Tom Cribb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tom Cribb |
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| Statistics | |
| Rated at | 189-199 lb |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Nationality | English |
| Born | 8 July 1781 Hanham |
| Died | 11 May 1848 (aged 66) London |
| Boxing record | |
| Wins | 15 |
| Losses | 1 |
Tom Cribb (born July 8, 1781 – died May 11, 1848) was a famous English bare-knuckle boxer. He lived in the 19th century. Bare-knuckle boxing was a type of boxing without gloves. Tom Cribb was the All England Champion from 1808 to 1822. He was known for his strength and skill in the ring.
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Early Life of Tom Cribb
Tom Cribb was born in a place called Hanham, near the city of Bristol. When he was 13 years old, he moved to London. In London, he first worked as a bell-hanger. Later, he found work as a coal porter in an area called Wapping. This job involved carrying heavy loads of coal.
Tom Cribb's Boxing Career
Tom Cribb's first boxing match was on January 7, 1805. He fought against George Maddox in Wood Green, which is now part of London. After winning this fight, and another one against Tom Blake a month later, he decided to become a professional boxer. He trained under the guidance of Captain Robert Barclay.
Only one fighter ever beat Tom Cribb. This was George Nicholls, on July 20, 1805. Some of Tom Cribb's friends later tried to hide this loss. They wanted people to believe he had never been defeated.
On April 8, 1807, Cribb fought Jem Belcher. Belcher had been the English champion before. Their fight lasted for 44 rounds. It took place at Moulsey Hurst, a popular boxing spot back then. After the champion John Gully retired, Cribb fought Bob Gregson in October 1808. This fight was to decide the new English champion. Cribb won in 23 rounds at Moulsey Hurst. He then defended his title successfully. He beat Jem Belcher again on February 1, 1809, at Epsom Downs Racecourse.
Fights Against Tom Molineaux
On December 18, 1810, Tom Cribb fought an American boxer named Tom Molineaux. Molineaux was a former slave. Their fight happened at Copthorne Common in Sussex. Cribb won against Molineaux in 35 rounds. This fight was talked about a lot. Molineaux got hurt when the crowd came into the ring. Also, some people thought Cribb took too long to get back to the center of the ring at one point.
Cribb faced Molineaux again in 1811. He beat him in 11 rounds at Thistleton Gap in Rutland.
Retirement from Boxing
After beating Gregson, Belcher, and Molineaux, Tom Cribb was very famous. No one challenged him for his title for the next eleven years. He finally retired from boxing in 1822. On May 15, 1822, Cribb officially gave up his championship title. He was given a special belt to honor his career. Another boxer named Tom Spring took over as champion.
Life After Retirement
After retiring from boxing, Tom Cribb became a coal merchant. He also worked part-time as a boxing trainer. Later, he became a pub landlord. He ran a pub called the Union Arms. This pub was on Panton Street, near Haymarket in central London.
In 1839, he moved to Woolwich in south-east London. He passed away there in 1848, at the age of 66. Tom Cribb was buried in the churchyard of St Mary Magdalene in Woolwich. A special monument was built there to remember him.
Tom Cribb's Legacy
Tom Cribb's tomb is still in St Mary's Gardens in Woolwich. It is shaped like a lion resting its paw on an urn. In Woolwich, a road in the Royal Arsenal area is named after him.
The Tom Cribb pub is located at 36 Panton Street in London. This is the same place where the Union Arms pub used to be.
There is a popular story in the Bristol area about Cribbs Causeway. This is a road near Hanham, where Tom Cribb was born. Many people believe the road was named after him. Even though this story has been proven false, the legend continues to be told.
A footwear brand named "Thomas Cribb" existed from 2003 to 2007. The creators of the brand still own the name "Thomas Cribb."
