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American Boxers Lost To The British Champion Tom Cribb

The American boxer Bill Richmond knocked out his first British opponent, an Englishman in just 25 seconds of the first round. Bill Richmond hadn't lost a fight until 1805 when Richmond aged 41 was knocked out by British champion Tom Cribb, not much was contributed to Bill Richmond in the annals of boxing history about his career except that he was brought over to England by the Duke of Northumberland and at the age of 14. After attending school he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker in York. Though though weighing less than 11 stone, Richmond took up boxing and developed a reputation for beating opponents that were twice his size. Bill Richmond became a prize fighter and scored a notable victory over the reputable Jack Holmes over 26 rounds in Kilburn. lost to the great Tom Cribb after a long fight at Hailsham in Sussex. After his lost to Tom Cribb in his next fight he beat Jack Carter at Epsom Downs and in 1809 he won 100 guineas for beating George Maddox in 52 rounds. 

Tom Molineaux Was the Other American Boxer Who Came To England

Bill Richmond continued boxing until he retired at the age of 52. He  married a rich woman who helped him to buy  the latest thing in public houses at the time, "The Horse and Dolphin," near by Leicester Square, London. Richmond also ran a boxing academy where he taught young teenagers how to become men and fighters in the boxing ring. Bill Richmond died in London on the 28th of December, 1829. Tom Molineaux was the other American boxer a slave from West Virginia whom Bill Richmond had trained. Tom Molineaux came to England in 1809 and won two bouts before losing to Tom Cribb in 1810. A year later in a rematch, Tom Molineaux was knocked out in the 11th round by Tom Cribb. Tom Molineaux's boxing career came to an end in 1815. After a stint in the debtor's prison Molineaux became increasingly dependent on the golden liquid and became an alcoholic. Molineaux died penniless in Dublin, Ireland three years later in 1818 from liver failure.

Yankee Sullivan Was The Best Of The British

Bill Richmond and Tom Molineaux were little noted in the history of boxing in the United States. The first known bout in the United States of America's boxing history in which Jack Broughton's rules were more or less followed was a match between Jacob Hyer and Tom Beasley in 1816. Jacob Hyer won and claimed the American championship. Jacob Hyer never fought again. But his son, Tom Hyer beat Country McCloskey in a widely publicised fight on the 9th September 1841, and was named the American heavyweight champion. English fighters went to America, to find a living seeking competition with the American fighters. Yankee Sullivan, proved himself to be the best of the lot taking on all that the Americans had to offer and beating all comers for many years until he met up with Tom Hyer. Tom Hyer in the history of boxing became the very first Great American White Hope. Tom Hyer came to the rescue for the Americans. His $20,000 match against the Englishman, Yankee Sullivan in Rock Point, Maryland, on 7th February 1849 drew widespread interest all over the USA.

America's First Real Championship Fight Took Place On the 30th of May 1880

The Great American White Hope Tom Hyer won the fight in 16 rounds. The news was wired to all the New York newspapers. For the first in the history of boxing sports, a story about boxing sent over a telegraph wire. Boxing gained popularity, but it also attracted great opposition from a number of states who banned boxing while some others enforced existing bans that had been ignored. Major fights took place in semi secrecy, often near state lines so that fighters and spectators could escape across the border if the the American coppers showed up. History of boxing in America's first real championship fight took place on the 30th of May 1880, in Virginia, near the Pennsylvania and Ohio borders. Joe Goss was considered the British champion, faced challenger Paddy Ryan from Ireland. They fought for over an hour and a half before Ryan knocked out Goss in the 87th round. One John L. Sullivan was waiting to challenge the Irishman, Paddy Ryan

John L. Sullivan Won By A Knockout

Paddy Ryan was challenged immediately by John L. Sullivan of Boston, but he managed to avoid Sullivan until the 7th February 1882. Their fight was originally scheduled for New Orleans, but was moved at the last minute to Mississippi. John L. Sullivan won on a 9th round knockout that took less than 11 minutes. John L. Sullivan spent the next five years making money off being the boxing champion without putting his title at risk, touring the countries around the world and only doing exhibitions fights. John L. Sullivan's first real title defense took place in Chantilly, France, on the 10th March 1888.

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