BKN Uk BARE KNUCKLE
JAMES FIGG
In the bustling streets of early 18th-century London, where taverns roared with drunken laughter and duels were settled with fists or steel, a man rose to legendary status—James Figg, the first recognized bare-knuckle boxing champion of England.
Born in 1684 in Thame, Oxfordshire, Figg was not just another common brawler. He was a natural fighter, known for his strength, agility, and unshakable will. As a young man, he honed his skills in tavern scraps and street fights, where fists decided honor. His reputation as a formidable pugilist spread quickly, drawing the attention of noblemen and fight promoters eager to witness the spectacle of unarmed combat.
The Rise of a Champion
At a time when combat sports were a blend of raw brutality and strategic finesse, Figg trained in multiple disciplines, including cudgel fighting and swordplay. But it was with his bare fists that he truly excelled. Unlike modern boxing, these fights had no padded gloves, rounds lasted until one fighter could no longer continue, and the ring was often a dirt clearing in the middle of a cheering, gambling crowd.
In 1719, after defeating the most feared fighters of his time, James Figg was crowned the first bare-knuckle boxing champion of England. He held this title for over a decade, taking on all challengers and proving his dominance in a sport with no rules but survival.
The Birth of Organized Boxing
Figg was not just a fighter—he was a showman and an innovator. Seeing the growing interest in the sport, he established Figg’s Academy, the first known boxing school in England, located on Oxford Road in London. Here, he trained the next generation of pugilists, teaching them footwork, defensive techniques, and powerful striking—skills that would shape the evolution of boxing.
One of his most famous students was Jack Broughton, who would later create the first official rules of boxing, adding structure to the sport that Figg had popularized.
The Legendary Rivalry
No great champion’s story is complete without a rival. Figg’s most famous adversary was Ned Sutton, another celebrated fighter of the era. Their battles became the talk of London, drawing crowds of nobles and commoners alike. In one of their most famous encounters, Figg was knocked down early but rose to his feet and fought back with unmatched ferocity, eventually claiming victory.
The Final Rounds
After years of ruling the bare-knuckle world, James Figg retired undefeated, his legacy cemented in the annals of history. He passed away in 1734, but his influence lived on. The fighting techniques he developed, the academy he founded, and the respect he brought to the sport laid the foundation for modern boxing.
Today, Figg is remembered as the father of boxing, the man who took raw street fighting and transformed it into a spectacle, a sport, and a legacy. Without him, the history of combat sports might have been very different.
