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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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