James Belcher: Difference between revisions

Belcher was born at his father's house in St. James's churchyard, [[Bristol]], on 15 April 1781. His maternal grandfather was Jack Slack (d. 1778), a noted fighter, who had defeated [[Jack Broughton]] in April 1750. Although never formally apprenticed, 'Jem' Belcher became a butcher. In his youth he became known for his pugilistic- and other- feats at Lansdown fair. Belcher was a natural fighter, described as "elegant" in style, whose skills were less due to instruction than his own ability. He was considered good-humoured, finely proportioned, and well-looking. He came to London in 1798 and sparred with Bill Warr, a veteran boxer, of [[Covent Garden]], who concluded that Belcher was "a match for any man in the kingdom".<ref name="Age 31">''[[The Age]]''. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19310418&id=tjRVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GZUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7158,3564447 "More Prize Ring Personalities: 'The Napoleon of the Ring'"]. 18 April 1931, p. 8. Retrieved on 15 June 2013.</ref> On 12 April 1799, after a fight of thirty-three minutes, he beat Tom Jones of Paddington at [[Wormwood Scrubbs]] in the Middleweight Championship of England.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/jones-paddington-tom.htm|title=Cyber Boxing Zone -- "Paddington" Tom Jones|work=cyberboxingzone.com}}</ref>

 

 

On 22 December 1800, near Abershaw's gibbet on [[Wimbledon Common]], he fought Andrew Gamble, the Irish champion. Four days before the fight, Belcher said that he was attacked by four thugs in [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]], whom he proceeded to beat up without getting harmed himself.<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/brizzlebornandbred/3232581954/in/album-72157616043429682/ Jem Belcher from Bristol]</ref> It was suspected that someone sent those men so he would be unable to fight the high stakes match, but since he couldn't provide evidence the fight still went underway. Belcher defeated Gamble shockingly in only five rounds, Gamble being utterly confounded by his opponent's quickness. On 25 November 1801 he met Joe Berks of Wem, and defeated him after sixteen rounds of desperate fighting. He fought him again on 20 August 1802, and Berks retired at the end of the 14th round, by which time he could scarcely stand and was badly cut about the face. In April 1803 he severely punished John Firby, 'the young ruffian,' in a hastily arranged encounter. Next month he had to appear before [[Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough|Lord Ellenborough]] in the court of king's bench for rioting and fighting, and was defended by Erskine and Francis Const.<ref name="DNB">{{cite DNBSupp|wstitle=Belcher, James}}</ref>