By: Michael Blackett
Before the introduction of the modern day boxing glove many of the older Bareknuckle prize-fighters were responsible for big changes within the sport none more so than James Figg who is credited with the rebirth of Prizefighting. James Figg was born in 1695 in Thame, Oxfordshire, England; he was the youngest of 7 children and was raised from a farming family. He quickly realized he had a natural talent for fighting as he often went to local fairs challenging the in house fighters to prove to himself and others he was a man to be reckoned with. He soon realised that this talent could earn him money and also local fame. Figg attended the School of Noble Defense run by Timothy Buck from 1714 and as a pupil he would have learnt to use various weapons including the backsword and quarterstaff.
When he was awarded the Title of “Master of the Noble Science of Defense” his prowess as a fighter was quickly recognized as well as his opportunity to earn vast amounts of money through prize money and also gambling which went hand in hand with. When the Earl of Peterborough saw this potential he offered to finance Figg to open an academy to teach the gentry the arts of self-defense. In 1719 he opened ‘Figgs Amphitheatre’ in Tottenham Court Road and moved to Oxford Road less than 2 years later. He soon realized the potential to earn money as a prize fighter was greater than that of a teacher so he let his academy to another master and began promoting himself and took on all-comers. He was also helped by his great friend and artist William Hogarth who not only completed a portrait of Figg but also produced publicity leaflets for him. His proud boast was ‘Here I am Jemmy Figg from Thame. I will fight any man in England.
By 1720, he was openly acknowledged as the London champion, and fought for money roughly each month, great crowds would gather and this was aided by being advertised in the newspapers. There were three rounds in an organized prize-fight: the first with short-swords, the second with fists and the third with the staff. Figg often fought multiple opponents and his most famous fight was with Ned Sutton the “Pipemaker” who he beat on three separate occasions. Depending on what information you read some say Figg remained unbeaten throughout his 270 fights and some say he was beaten once by Sutton, regardless which account is true he certainly had a great Career considering he was just over 6ft tall and weighing approx. 185 lbs. It is widely regarded that Figg was perhaps a better fencer than boxer and used his thrusting techniques learnt from his fencing training and adapted them into his fist fighting.
Early in Figgs reign there was a challenge from a Venetian gondolier called Carini, Figg found Bob Whitaker to accept the challenge and the huge Venetian was forced to retire due to a body shot. Fortunately with Figg being friends and acquaintances with some very wealthy people as spectators including George the 1st and the Prince of Wales in 1723 George the 1st sanctioned the construction of a “Ring” in London’s Hyde Park for the use of anyone who wanted to fight. There was one opponent Figg could not defend himself against however, and in early December, 1734 at the end of an astonishing career, this notice appeared in the papers:
“Last Saturday there was a Trial of Skill between the unconquered Hero, Death, on the one side and till then the unconquered Hero Mr James Figg, the famous Prize-Fighter and Master of the Noble Science of Defense on the other: The Battle was most obstinately fought on both sides, but at last the former obtained an Entire Victory and the latter tho’ he was obliged to submit to a Superior Foe yet fearless and with Disdain he retired and that Evening expired at his house in Oxford Road.”
Figg was 50 when he died and left several children and grandchildren upon his death.
The former Greyhound Inn (now named after him) is traditionally held to have been his headquarters in his early days. His portrait hung over the bar there long after his death and these verses were placed beneath:
The Mighty Combatant the first in fame,
The lasting Glory of his native Thame,
Rash and unthinking Men at length be wise,
Consult your safety and Resign the Prize,
Nor tempt Superior Force, but Timely Fly
The Vigour of his Arm, the quickness of his eye.
This verse wrote by diarist James Byrom was recorded after Figgs third encounter with Sutton and can be found here./www.thamehistory.net/people/JamesFiggPoem.htm
For anyone visiting Thames why not visit the James Figg pub in which you can see the blue plaque dedicated to him. 21 Cornmarket, Thame, Oxon, OX9 2BL.
*If anyone is interested in reading more on the origins of bare knuckle boxing, here is a link to Michael Blackett’s site- THE HISTORY OF BAREKNUCKLE BOXING
