Pugilistic Chronology

A number of readers of this website have asked me to check facts and records of boxers. I'm not sure whether Famous Fights would be more accurate than the modern boxing sites such as Boxrec or Cyberzone where the likes of Barry Deskins, Tracy Callis, Adam Pollack, Kevin Smith and other noteworthy boxing historians debate the sport, but a few nuggets of information might be of use.

With issue 54, editor Harold Furniss began his Pugilistic Chronology, which aimed to give the full records of the great men of boxing and prize fighting. Here's his introduction, followed by the first page of the article. I'm happy to email anyone this page if they are interested.

"Pugilistic Chronology - an authentic record of the prize ring from the time of Figg to the present day

In response to numerous requests from readers of Famous Fights, we have decided to commence in this week's number, and to continue week by week until complete, an accurate record of the performances of the Champions of England, as well as of the lesser lights of the Prize Ring, from the time of James Figg, the first Champion of England, up to the present day.

The only chronology of the Ring, Fistiana, has long been out of print, and though copies may occasionally be picked up they, as a, rule, command prices which are somewhat beyond the means of the man in the street. It is to supply to those interested in matters pugilistic a complete and reliable history of the results of prize battles from 1719 AD that this series has been compiled.

Man's memory is not infallible, and many of our readers must, from time to time, have felt the need of access to some handy work of reference on boxing history to settle some little dispute, and thus obviate the necessity of writing to the editor of one of the sporting papers.

A chronology naturally follows dates rather than alphabetical order, and accordingly we propose to commence with the Champion of a particular period - in this case 1719, James Figg, the first Champion of England - and, after recording his performances, to detail the feats of his contemporary pugilists of lesser note. To avoid useless repetition, the particulars of a light will be given under the name of the winner and the loser's record of that contest will be found under the name of his antagonist."

The first entry is that of Figg:

Figg, James, a native of Thame, Oxfordshire; opened a theatre in Oxford Road for teaching broadsword, cudgelplay, singlestick, and boxing, 1719; b. Sutton, b. Tom Buck, b. Bob Stokes, bn. by Ned Sutton, b. Ned Sutton; died December 8, 1734. Was the first to assume the title of Champion of England.

Also on this page is Broughton, Slack, Mendoza, Brain and about 30 other fighters.