John Henry Lewis gives a boxing demonstration to students at the Military Physical Development School on October 20, 1936, in Aldershot, United Kingdom.
There's a winter storm approaching my state, and there's going to be a lot of freezing rain, sleet, and ice, the meteorologists are saying that the power may be out for a few days. So I decided to go across the street to my local Walmart neighborhood market and grab a few things because I know people panic when winter weather hits and you have to get there early or the place will be cleaned out of stuff. I go over there a lot in the morning and it's usually quite empty, only a few people shopping and plenty of registers available for checkout, no waiting. Different story today. It was a madhouse, the place was packed, items were disappearing from the shelves at breakneck speed. So I made a dash for the dairy section to grab a gallon of milk, I know that milk is one of the first things people go for when winter weather hits, and when I got there I noticed there was only one gallon left. As I made a move to grab it, I felt a hard object strike me on the back of the knee area, I instantly crumbled to the ground. As I looked up I noticed a little old man with a cane grabbing the milk I so desperately wanted, and it was at that moment that I realized, this little old man had taken me out at the knees with his cane for the last gallon of milk. It was brutal over there, I barely made it out alive, people were fighting like animals over loaves of bread. You would think a seven mile wide asteroid was going to hit Earth the way people were acting. But the good news is, I did manage to get a pack of Ramen noodles and a can of carrots.
John Henry Lewis in the middle, the older gentlemen to his left is his father John Edward Lewis. His father trained him and was a former lightweight boxer himself who operated a gym in Phoenix, Arizona, where John Henry Lewis grew up and learned to box at a young age.
1938 Cartledge Razors Famous Prizefighters John Henry Lewis. This is the glossy version, the cards were made with a glossy coating and without, the glossy version is a tad bit rarer but still easy to find. I love this set, they're just really good looking trading cards.
1939 African Tobacco John Henry Lewis, these cards came in a large variation and a small variation, the small variation is much more rare and difficult to find.
About John Henry Lewis' chin, it was made of granite. He was knocked out in the last fight of his career by the greatest puncher this sport has ever known, Joe Louis, and that fight was at heavyweight. For the rest of his 116 fights mostly at light heavyweight, JHL was never stopped.
This is fascinating and I would have paid good money to see this fight. On July 13, 1938, at Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia world light heavyweight champion John Henry Lewis was scheduled to fight "Two Ton" Tony Galento in the main event. The fight was cancelled when Galento came down with bronchial pneumonia and the fight was never held. This is an original ticket from that scheduled fight and a photo of John Henry Lewis (far left) and Tony Galento (third from the left) at the contract signing. I'll say this, Galento had a brutal left hook and was one of the roughest, dirtiest fighters in boxing history, and it would have been fascinating to watch the technical brilliance of Lewis against a man that had no regard for the rules of boxing whatsoever.
This is a photo of John Henry Lewis and Joe Louis shaking hands at the weigh-in before their fight in 1939, look at the sheer size difference between the two, Louis with the thicker muscular legs, arms, and upper body which helped him generate some of the most brutal knockout power ever witnessed in a ring. Just wow, what an image.
This is a great photo of jazz singer, songwriter and bandleader Cab Calloway, John Henry Lewis, Joe Louis, and Louis' secretary Freddie Guinyard, with a group of women in the background, in the Loendi Club, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 1938. Joe Louis and John Henry Lewis were close friends.
This is one of the most heartbreaking photos I've seen in sports history, John Henry Lewis sitting in his hotel room in Paris, France, after being refused permission to box in England. The British Boxing Commission took that action against him after it had received a cable from the United States saying that Lewis would lose his sight if he fought again. It was common knowledge that he had fought for years with an eye injury and it finally caught up to him after the Louis fight, the powers that be put a stop to him fighting. It was the right move by the British Boxing Commission but it's sad to see such an all-time great fighter not be able to continue to do what he was so great at. And make no mistake about it, the guy was one of the greatest light heavyweights in boxing history, he was basically unbeatable at the weight and it's even more astonishing when you consider that he fought a majority of his career almost blind.
This is a photo of John Henry Lewis and his friend Richard "Honey Boy" Jones, a middleweight fighter, in 1939 on board the liner Queen Mary on which he returned from Europe after failing to get a fight in England. The British Boxing Commission refused Lewis permission after that cable from the United States informed them that if he fought again it would damage his eyesight permanently. A sad ending to one of the most brilliant careers in boxing history.
Final thoughts on John Henry Lewis. I wish we had film of him in his absolute prime, because in his prime, he was damn near impossible to beat, he was that great, there's really nothing else that needs to be said.
''Earlier in my career, I never thought of boxing as a chess game, but I confirm it now that they are, in fact, very simiIar. You can plan your fights and strategy just like you would in chess.
All of my fights are pIanned. I study my opponents from A to Z. How he walks, how he looks, how he speaks, gestures of the human body, which is a certain language that provides you lots of information if you have the ability to read it. You just need to pay attention to it and gain experience over the years.
And if I am 100% prepared for the fight, my opponent has no chance to win the fight. I am saying what I mean: He has a 0% chance to win the fight. There is going to be no luck involved; there is going to be nothing eIse to stop me from winning the fight. At the beginning of my career, I didn’t realize it, but later on I realized the similarities.''
Hard-hitting Takeshi Paul Fuji became a world champion when he captured the junior welterweight championship with a 2nd round KO of Sandro Lopopolo at Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on April 30th in 1967.
Fuji, the Hawaiian slugger, came into the bout with only two losses, and having fought every fight either in Japan or Hawai'i. His style was "do or die", and he bulled forward from a crouch before winging heavy shots, making him easy to root for and watch. Lopopolo's style was definitely a contrast, as he fought more upright and used his jab and feet. They couldn't get him away from Fuji fast enough, though.
About halfway through round 2, Lopopolo got caught exchanging with Fuji and absorbed a big right hand with his legs a bit crossed up and he went down hard. When he got up, Fuji was immediately on top of him and sent him down once more. Lopopolo made it to his feet and was completely overwhelmed on the ropes, where the fight was stopped.
Takeshi Paul Fuji was a Hawaiian-born Japanese-American, renowned for his aggressive, all-out fighting style. A former US Marine, he achieved stardom in Japan, becoming the first Japanese-American to win a world boxing title by defeating Sandro Lopopolo for the JWW title in 1967. Incredibly dangerous fighter, the guy could hit like a grenade. Just about everyone that stepped in the ring with him got stretched.
Not too many photos of Takeshi Paul Fuji available, here's a sequence of photos of Fuji defending his title against Willi Quatuor of West Germany on November 16, 1967, in Tokyo, Japan. Fuji won by a knockout in the 4th round against the German southpaw.
Not a whole lot to collect of Fuji, but he does have this nice little 1968-69 Panini Campioni Dello Sport. These little stickers came in packs and could be glued into albums to keep, they came with different variation backs, the Campioni Dello Sport back shown here and the Valida backs, Valida, Bisvalida, and Trisvalida. The Valida backs are rarer. The Valida backs were promotional items that served as redemption coupons for prizes. If I'm not mistaken, 1968-69 Panini Campioni Dello Sport only has the Valida variation, I've never seen Bisvalida and Trisvalida for the 1968-69 set but I have seen them for other sets. Here is how they were acquired:
Randomly Inserted in Packs: The Valida stickers were inserted into standard Panini sticker packets and were designed to be sent back to the company to redeem for prizes.
Redemption System: To receive gifts, collectors had to collect and mail in "Valida" (valid), "Bisvalida" (double valid), or "Trisvalida" (triple valid) backs, according to the rules in the Panini sticker album.
High Scarcity: Due to the requirement to send them back to redeem prizes, very few of these stickers survived in original condition, making them extremely rare.
The "Valida" back variation is distinct from the regular issues of the same cards and is highly sought after by collectors.
You know, come to think of it, I've never seen a Panini Trisvalida back, but I have seen a Bisvalida back, shown below on a 1971 Panini Olympia Muhammad Ali sticker. It's a confusing issue, but nevertheless the Valida backs are rarer and they're neat little stickers to collect and I like them a lot.
The story of Tom "The Moor" Molineaux, fascinating stuff. Tom Molineaux was one bad dude, fought his way out of slavery and went over to England to challenge the great Tom Cribb for his crown. Tom "The Black Diamond" Cribb was a legendary English bare-knuckle heavyweight champion who dominated the sport for 14 years, holding the title from roughly 1807 to 1821. He compiled a record of 15 wins and only one loss (to George Nichols in 1805). Molineaux went 35-44 rounds with Cribb, depending on which version is true, in a fight many people think Molineaux won, it was very controversial. But one thing's for sure, Molineaux took Cribb to the edge of the abyss.
From Slave to Bare-Knuckle Title Challenger: The Story of Tom Molineaux, the First Black Fighter to Challenge for the Title
Tom Molineaux was born into slavery in Virginia in 1784. His owner, seeing his potential, would wager him in bare-knuckle fights against other enslaved men. Molineaux quickly became a dominant force in these brutal bouts. After winning a major fight that earned his master a small fortune, Molineaux was granted his freedom—a rare outcome for an enslaved man in that era.
Recognizing that his fighting ability could lead to greater opportunities, Molineaux set his sights on the ultimate prize in the world of bare-knuckle boxing. In 1809, he left the United States and traveled to England, where the sport was at its peak.
Molineaux wasted no time proving himself in the ring. He gained recognition after a string of victories, including a devastating knockout of top contender Tom Blake. His raw power, endurance, and aggressive fighting style quickly made him a feared competitor.
His success caught the attention of Tom Cribb, the reigning British heavyweight champion and national hero. In 1810, Molineaux earned the right to challenge Cribb for the championship, becoming the first Black fighter to compete for the bare-knuckle boxing world title.
The Historic Battle: Molineaux vs. Cribb (1810)
On December 18, 1810, Molineaux and Cribb met in a brutal showdown that would go down in history.
From the opening bell, Molineaux showcased his skill and power, knocking Cribb down multiple times. By the 28th round, Molineaux appeared to have won, but Cribb was controversially given extra recovery time—an illegal move influenced by racial bias.
Despite suffering a broken jaw, swollen eyes, and frostbitten hands from fighting in the bitter cold, Molineaux pressed on. The fight lasted an astonishing 44 rounds before Cribb ultimately emerged victorious.
A rematch was held in 1811, but by then, Molineaux, weakened by injuries and a harsh lifestyle, was defeated more decisively.
Although he never officially held the championship, Tom Molineaux’s story is one of resilience and determination. He shattered racial barriers in boxing, paving the way for future Black champions like Jack Johnson and Muhammad Ali.
Sadly, Molineaux's later years were marked by poverty, and he passed away in Ireland in 1818 at just 34 years old.
Nevertheless, his name remains etched in history. From slavery to challenging the world’s best, Tom Molineaux was a true warrior of the bare-knuckle era.
Another write-up about the Tom Molineaux and Tom Cribb fights.
Cribb v Molineaux and the Great North Road
The Cribb v Molineaux boxing match to decide the English title took place close to the Great North Road in 1811.
It is claimed to have drawn a crowd of 20,000 to a field at Thistleton Gap, between Stamford and Grantham. Those who could climbed on top of carriages and some even stood on their horses’ saddles to get a better view.
The location for this fight between Tom Cribb of Bristol and Tom Molineaux, born a slave in Virginia, was chosen for its good accessibility to fans from both north and south of the country; importantly, the location was at the intersection of three counties helping reduce the risk of the magistrates of any one county stopping the illegal bare-knuckle match. There was indeed tacit support from the local nobility.
Among the company who witnessed the battle, were the Marquis of Queensbury, Sir Henry Smith, Lord Yarmouth, the Hon. Berkeley Craven, Major Mellish, Captain Barclay, General Grosvenor, Lord Pomfret, Sir Francis Baynton, Sir Charles Alton, Thomas Goddard, Esq. Mr Gore, &c. &c. and all the sporting amateurs and professors in the kingdom.
Never was the sporting world so much interested, and for twenty miles within the seat of action not a bed could be obtained on the preceeding night; and by six o’clock the next morning, hundreds were in motion to get a good place near the stage.
Pierce Egan
There had been controversy when the champion, Cribb, had beaten the black American nine months before. The eagerly anticipated rematch attracted even greater publicity and a huge number of bets.
Cribb's Meadow Nature Reserve
The site of this famous battle is now the peaceful Cribb’s Meadow nature reserve, just two miles from the thundering A1. Image Credit – Rex Gibson
About Cribb v Molineaux
Two Championship Fights
The newly arrived Molineaux soon made his mark in England with wins over other high profile prize fighters. As with boxing contests today, the prospect of a lucrative match enticed the largely retired champion, Cribb, to step back in the ring. The first fight was held on a cold rainy day at Copthorne, Surrey in December 1810.
It was in the 19th round that Cribb was struggling to continue.
To distinguish the combatants by their features would have been utterly impossible, so dreadfully were both their faces beaten – but their difference of colour supplied this sort of defect… It was really astonishing to view the determined manner in which these heroes met – Cribb, acting upon the defensive, and retreating from the blows of his antagonist, though endeavouring to put in a hit, was got by Molineaux against the ropes, which were in height about five feet, and in three rows. Molineaux with both his hands caught hold of the ropes, and held Cribb in such a singular way, that he could neither make a hit or fall down: and while the seconds were discussing the propriety of separating the combatants, which the umpires thought could not be done till one of the men were down, about two hundred persons rushed from the outer to the exterior ring, and it is asserted, that if one of the Moor’s fingers was not broken, it was much injured by some of them attempting to remove his hand from the ropes: all this time Molineaux was gaining his wind by laying his head on Cribb’s breast, and refusing to release his victim; when the Champion by a desperate effort to extricate himself from the rude grasp of the Moor, was at length run down to one corner of the ring, and Molineaux having got his head under his arm, fibbed away most unmercifully, but his strength not being able to the intent, it otherwise must have proved fatal to Cribb, who fell from exhaustion and the severe punishment he had received.
Pierce Egan
After a dubious extended break the fight continued but Molineaux could barely see and he tired first, eventually unable to continue in the 40th round.
Whilst there was undoubted prejudice against the black man, there was also widely held sentiment that the result had not been fair. Molineaux sent the following challenge less than a week later:
SIR,
My friends think that had the weather on last Tuesday, the day on which I contended with you, not been so unfavourable, I should have won the battle; I therefore challenge you to a second meeting, at any time within two months, for such a sum as those gentlemen who place confidence in me, may be pleased to arrange.
As it is possible that this letter may meet the public eye, I cannot omit the opportunity of expressing a confident hope that the circumstances of my being a different colour to that of people amongst whom I have sought protection, will not in any way operate to my prejudice.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
T. MOLINEAUX
The return fight was eventually arranged for September at Thistleton Gap. In the meantime Cribb realised that he better get himself in much better shape. This was encouraged and facilitated by his wealthy backer, Robert Barclay Allardice (Captain Barclay). Cribb reportedly walked to his estate near Aberdeen where he was put through a challenging 3-month training regime and served an enviable diet. He lost over two stone in the process.
In contrast, flush with newfound funds, Molineaux became less active and enjoyed more recreational pursuits. He went on a sparring and exhibition tour around the country where drinking and eating featured heavily.
On the eve of the Thistleton Gap fight, Cribb stayed at the Black Bull, Witham Common. Molineaux stayed at the New Inn, Greetham where he is said to have consumed a chicken, a large apple pie and seven pints of porter. [Contrary to popular legend, neither fighter stayed at the Ram Jam Inn.]
The bout commenced soon after noon on a wooden boarded ring. From the start it was apparent that Molineaux was going to find it difficult. Molineaux caught Cribb’s cheek bone under the eye in the 3rd round but in the 6th, Cribb hit Molineaux with a low blow from which he never fully recovered. Cribb broke Molineaux’s jaw in the 9th round and knocked him out in the 11th. The fight had lasted less than 20 minutes.
Of the 600 Guinea purse money Cribb received two-thirds (£420) and Molineaux a third (£210) together with about £50 from a ringside collection. Cribb’s backer, Captain Barclay, is said to have made £10,000.
A little scandalously, bets on the contest were rumoured to exceed the £49,000 so far raised by public subscription for the relief of British prisoners in France.
The triumphant Cribb, having overcome the impudent black foreigner, returned to London for a hero’s welcome:
On the CHAMPION’S return in a barouche and four horses, decorated with blue ribbons, on the Monday following he was cheered through all the towns he passed, after the manner of an officer bearing despatches of a victory, so much was it felt by the people of England: and upon the approach to his house in White-lion-street the crowd had assembled in such numbers as to render it impassable.
Pierce Egan
Tom Molineaux
Tom Molineaux
Tom Molineaux was born into a family of great bare-knuckle fighters in 1784. His father Zachary and Tom’s brothers Elizah, Ebenezer, Franklin, and Moses were also successful fighters “and they outclassed all rivals in Virginia.” After receiving coaching, Molineaux defeated a renown slave-boxer from another plantation, earning his owner a huge gambling win; manumission and $400 was Tom’s reward. He established himself in New York then in 1809 worked his passage from Baltimore to Liverpool.
Under the wing of a fellow former slave, Bill Richmond, he won his first two fights against Jack Burrows and Tom Blake. This brought him to prominence in England and led to the contests against the champion, Cribb.
Cracked jaw or not Molineaux made a full recovery from the Thistleton Gap encounter. He went on to defeat Jack Carter in 1813 but by 1815 his career was fading. He ran into debt and left for Scotland then Ireland where he fought exhibitions for drinks. His lifestyle undermined his earlier skills, physique and focus. Ill and penniless he was cared for by three black drummers of the band of the 77th Regiment.
He died penniless in Galway in 1818 aged just 34.
Tom Cribb
Tom Cribb
Tom Cribb was born in 1781 in Hanham near Bristol. He left home, aged 13, to work in London, where he was a bell hanger, a coal porter and a bargeman. He was also in the navy for a short while. Cribb’s first recorded fight was in 1805, and for the next 17 years the “Black Diamond” earned his living by boxing, during which time he only lost one fight.
He had an interesting relationship with the former slave Bill Richards who had come to England in 1777. Richards had initially been a valued cornerman, then boxing opponent, then trainer for Molineaux, then friend in later life.
After a successful career in the ring and as an exhibition fighter to royalty and gentry, Cribb retired in 1822, having acted as an usher at the coronation of George IV the previous year. He ran several pubs in London, including the Union Arms in the West End.
He died in 1848 aged 67. His grave in St Mary Magdalene Church, Woolwich consists of a stone lion monument.
The Tom Cribb Pub, West End
The Union Arms (rebuilt in 1878) survives as the Tom Cribb
More Information about Cribb v Molineaux
The story of Cribb v Molineaux has attracted much interest over the years but we are over dependent on just a couple of sources when it comes to hard facts. Nat Fleischer’s 1938 series, Black Dynamite, provides Molineaux’s family background and tales of high stakes slave fights. Pierce Egan in his “Boxiana” (published 1813-29) documented the fighters and fights of his time in huge detail, often with round-by-round highlights.
Cribb v Molineaux - Staffordshire Pottery Figures
The two Cribb fights made Molineaux a celebrity in England. There was much interest in “pugilism” and admiration for successful boxers who represented the virtues of strength, courage and manhood. They were the subject of popular memorabilia including these two 1820s Staffordshire pottery figures and the sketch at top of page by an unknown artist.
1992 Priddy Antiques Tom Molineaux from the set "80 Famous Boxers." If I'm not mistaken, this set was produced by a small antiques company in England owned by a man named W.R. Priddy, who actually drew the art featured on these cards himself. They produced a few boxing sets, one in 1992 and 2000.
This is cool, the 1992 Priddy Antiques set was offered in Black & White, however these are hand-coloured experiments done in the hand of the artist W.R. Priddy. I think these cards are 1/1. I actually own a few of these, Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, and Jimmy Wilde.
This is the 2000 Priddy Antiques Tom Molineaux card from the set "50 Bare Knuckle Prizefighters", W.R. Priddy drew the art himself for this set as well.
Comments
Great shot of John Henry Lewis, he was built pretty solid, you can see how he generated his knockout power.
A few John Henry Lewis training photos.
John Henry Lewis leaps over a fence during training.
John Henry Lewis doing push-ups.
John Henry Lewis gives a boxing demonstration to students at the Military Physical Development School on October 20, 1936, in Aldershot, United Kingdom.
There's a winter storm approaching my state, and there's going to be a lot of freezing rain, sleet, and ice, the meteorologists are saying that the power may be out for a few days. So I decided to go across the street to my local Walmart neighborhood market and grab a few things because I know people panic when winter weather hits and you have to get there early or the place will be cleaned out of stuff. I go over there a lot in the morning and it's usually quite empty, only a few people shopping and plenty of registers available for checkout, no waiting. Different story today. It was a madhouse, the place was packed, items were disappearing from the shelves at breakneck speed. So I made a dash for the dairy section to grab a gallon of milk, I know that milk is one of the first things people go for when winter weather hits, and when I got there I noticed there was only one gallon left. As I made a move to grab it, I felt a hard object strike me on the back of the knee area, I instantly crumbled to the ground. As I looked up I noticed a little old man with a cane grabbing the milk I so desperately wanted, and it was at that moment that I realized, this little old man had taken me out at the knees with his cane for the last gallon of milk. It was brutal over there, I barely made it out alive, people were fighting like animals over loaves of bread. You would think a seven mile wide asteroid was going to hit Earth the way people were acting. But the good news is, I did manage to get a pack of Ramen noodles and a can of carrots.
John Henry Lewis with trainer Larry Amadee.
This image was used for The 1937 Globo Chewing Gum John Henry Lewis card.
John Henry Lewis in the middle, the older gentlemen to his left is his father John Edward Lewis. His father trained him and was a former lightweight boxer himself who operated a gym in Phoenix, Arizona, where John Henry Lewis grew up and learned to box at a young age.
A sharply dressed JHL playing a record.
A program from John Henry Lewis' fight against Salvatore Ruggirello in 1937.
John Henry Lewis posing for the camera after his win over Len Harvey.
Sick image of JHL with Joe Louis.
Another great shot of JHL with Joe Louis.
John Henry Lewis and Al Gainer, they fought twice, with Lewis winning both bouts by decision.
1938 Cartledge Razors Famous Prizefighters John Henry Lewis. This is the glossy version, the cards were made with a glossy coating and without, the glossy version is a tad bit rarer but still easy to find. I love this set, they're just really good looking trading cards.
1939 African Tobacco John Henry Lewis, these cards came in a large variation and a small variation, the small variation is much more rare and difficult to find.
1948 Leaf Boxing John Henry Lewis.
About John Henry Lewis' chin, it was made of granite. He was knocked out in the last fight of his career by the greatest puncher this sport has ever known, Joe Louis, and that fight was at heavyweight. For the rest of his 116 fights mostly at light heavyweight, JHL was never stopped.
This is fascinating and I would have paid good money to see this fight. On July 13, 1938, at Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia world light heavyweight champion John Henry Lewis was scheduled to fight "Two Ton" Tony Galento in the main event. The fight was cancelled when Galento came down with bronchial pneumonia and the fight was never held. This is an original ticket from that scheduled fight and a photo of John Henry Lewis (far left) and Tony Galento (third from the left) at the contract signing. I'll say this, Galento had a brutal left hook and was one of the roughest, dirtiest fighters in boxing history, and it would have been fascinating to watch the technical brilliance of Lewis against a man that had no regard for the rules of boxing whatsoever.
Great up close shot of John Henry Lewis.
This is a photo of John Henry Lewis and Joe Louis shaking hands at the weigh-in before their fight in 1939, look at the sheer size difference between the two, Louis with the thicker muscular legs, arms, and upper body which helped him generate some of the most brutal knockout power ever witnessed in a ring. Just wow, what an image.
This is a shot of Joe Louis and John Henry Lewis with famous fight promoter Mike Jacobs sitting in the middle.
This is a great photo of jazz singer, songwriter and bandleader Cab Calloway, John Henry Lewis, Joe Louis, and Louis' secretary Freddie Guinyard, with a group of women in the background, in the Loendi Club, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 1938. Joe Louis and John Henry Lewis were close friends.
John Henry Lewis and his father John Edward Lewis after the fight with Joe Louis in 1939.
Cool photo of John Henry Lewis goofing around with film actor and singer Eddie Quillan.
Nice autographed photo of John Henry Lewis.
This is one of the most heartbreaking photos I've seen in sports history, John Henry Lewis sitting in his hotel room in Paris, France, after being refused permission to box in England. The British Boxing Commission took that action against him after it had received a cable from the United States saying that Lewis would lose his sight if he fought again. It was common knowledge that he had fought for years with an eye injury and it finally caught up to him after the Louis fight, the powers that be put a stop to him fighting. It was the right move by the British Boxing Commission but it's sad to see such an all-time great fighter not be able to continue to do what he was so great at. And make no mistake about it, the guy was one of the greatest light heavyweights in boxing history, he was basically unbeatable at the weight and it's even more astonishing when you consider that he fought a majority of his career almost blind.
This is a photo of John Henry Lewis and his friend Richard "Honey Boy" Jones, a middleweight fighter, in 1939 on board the liner Queen Mary on which he returned from Europe after failing to get a fight in England. The British Boxing Commission refused Lewis permission after that cable from the United States informed them that if he fought again it would damage his eyesight permanently. A sad ending to one of the most brilliant careers in boxing history.
A couple more photos of John Henry Lewis and I'll move on.
Final thoughts on John Henry Lewis. I wish we had film of him in his absolute prime, because in his prime, he was damn near impossible to beat, he was that great, there's really nothing else that needs to be said.
''Earlier in my career, I never thought of boxing as a chess game, but I confirm it now that they are, in fact, very simiIar. You can plan your fights and strategy just like you would in chess.
All of my fights are pIanned. I study my opponents from A to Z. How he walks, how he looks, how he speaks, gestures of the human body, which is a certain language that provides you lots of information if you have the ability to read it. You just need to pay attention to it and gain experience over the years.
And if I am 100% prepared for the fight, my opponent has no chance to win the fight. I am saying what I mean: He has a 0% chance to win the fight. There is going to be no luck involved; there is going to be nothing eIse to stop me from winning the fight. At the beginning of my career, I didn’t realize it, but later on I realized the similarities.''
Hard-hitting Takeshi Paul Fuji became a world champion when he captured the junior welterweight championship with a 2nd round KO of Sandro Lopopolo at Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on April 30th in 1967.
Fuji, the Hawaiian slugger, came into the bout with only two losses, and having fought every fight either in Japan or Hawai'i. His style was "do or die", and he bulled forward from a crouch before winging heavy shots, making him easy to root for and watch. Lopopolo's style was definitely a contrast, as he fought more upright and used his jab and feet. They couldn't get him away from Fuji fast enough, though.
About halfway through round 2, Lopopolo got caught exchanging with Fuji and absorbed a big right hand with his legs a bit crossed up and he went down hard. When he got up, Fuji was immediately on top of him and sent him down once more. Lopopolo made it to his feet and was completely overwhelmed on the ropes, where the fight was stopped.
Takeshi Paul Fuji was a Hawaiian-born Japanese-American, renowned for his aggressive, all-out fighting style. A former US Marine, he achieved stardom in Japan, becoming the first Japanese-American to win a world boxing title by defeating Sandro Lopopolo for the JWW title in 1967. Incredibly dangerous fighter, the guy could hit like a grenade. Just about everyone that stepped in the ring with him got stretched.
Great shot of Takeshi Paul Fuji jumping up and yelling "Banzai" after stopping Lopopolo.
Not too many photos of Takeshi Paul Fuji available, here's a sequence of photos of Fuji defending his title against Willi Quatuor of West Germany on November 16, 1967, in Tokyo, Japan. Fuji won by a knockout in the 4th round against the German southpaw.
Wicked image of Takeshi Paul Fuji on the cover of The Boxing magazine in 1968.
Takeshi Paul Fuji training.
Not a whole lot to collect of Fuji, but he does have this nice little 1968-69 Panini Campioni Dello Sport. These little stickers came in packs and could be glued into albums to keep, they came with different variation backs, the Campioni Dello Sport back shown here and the Valida backs, Valida, Bisvalida, and Trisvalida. The Valida backs are rarer. The Valida backs were promotional items that served as redemption coupons for prizes. If I'm not mistaken, 1968-69 Panini Campioni Dello Sport only has the Valida variation, I've never seen Bisvalida and Trisvalida for the 1968-69 set but I have seen them for other sets. Here is how they were acquired:
Randomly Inserted in Packs: The Valida stickers were inserted into standard Panini sticker packets and were designed to be sent back to the company to redeem for prizes.
Redemption System: To receive gifts, collectors had to collect and mail in "Valida" (valid), "Bisvalida" (double valid), or "Trisvalida" (triple valid) backs, according to the rules in the Panini sticker album.
High Scarcity: Due to the requirement to send them back to redeem prizes, very few of these stickers survived in original condition, making them extremely rare.
The "Valida" back variation is distinct from the regular issues of the same cards and is highly sought after by collectors.
You know, come to think of it, I've never seen a Panini Trisvalida back, but I have seen a Bisvalida back, shown below on a 1971 Panini Olympia Muhammad Ali sticker. It's a confusing issue, but nevertheless the Valida backs are rarer and they're neat little stickers to collect and I like them a lot.
Awesome autographed photo of Takeshi Paul Fuji.
One last image of Takeshi Paul Fuji, another awesome autographed photo.
Oh yeah I forgot, Takeshi Paul Fuji, there was a film made about his life and he actually played himself in the film, cool stuff.
The story of Tom "The Moor" Molineaux, fascinating stuff. Tom Molineaux was one bad dude, fought his way out of slavery and went over to England to challenge the great Tom Cribb for his crown. Tom "The Black Diamond" Cribb was a legendary English bare-knuckle heavyweight champion who dominated the sport for 14 years, holding the title from roughly 1807 to 1821. He compiled a record of 15 wins and only one loss (to George Nichols in 1805). Molineaux went 35-44 rounds with Cribb, depending on which version is true, in a fight many people think Molineaux won, it was very controversial. But one thing's for sure, Molineaux took Cribb to the edge of the abyss.
From Slave to Bare-Knuckle Title Challenger: The Story of Tom Molineaux, the First Black Fighter to Challenge for the Title
Tom Molineaux was born into slavery in Virginia in 1784. His owner, seeing his potential, would wager him in bare-knuckle fights against other enslaved men. Molineaux quickly became a dominant force in these brutal bouts. After winning a major fight that earned his master a small fortune, Molineaux was granted his freedom—a rare outcome for an enslaved man in that era.
Recognizing that his fighting ability could lead to greater opportunities, Molineaux set his sights on the ultimate prize in the world of bare-knuckle boxing. In 1809, he left the United States and traveled to England, where the sport was at its peak.
Molineaux wasted no time proving himself in the ring. He gained recognition after a string of victories, including a devastating knockout of top contender Tom Blake. His raw power, endurance, and aggressive fighting style quickly made him a feared competitor.
His success caught the attention of Tom Cribb, the reigning British heavyweight champion and national hero. In 1810, Molineaux earned the right to challenge Cribb for the championship, becoming the first Black fighter to compete for the bare-knuckle boxing world title.
The Historic Battle: Molineaux vs. Cribb (1810)
On December 18, 1810, Molineaux and Cribb met in a brutal showdown that would go down in history.
From the opening bell, Molineaux showcased his skill and power, knocking Cribb down multiple times. By the 28th round, Molineaux appeared to have won, but Cribb was controversially given extra recovery time—an illegal move influenced by racial bias.
Despite suffering a broken jaw, swollen eyes, and frostbitten hands from fighting in the bitter cold, Molineaux pressed on. The fight lasted an astonishing 44 rounds before Cribb ultimately emerged victorious.
A rematch was held in 1811, but by then, Molineaux, weakened by injuries and a harsh lifestyle, was defeated more decisively.
Although he never officially held the championship, Tom Molineaux’s story is one of resilience and determination. He shattered racial barriers in boxing, paving the way for future Black champions like Jack Johnson and Muhammad Ali.
Sadly, Molineaux's later years were marked by poverty, and he passed away in Ireland in 1818 at just 34 years old.
Nevertheless, his name remains etched in history. From slavery to challenging the world’s best, Tom Molineaux was a true warrior of the bare-knuckle era.
Another write-up about the Tom Molineaux and Tom Cribb fights.
Cribb v Molineaux and the Great North Road
The Cribb v Molineaux boxing match to decide the English title took place close to the Great North Road in 1811.
It is claimed to have drawn a crowd of 20,000 to a field at Thistleton Gap, between Stamford and Grantham. Those who could climbed on top of carriages and some even stood on their horses’ saddles to get a better view.
The location for this fight between Tom Cribb of Bristol and Tom Molineaux, born a slave in Virginia, was chosen for its good accessibility to fans from both north and south of the country; importantly, the location was at the intersection of three counties helping reduce the risk of the magistrates of any one county stopping the illegal bare-knuckle match. There was indeed tacit support from the local nobility.
Among the company who witnessed the battle, were the Marquis of Queensbury, Sir Henry Smith, Lord Yarmouth, the Hon. Berkeley Craven, Major Mellish, Captain Barclay, General Grosvenor, Lord Pomfret, Sir Francis Baynton, Sir Charles Alton, Thomas Goddard, Esq. Mr Gore, &c. &c. and all the sporting amateurs and professors in the kingdom.
Never was the sporting world so much interested, and for twenty miles within the seat of action not a bed could be obtained on the preceeding night; and by six o’clock the next morning, hundreds were in motion to get a good place near the stage.
Pierce Egan
There had been controversy when the champion, Cribb, had beaten the black American nine months before. The eagerly anticipated rematch attracted even greater publicity and a huge number of bets.
Cribb's Meadow Nature Reserve
The site of this famous battle is now the peaceful Cribb’s Meadow nature reserve, just two miles from the thundering A1. Image Credit – Rex Gibson
About Cribb v Molineaux
Two Championship Fights
The newly arrived Molineaux soon made his mark in England with wins over other high profile prize fighters. As with boxing contests today, the prospect of a lucrative match enticed the largely retired champion, Cribb, to step back in the ring. The first fight was held on a cold rainy day at Copthorne, Surrey in December 1810.
It was in the 19th round that Cribb was struggling to continue.
To distinguish the combatants by their features would have been utterly impossible, so dreadfully were both their faces beaten – but their difference of colour supplied this sort of defect… It was really astonishing to view the determined manner in which these heroes met – Cribb, acting upon the defensive, and retreating from the blows of his antagonist, though endeavouring to put in a hit, was got by Molineaux against the ropes, which were in height about five feet, and in three rows. Molineaux with both his hands caught hold of the ropes, and held Cribb in such a singular way, that he could neither make a hit or fall down: and while the seconds were discussing the propriety of separating the combatants, which the umpires thought could not be done till one of the men were down, about two hundred persons rushed from the outer to the exterior ring, and it is asserted, that if one of the Moor’s fingers was not broken, it was much injured by some of them attempting to remove his hand from the ropes: all this time Molineaux was gaining his wind by laying his head on Cribb’s breast, and refusing to release his victim; when the Champion by a desperate effort to extricate himself from the rude grasp of the Moor, was at length run down to one corner of the ring, and Molineaux having got his head under his arm, fibbed away most unmercifully, but his strength not being able to the intent, it otherwise must have proved fatal to Cribb, who fell from exhaustion and the severe punishment he had received.
Pierce Egan
After a dubious extended break the fight continued but Molineaux could barely see and he tired first, eventually unable to continue in the 40th round.
Whilst there was undoubted prejudice against the black man, there was also widely held sentiment that the result had not been fair. Molineaux sent the following challenge less than a week later:
SIR,
My friends think that had the weather on last Tuesday, the day on which I contended with you, not been so unfavourable, I should have won the battle; I therefore challenge you to a second meeting, at any time within two months, for such a sum as those gentlemen who place confidence in me, may be pleased to arrange.
As it is possible that this letter may meet the public eye, I cannot omit the opportunity of expressing a confident hope that the circumstances of my being a different colour to that of people amongst whom I have sought protection, will not in any way operate to my prejudice.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
T. MOLINEAUX
The return fight was eventually arranged for September at Thistleton Gap. In the meantime Cribb realised that he better get himself in much better shape. This was encouraged and facilitated by his wealthy backer, Robert Barclay Allardice (Captain Barclay). Cribb reportedly walked to his estate near Aberdeen where he was put through a challenging 3-month training regime and served an enviable diet. He lost over two stone in the process.
In contrast, flush with newfound funds, Molineaux became less active and enjoyed more recreational pursuits. He went on a sparring and exhibition tour around the country where drinking and eating featured heavily.
On the eve of the Thistleton Gap fight, Cribb stayed at the Black Bull, Witham Common. Molineaux stayed at the New Inn, Greetham where he is said to have consumed a chicken, a large apple pie and seven pints of porter. [Contrary to popular legend, neither fighter stayed at the Ram Jam Inn.]
The bout commenced soon after noon on a wooden boarded ring. From the start it was apparent that Molineaux was going to find it difficult. Molineaux caught Cribb’s cheek bone under the eye in the 3rd round but in the 6th, Cribb hit Molineaux with a low blow from which he never fully recovered. Cribb broke Molineaux’s jaw in the 9th round and knocked him out in the 11th. The fight had lasted less than 20 minutes.
Of the 600 Guinea purse money Cribb received two-thirds (£420) and Molineaux a third (£210) together with about £50 from a ringside collection. Cribb’s backer, Captain Barclay, is said to have made £10,000.
A little scandalously, bets on the contest were rumoured to exceed the £49,000 so far raised by public subscription for the relief of British prisoners in France.
The triumphant Cribb, having overcome the impudent black foreigner, returned to London for a hero’s welcome:
On the CHAMPION’S return in a barouche and four horses, decorated with blue ribbons, on the Monday following he was cheered through all the towns he passed, after the manner of an officer bearing despatches of a victory, so much was it felt by the people of England: and upon the approach to his house in White-lion-street the crowd had assembled in such numbers as to render it impassable.
Pierce Egan
Tom Molineaux
Tom Molineaux
Tom Molineaux was born into a family of great bare-knuckle fighters in 1784. His father Zachary and Tom’s brothers Elizah, Ebenezer, Franklin, and Moses were also successful fighters “and they outclassed all rivals in Virginia.” After receiving coaching, Molineaux defeated a renown slave-boxer from another plantation, earning his owner a huge gambling win; manumission and $400 was Tom’s reward. He established himself in New York then in 1809 worked his passage from Baltimore to Liverpool.
Under the wing of a fellow former slave, Bill Richmond, he won his first two fights against Jack Burrows and Tom Blake. This brought him to prominence in England and led to the contests against the champion, Cribb.
Cracked jaw or not Molineaux made a full recovery from the Thistleton Gap encounter. He went on to defeat Jack Carter in 1813 but by 1815 his career was fading. He ran into debt and left for Scotland then Ireland where he fought exhibitions for drinks. His lifestyle undermined his earlier skills, physique and focus. Ill and penniless he was cared for by three black drummers of the band of the 77th Regiment.
He died penniless in Galway in 1818 aged just 34.
Tom Cribb
Tom Cribb
Tom Cribb was born in 1781 in Hanham near Bristol. He left home, aged 13, to work in London, where he was a bell hanger, a coal porter and a bargeman. He was also in the navy for a short while. Cribb’s first recorded fight was in 1805, and for the next 17 years the “Black Diamond” earned his living by boxing, during which time he only lost one fight.
He had an interesting relationship with the former slave Bill Richards who had come to England in 1777. Richards had initially been a valued cornerman, then boxing opponent, then trainer for Molineaux, then friend in later life.
After a successful career in the ring and as an exhibition fighter to royalty and gentry, Cribb retired in 1822, having acted as an usher at the coronation of George IV the previous year. He ran several pubs in London, including the Union Arms in the West End.
He died in 1848 aged 67. His grave in St Mary Magdalene Church, Woolwich consists of a stone lion monument.
The Tom Cribb Pub, West End
The Union Arms (rebuilt in 1878) survives as the Tom Cribb
More Information about Cribb v Molineaux
The story of Cribb v Molineaux has attracted much interest over the years but we are over dependent on just a couple of sources when it comes to hard facts. Nat Fleischer’s 1938 series, Black Dynamite, provides Molineaux’s family background and tales of high stakes slave fights. Pierce Egan in his “Boxiana” (published 1813-29) documented the fighters and fights of his time in huge detail, often with round-by-round highlights.
Cribb v Molineaux - Staffordshire Pottery Figures
The two Cribb fights made Molineaux a celebrity in England. There was much interest in “pugilism” and admiration for successful boxers who represented the virtues of strength, courage and manhood. They were the subject of popular memorabilia including these two 1820s Staffordshire pottery figures and the sketch at top of page by an unknown artist.
Tom Molineaux has a few cards and items to collect, this is the 1938 Cartledge Razors Famous Prizefighters card, non-glossy variation. Love this set.
1992 Priddy Antiques Tom Molineaux from the set "80 Famous Boxers." If I'm not mistaken, this set was produced by a small antiques company in England owned by a man named W.R. Priddy, who actually drew the art featured on these cards himself. They produced a few boxing sets, one in 1992 and 2000.
This is cool, the 1992 Priddy Antiques set was offered in Black & White, however these are hand-coloured experiments done in the hand of the artist W.R. Priddy. I think these cards are 1/1. I actually own a few of these, Sugar Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, and Jimmy Wilde.
This is the 2000 Priddy Antiques Tom Molineaux card from the set "50 Bare Knuckle Prizefighters", W.R. Priddy drew the art himself for this set as well.
This is an original oil painting of Tom Molineaux from the 1850s-60s, it's listed on eBay right now, beautiful piece of art.