
and that they may be shortly expected. A consultation
was therefore held amongst the subscribers, and it was
agreed that the Champions should adjourn to Wilsden
Green…. They produced one of the best fought battles
that has taken place for upwards of twenty years, not
excepting the celebrated and memorable battle fought
between Big Ben (Brain) and (Tom) Johnson…. The Second
to the Seventh Round inclusive – consisted of the most
severe hitting we ever witnessed. During the time,
neither of the combatants tried to evade the other’s
blows, but stood up manfully, and fought with
desperation…. When on the ground together, Tom (Tough)
would often pat the Coachman’s cheek and say, ‘thou art
a good fellow, but must be beat’.”
ROUNDS 1-11: Holmes holds the early advantage as he
lands the first knockdown blow. He held an advantage
through the early rounds. It was an offensive battle
with no defense. Tom Tough had come back from 3-2 odds
against after eight rounds. “At the commencement of
each round there was no shifting, no attempt at closing,
or endeavors to throw each other down, but immediately
on setting to one put in a blow, which was returned and
manfully supported both right and left, until a hit
brought one or other down.”…. Tom Tough had scored
three knockdowns in a row and now held 4-1 betting odds
in his favor.
ROUND 17: Holmes scored two quick knockdowns before Tom
Tough could set. A give and take exchange of punches
ensue that evens the bout.
ROUND 19: A slugfest from both pugilists.
ROUND 26: Tom Tough has received many body blows, but
appears to hold an advantage. “Never was applause more
liberally and disinterestedly bestowed upon any
pugilists, their exertions were far above the usual
display of boxers.”
ROUND 27: Jack Holmes clobbers Tom Tough with a punch
that snaps his head as he collapses to the ground.
ROUND 28: The bout has turned around once again.
Holmes lands a hard blow to the face/nose of Tom Tough
and spun his head completely around. Tom Tough attempts
to counter punch but instead wobbles and falls to the
ground from exhaustion. As he falls awkwardly to the
ground Tom Tough twists his knee. … Holmes holds a 3-1
betting odds advantage.
The fight appears to be over. Tom Tough cannot stand.
His seconds have told him it is over and he must
concede. Tom Tough lives up to his nickname as he
refuses. All bets are off at the sad spectacle of this
gimp warrior unable to walk while insisting that he
would continue.
ROUND 29: Tom Tough reverts to a defensive pugilist due
to circumstances. He now sets and waits for his
opponent to step forward. Jack Holmes obliges as Tom
Tough knocks him to the ground with a punch to head.
The spectators roar their approval at the unlikely,
fluke knockdown but are content that the great battle
will continue…. Holmes holds a 10-1 betting odds
advantage.
ROUND 50: “Poor Holmes’s face was now rendered
perfectly unintelligible, not a single feature could be
traced.”…. The betting odds have returned in Tom
Tough’s favor in this offensive battle of attrition.
ROUND 61: “For though (Holmes) struggled hard for
superiority the remaining Rounds, to the Sixtieth,
(which was the last) he failed in his attempt; but the
Coachman’s defeat was considered more glorious by the
amateurs, than any victory that has occurred for many a
day.”
“A
FIG for compassionate bowels!
Come all who are rugged and rough;
For a knight of the whip and the rowels,
Jack Holmes is to fight with Tom Tough.
Now boys, they’ve set to! With what cunning
They shift – offer battle – step back!
Come, go it! I hate that there funning:
So, damn it, Jack hit him a crack.
Well said, my boy, that was a plumper;
Tom’s down, like a lump of old lead:
That Coachman, by jove, is a thumper;
But Tom has the pluck and the head.
Tom licks him, I’ll lay you a copper;
For Tom will fight on till he dies:
There, my boy that was a chopper!
But t’other has bung’d up his eye.
Another good round! And another!
Another! Another! Encore!
Another, still better! Another!
I ne’er see’d such fighting before.
Jack’s done! And the sailor is victor:
Jack’s beat, but he won’t say – ‘Give in.’
He ‘as prettily painted Tom’s picture
And gi’en him a well lather’d skin.
So, huzza for the science of boxing!
It keeps up our courage, you know;
And if the French here sound their tocsin,
We’ll give them a clean knock-down blow.”
It
is tempting to think of Tom Blake as ‘old fashioned’,
except his style was not similar to influential English
Champion, James Figg (1719-30), or the terrific Grecian
Olympians of 600-300 B.C., but perhaps a slightly less
gory version of the Roman pugilists of 100 B.C. – 100
A.D. Tom Blake, renaming himself Tom Tough, did not
believe in fancy pugilist ‘science’ that was the rage of
English literary sports enthusiasts. Tom Tough, a Navy
veteran who had pursued pugilist greatness while in his
early 30’s, preferred to stand in front of an opponent
and exchange punches. Tom Tough’s only ‘science’ might
be to wreak havoc with body punches, an energy tiring
technique, but he did not wrestle (a legitimate and
legal strategy), or back away from an opponent. The
name ‘Tom Tough’ suggests an entertainment value for
spectators and media. One future day, obscure and
forgotten, he would once again be Tom Blake, the victim
of a devastating stroke, whether through genetics or the
head pounding received through pugilism, stricken as
quadriplegic while unable to feed or clothe himself,
walk, stand or protect his basic dignity. But for most
of the decade, 1801-1810, he was a major player, as both
pugilist and corner man for others. Tom Blake must have
seemed too ordinary a name, regardless of talent, thus
‘Tom Tough’ was born.
Sporting Magazine (February, 1805):
“A pitched battle was fought at Blackheath for a purse
of forty guineas between Tom (Tough) and (Tom Cribb),
well known pugilists. (Cribb) has fought many
successful battles, and since he beat Maddox last month
he has been accounted the British Champion…. The
parties have been a month in training, and it was not
known until a late hour on Thursday night when and where
the fight would take place…. At eleven o’clock the
Champions entered, attended by their seconds; for (Cribb),
Richard the Black (Bill Richmond) and Joe Norton; and
(Tom Tough), Dick Hall and Webb. Bets were nearly
level, though the odds were in favor of (Cribb)…. At
setting-to, the Champions met each other eagerly, and
some very hard blows were struck on both sides…. During
a quarter of an hour there was no variation in the
bets…. (Cribb), however, was much the longest reached,
and it was only when (Tom Tough) could get within his
guard that he was successful. The fight continued
nearly equal until they had fought upwards of an hour,
when (Tom Tough) appeared fatigued…. The fight
continued in favour of (Cribb) until within two rounds
of its termination, when (Tom Tough) used all his
efforts and gave his opponent some clean, straight hits
about the head. (Cribb), however, rallied, but (Tom
Tough) recovered and returned the rally, in doing which
he over-reached himself, and (Cribb) gave him a
cross-buttock. (Tom Tough) fought two rounds after to
disadvantage, when he reluctantly resigned the contest,
being unable to stand on his legs…. The battle lasted
one hour and forty minutes…. Among the pugilists
(present) were: Belcher, Ward, Pittoon, Bourke, Wood,
Mendoza, Holmes, Maddox…. From (Cribb)’s superior
strength and knowledge of boxing he may safely be ranked
the Champion of the day.”
A Black American arrives in England, 1808-10, and let us
pretend no documentation exists. If he was born,
1770-74, what is his State of birth and life? There is
a misperception amongst most Americans of 2010, that all
19th century Blacks were slaves. If I was asked the
most likely location, with no documentation, of a Black
American’s arrival in England, 1808-10, I would say:
“Number one is Massachusetts. I am not sure of number
two. Perhaps a smaller Northeastern State such as
Delaware, Rhode Island or Vermont could be a
possibility. Maine is a smaller colony and State, but
did not have slavery. New York or Maryland might be
next because there were strong abolitionist groups in
those regions.” Which is the least likely State? I
would say, “Virginia, number one, and South Carolina,
number two.” George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James
Madison owned slaves. John Adams, Benjamin Franklin,
Alexander Hamilton did not own slaves. Washington,
Jefferson, Madison were from Virginia, Virginia,
Virginia. Adams, Franklin, Hamilton were from
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York.
The most ridiculous historical listing is: “Tom
Molineaux from Virginia, who won freedom from slavery as
a pugilist, along with $500, because his generous White
owner claimed a $100,000 gambling profit. Molineaux
(despite no documented proof) fought more battles in New
York and arrived in England as an experienced fighter.”
Even had Molineaux been from Virginia common sense
should dictate that he was more likely amongst the free
Black population rather than a slave. The name
‘Molineaux’ was an important part of 18th century
Massachusetts and Maryland history, but not Virginia.
The Virginia Historical Society utilizes four sources to
claim that ‘Molyneaux’ was from Virginia. These are
brief biographical sketches that concentrate mostly on
the December, 1810 bout against Cribb. Molineaux
published a couple letters in the newspaper during his
lifetime. None of these sources specialize in American
history, or Thomas Molineaux the individual, and claim
(with no source as proof) that the man did not know how
to spell his own name.
Bareknuckle Struggle painting by Federica Coppolecchia
The
easiest aspect of the “$100,000 slave” story to detail
is the gambling. I am familiar with legal gambling in
Tijuana, Mexico, and the only person that won over a
period of years was me because I never gambled. (I
watched television for free). The House always won
because they never gambled and do not believe in
gambling. England of 1810 had held some historical high
profile bouts with much money (not $100,000 American
money), usually involving royalty. If a guy was
wagering that much money, they would have the seconds
prepared to enter the ring and cheat if it appeared
their pugilist might lose. If Molineaux’s owner won a
$100,000 bet it meant he had $100,000 to lose. Could
‘fellow’ Virginians of 1795-1805 such as Washington,
Jefferson, Madison afford to lose $100,000? No. Could
Adams, Franklin, Hamilton afford to lose $100,000? No.
The story that emerged within Molineaux’s lifetime, via
England, continues to have a greater likelihood than the
American stories decades after his death. Spirit Of The
Press, Philadelphia (8/1/1811): “(Molineaux) is a stout
Negro, imported from Maryland.” Sporting Magazine
(October, 1811): “A Baltimore man.” Pancratia (1812):
“A native of the State of New York.” There was
prizefighting in New York, and the surrounding States,
but these were mostly minors or military persons, much
like England. Those pugilists developed a certain body
shape. The early story of Molineaux, in his lifetime,
was of an athlete, but not a pugilist, who switched to
boxing when that promised an opportunity for money,
fame, women, success. Pierce Egan: “The anatomist and
artist, in contemplating its various beauties, derived
pleasure from this uncommon subject and fine body.
Thomas Molineaux, sometimes called Mungo by the English
media, makes his first appearance with published history
after a July 24th, 1810, battle with a larger Bristol
man (“Burrowes” according to an 1818 newspaper story,
Pierce Egan’s primary source, who misspelled it
‘Burrows’ in his Boxiana book). Bristol was a hot spot
for pugilist talent. Three Belchers, two brothers and a
sister, all were fighters with an approving mother.
George Nichols, the Butcher who easily dominated and
defeated Tom Cribb in 1805, was from Bristol. Sporting
Magazine (July, 1810): “A considerable field of
amateurs met on Tuesday, July the 24th, in Tothill-fields,
to witness, as it was given out, a bull-bait, but the
greater attraction was that which was fixed to precede
it, a battle betwixt a navigator, above six feet in
height, from Bristol, the great nursery for boxers, and
a stout athletic Black man. The candidates for fame
were considered promising to hereafter contend with a (Cribb),
or some other first-rate man of the day; but in this
respect the amateurs were disappointed. (Cribb)
seconded his countryman, the Navigator, and (Richmond)
seconded his brother Black. It was seen in the first
and second rounds that the Bristol man was not a
specimen of his west-country brethren, as he is a slow
round hitter, and displayed only one requisite,
gameness. The Black, on the contrary, kept himself
close, but he could only hit at half arm, or what is
technically termed ‘flipping’, as when he hit he kept
the first joint of the arm close to the body. The
battle lasted nearly an hour, and it was contested with
much obstinacy, but the Navigator could plant but few
hits, whilst he received the repeated flipping of his
adversary, until his head was so much disfigured, that
his features were buried, and was ultimately beat.”
There was an incident following this July, 1810, bout
that involved an ugly exchange between Tom Cribb and
Bill Richmond. They fought a round before Richmond
declared their feud momentarily over. This was one of
several personal battles between the two men. Richmond
had fought 50 year-old established veteran, George
Maddox, in 1804, stepped in front of him and was knocked
out by the third round. Cribb then fought Maddox, did
not step forward, as he encouraged the veteran pugilist
to attack him. Cribb, with Richmond as his corner man,
earned a hard fought victory. Richmond must have
learned from both of those Maddox bouts, because when he
and Cribb officially faced one another in 1805, neither
would step forward leading to displeased spectators,
with Cribb as the official victor. From this moment
onward, throughout the next decade, Bill Richmond
eventually became the best pugilist in England.
Sporting magazine (1810): “Richmond excels, perhaps,
every pugilist in hitting and getting away.”
Bill Richmond was a better pugilist than Thomas
Molineaux in 1805 and 1815. He was such a familiar face
on the English boxing scene, as pugilist/corner
man/trainer, that he would be cheered over White
opponents late in his career. Bill Richmond is arguably
the greatest 50+ years aged pugilist in history. Thomas
Molineaux brought American mannerisms and speech to
England. Bill Richmond, despite ‘tainted’ as American
born, was thoroughly British. He was quick to offend
and be offended, with adherence to ‘proper’ decorum.
The Richmond/Cribb feud began with their 1805 bout (they
had teamed against Maddox). It continued through a
Cribb/Bob Gregson 1809 English Championship bout.
Gregson was dominating by the 22nd round, a 10-1 betting
odds favorite, until suddenly it was over by the 23rd
round with Tom Cribb the victor. Richmond was openly
suspicious that Cribb’s patronage and power was
affording him more than the legal 30 seconds following a
knockdown while an opponent had no mercy. The
combination of patronage (which Cribb had) and gambling
wages (better to ‘cheat’ than lose) leaves suspicion
over several Tom Cribb victories.
An intense month of training, August, 1810, was in store
for Thomas Molineaux following his victory over Burrowes
of Bristol. Richmond and Cribb may have despised one
another, but with strange national customs, were able to
socialize and drink beer together at English functions.
Cribb and Richmond were equally important at altering
the current trend of pugilists persistently stepping
forward. Both accepted defense and emphasized wrestling
throws. Both altered the approach of the left jab.
Richmond must have pressed Molineaux, especially with
the latter’s youth and hand speed, to duplicate his
double left jab. Tom Tough felt no need to alter his
offensive approach. Richmond was a believer in
‘science’, or at least strategy. Richmond was familiar
with Tom Tough, had viewed his bouts, and chose to
counter this purely offensive foe with knowledge.
Molineaux was probably not the greatest pupil, obstinate
and reckless, and easy going at heart. The more intense
Richmond probably wanted Molineaux to jab/jab and back,
as he would have done himself, but in the end Molineaux
listened enough with an altered style that left
spectators believing they were seeing a different
pugilist than a month prior. Richmond must have
emphasized reach and how to throw a punch.
Pugilist/poet, Bob Gregson:
“The
garden of freedom is the British land we live in,
And
welcomes every slave from his banished isle:
Allows them to impose on a nation good and generous,
To
incumber and pollute our native soil.
The
sturdy Black doth swear,
The
moment he gets there,
The
planks the stage is built on,
He’ll make them blaze and smoke.
Brave Molineaux replied, I’ve never been denied
To
fight the foes of Britain on such planks as those;
If a
relationship you claim, by-and-bye you’ll know my name:
I’m the swellish milling cove that can drub my foes.”
Sporting Magazine
(August, 1810):
“The match which has
been spoken of, between (Tom Tough), the pugilist, and a
Black man of the name of Molineaux…. Molineaux is an
American, from the State of New York; weighs between
thirteen and fourteen stone (185 pounds) and stands five
feet nine inches high. He has lately arrived in
England, and having found Richmond, the Black pugilist,
his countryman… Boxing being somewhat novel to the
Kentish men, the ring was more numerously attended and
respectably attended…. At one o’clock, (Tom Tough) was
driven up to the ring in a Baronet’s Barouche with the
Champion (Cribb) and Gibbons, his seconds; and in a few
minutes after, Richmond introduced Molineaux.”…. Tom
Tough is a 6 ½-4 betting odds favorite.
ROUND 1: “The fame
of Molineaux having got rather spread abroad,
considerable anxiety was manifested upon the combatants
setting to.” Both pugilists are cautious and wait for
the other to make a move. Tom Tough finally takes
initiative by landing a right and left punch to the
body. Molineaux responds with a left jab that is easily
blocked. They are in close as Tom Tough attempts to
land body punches. There is a clinch with Molineaux
holding his foe. Tom Tough appears to slip the hold.
Molineaux lands a hard karate type punch to the top of
the head or back of neck region. Molineaux has
surprising speed with a follow-up right punch chop to
the same region ... Tom Tough falls to the ground ...
Betting odds are now even.
ROUND 2: They
remain in close. Molineaux appears to be leaving his
body exposed. Tom Tough begins landing punches to the
body. Molineaux does not appear concerned as he
counters with left jabs. Tom Tough is easily blocking
these jabs. It does not appear that Molineaux is clever
with these jabs. He snaps them directly into Tom
Tough’s defense while receiving hard body blows. The
spectators are surprised that Molineaux is not backing
or affected by these hard punches. “(Tom Tough) made
play again, but the strength of two or three well
planted hits was not sufficient to move the Black off
his legs.” The Molineaux jab is slowly breaking through
the defense by its sheer power. Tom Tough realizes his
defense is beginning to struggle and compensates.
Molineaux seizes an opening to land an unexpected hard
right that lands to head…. Tom Tough falls to the
ground…. Molineaux is a 3-2 betting odds favorite.
ROUND 3: Tom Tough
is already tiring. Molineaux senses this as he becomes
the aggressor. Molineaux lands a hard right to jaw.
Both rally with punches. They clinch and briefly
wrestle ... Both pugilists fall to the ground with
Molineaux atop Tom Tough.
ROUND 4: They
return to the early style. Molineaux is again patient
with persistent left jabs directly into Tom Tough’s
defense. Tom Tough is easily landing hard blows to the
body. Molineaux’s left jabs break through Tom Tough’s
defense. Molineaux begins landing hard left jabs
directly to the face. Tom Tough’s hand block defense
cannot stop Molineaux’s jabs as he is beginning to be
dominated. Molineaux is persistent and patient…. Tom
Tough collapses to the ground … Molineaux is a 5-2
betting odds favorite.
ROUND 5: Tom Tough
bleeds profusely from the face. Molineaux’s body is
noticeably bruised but it does not appear to be
affecting him. Tom Tough moves in close with aggressive
punches to the body region. Molineaux grabs him around
the neck with his left and beats his opponent’s face
with his right. “(Molineaux) fibbed him so dreadfully,
that the ground resembled the floor of a
slaughter-house, and (Tom Tough) fell completely
exhausted.”…. Betting odds are not recorded but they
would be overwhelmingly on Molineaux.
ROUND 6: Molineaux
returns to patience with a left jab that Tom Tough can
no longer defend. Left jab after left jab after left
jab lands to the Englishman’s face. Tom Tough has no
choice but to protect himself solely against the jab.
Molineaux aggressively steps in with a hard right that
lands to head ... Tom Tough is “completely knocked off
his legs,” and sent flying backward onto the ground ...
Betting odds are off. No one believes Tom Tough can
still win.
ROUND 7: Tom Tough,
with a disfigured face that bleeds profusely, lives up
to his nickname as he attempts a desperate flurry of
punches. Molineaux is patient as he encourages his
weary foe to expend more energy…. Tom Tough backs after
throwing several wild punches and falls down exhausted.
ROUND 8:
Molineaux becomes aggressive as he believes the
Englishman is close to finished. Tom Tough retreats
backward. Molineaux catches his foe and holds him in a
clinch. Molineaux attempts to seize the Englishman by
the neck with his left so that he can easily land with
his right. Tom Tough is “forced to rally, to extricate
himself from the iron grasp of his adversary.” Tom
Tough slips the hold and lands a blow to the cheek.
Molineaux counters with a hard punch to the top of the
head ... Tom Tough falls to the ground conscious but
disoriented ... 30 seconds pass with Tom Tough unable to
begin the ninth round. Bout over. KNOCKOUT!
Sporting Magazine:
The winner received
some sharp hits about the body, and he had a fracture or
two in the face. The battle lasted seventeen minutes….
(Molineaux) has improved since his first battle. He hit
at half-arm at that time, but in this battle he dealt
out his blows from the shoulder, and gave the effect and
strength of his body with his hits, which are sufficient
to stun a bullock. Another requisite he possesses,
which is important, that of quickness, and his body
seems callous to fistic punishment. (Tom Tough) has
considerably fallen off. Molineaux has taken lessons
from Richmond frequently since his battle with the
Bristol man ... (Molineaux) has challenged Cribb, who
is the first professor, Gully having declined fighting
again; and a battle will take place, as Cribb has
accepted the challenge, in about six weeks.”
Thomas Molineaux was ready to call himself champion
unless someone would fight him and declare otherwise.
Tom Cribb, viewed as the champion, states that he will
defend the English title with his life.
Pancratia
(1812): “The greatest degree of expectation was excited
in the public mind, with respect to the issue of the
contest, and that NATIVES felt somewhat alarmed that a
man of colour should dare to look forward to the
Championship of England.”
CHRISTOPHER JAMES SHELTON
has also written --
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Fenn, manager of Zora Foley
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Tom Molineaux "The
Moor" by Kevin Smith
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.
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