Tom Cribb

Tom Cribb ( born July 8, 1781 Hanaham, Gloucestershire, † May 11 1848 in Woolwich, London ) was an English bare- knuckle boxer in the early 19th century and the unofficial heavyweight champion.

He hit the colored American Bill Richmond and in a hard fought battle the ex-champ Jem Belcher in 1807. The rematch in 1809 won Cribb and was then regarded as a champion. In 1810 he called himself after a victory over the former American slave Tom Molineaux, the first black man who punched a championship, world champion.

For the rematch, he prepared himself by endurance training, which was an innovation at the time. In fact, he was his opponent, who had dominated the early stages, precisely thereby defeat.

In 1821 he received his first championship belt in lion's skin on his resignation.

1991 was Cribb induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.