Corinthians
 

In preparing my Bear Garden Universe I have created ratings for both Pugilists (bare knuckled boxers) and Prize Fighters (Stage Martial Arts performers) The pugilists, from 1720 through 1750, is as complete a listing of the men of this era as I have been able to devise utilizing Fistiana, Boxiana, Pugilistica, Pancratia, Bare Fists, Up to Scratch, and many other books and websites.
The Prize Fighters included here are historical individuals who practised their art from the 1660's through 1730. The Stage fighting arena of Figg's day saw many of these men, including Figg, fight with diverse weapons or fists. Pugilism, in a "purer" form effectively took root with Jack Broughton in the 30's and 40's. Weight divisions, light, middle, and heavy didn't come into play until 1746. Since Figg, was a swordman, and early pugilists used a swordman's stance while fighting. I'm assuming that the "Prize Fighters" had some cross training with pugilism or were effective enough with a sword to "get by" in a pugilistic affair. They have been, foor the most part, rated a bit lower than most of the known pugilists. In rating these fighters I made use of the template Conn Chris used in his REC universe. I give Chris a nod of thanks for sharing. Most of these fighters are pretty much in harmony with the templates, but there are some TC types also. They are noted. I also took the liberty to use the names of three Roman Gladiators, taken from Tessera samples in the Saga of Sock to create TC types to represent the three men the Venetian Gondoler was said to have beaten in one night prior to coming to London. These are the only non historical fighters that will be posted here. One other non fighter, The Islington Strongman was included becauseof his noted stage appearences. One other fighter has a "debatable" historical existence, but since I found one scholar that argued for him I included him. When I found references different names for the same fighter I created a second file for the second name. I took this liberty because becasue I felt the need to have as many fighters as possible, given the limited number of names i had found. My ratings are subjective and most of the career dates are best guesses on my part.

We have to begin, with the Father of Pugilism: James "Jemmy" Figg

James Figg "Jemmy" HW either 6 England
1714-1733 career dates beginning with the year he began working for Timothy Buck. Well known "Father of Pugilism"

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Jack Broughton
 

Next up has to be


Jack Broughton HW either 6 England
1725-1767 career dates from CBZ
Father of Boxing

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Timothy Buck
 

Timothy Buck "The Clare Market Butcher" HW boxer 2 England

Noted Prize Master mentioned by Godfrey, once employed Figg, probable Figg opponent, later appeared in Figg's Booth
1700-1730 yrs a guess at career dates

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Captain John Godfrey
 

Captain John Godfrey HW boxer 0 England
Author of A Treatise on the Useful Science of Defense, 1919-1730 guess at career dates for this amateur swordsman and pugilist

Godfrey's Treatise was another source utilized in prefaring these fighters

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The London Butcher HW boxer 2 England

1679-1682 yrs a guess. Historical, beat Albermarle's Footman in the first pugilistic match recorded in a newspaper.

He appeared at the Bear Garden, innaugural fight.

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Albermarle's Footman
 

Albermarle's Footman HW slugger 1 England
known fight with The London Butcher 1781, first fight recorded in a Newspaper

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William Finn
 

William Finn HW slugger 0 Ireland
1720-1730 rough career dates, a source lists him as an opponent of Figg

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A Butcher
 

A Butcher HW boxer 0 England
Fought a Prize in 1667 seen by Pepys, cut his opponent, a waterman, on the wrist

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A Waterman
 

A Waterman HW boxer 0 England
Lost a Prize fought at the Bear Garden in 1667 viewed by Pepys

Caroon, The Biscuitmaker
 

Caroon, The Biscuitmaker HW slugger 0 England
Died in 1726 during a set to with pugilist William James, included as a TC type

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Long Charles Rimington
 

Long Charles Rimington HW boxer 0 England
Maintained a booth at Rimington and mentioned in Pugilistica. (Sometimes called Remington)
Dates guessed to be 1719-1730

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L. C. Remington
 

L. C. Remington HW boxer 0 England
Alternate spelling for Long Charles Rimington, liberty taken to create a TC type with the name.

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Irish Gladiator Perkins
 

Irish Gladiator Perkins HW boxer 0 Ireland
1695-1725 estimated career dates, an older opponent of Figg's in a Prize

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Serjeant James Miller
 

Serjeant James Miller HW boxer 0 England
Master of the backsword mentioned by Godfrey, 1709-1745 are a guess on his dates of activity. Also authored a book on swordsmanship.

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Philip Mac-Donald
 

Philip Mac-Donald HW Slugger 0 Ireland
1720-1730 guess at career dates, given by one source as a Figg opponent

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Smithfield Andrew Johnson
 

Smithfield Andrew Johnson HW boxer 1 England
Pugilist Uncle of Samuel Johnson, ran a booth at Smithfield, known 1733 fight with Old Vinegar
estimated career dates 1710-1733

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Old Vinegar
 

Old Vinegar HW boxer 0 England
Pugilsist, ran a booth a Moorfields, lost fight to Andrew Johnson 1733. Probably began around 1720

Andrew Mac-Colley
 

Andrew Mac-Colley HW boxer 0 Ireland
1720-1735 guess of career dates
billed to appear at Figg's in 1731 vs. Oxford John Wells, whether a pugilist or Prize fighter not known

John Delforce
 

John Delforce HW boxer 0 England
1710-1733 estimated career dates
noted fighter of Prizes in the hay-day of backsword stage fighting. Expert cudgelist.
Frequently appeared at Figg's Booth, some billings as late as 1733

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Carman Dimmocks
 

Carman Dimmocks HW boxer 2 England
1738-1744 guess at career dates
1741-05 w 50 min Tom Smallwood
(as a pugilist said to be inferior to Smallwood in bottom)