Philippines, 02 Apr 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Tom Cribb: The Crown Jewel of Boxiana (1781–1848)


PhilBoxing.com




Lately, my thoughts have often wandered back to my impromptu jaunt to jolly old England in November of last year. As I sat in the storied Tom Cribb Pub, nestled near Piccadilly Circus, the name above the door seemed to echo the spirit of the man it honors. Tom Cribb—the “Black Diamond”—was more than a bare-knuckle boxing champion. His life was a shining testament to the undying will of the human spirit.

Cribb’s story began in Hanham, near Bristol, where he was born in 1781. At just 13, he ventured to London, taking up hard labor as a bell hanger and later as a coal porter—a grueling job that earned him the nickname that would define his career. But Cribb’s destiny lay far beyond these humble beginnings. In 1805, he entered the brutal world of bare-knuckle boxing, making his debut in a punishing 76-round bout against George Maddox. That same year brought his only defeat—against George Nicholls—a fleeting stumble on a path destined for greatness.

Cribb’s rise through the ranks was no accident. Under the expert tutelage of Captain Barclay, a renowned sportsman, Cribb honed his skills and fortified his stamina. In 1807, he squared off against Jem Belcher, the reigning English champion, in a battle that tested both endurance and courage. Cribb emerged victorious, and when Belcher demanded a rematch in 1809, the result was the same. These victories crowned Cribb as England’s undisputed boxing king.



Yet it was his legendary bouts with Tom Molineaux, an African-American fighter and former slave, that immortalized his name in history. Their first encounter, in 1810, was a ferocious 40-round contest steeped in drama and controversy. Molineaux’s sheer skill and power brought Cribb to the brink of defeat, but interference from the crowd and delaying tactics by Cribb’s seconds turned the tide. Their rematch in 1811 was no less dramatic, but this time, Cribb triumphed decisively, fracturing Molineaux’s jaw and securing his legacy as an undefeated champion.

For more than a decade, Tom Cribb remained unchallenged, his victories celebrated far and wide. In his honor, a silver cup was engraved with the words from Macbeth: “And damn’d be he who first cries, Hold! Enough!” Cribb transcended the sport, becoming a symbol of resilience and an emblem of British strength.



When Cribb retired in 1822, he exchanged the ring for the life of a publican. He took over the Union Arms—later renamed the Tom Cribb Pub—turning it into a haven for prizefighters, fans, and literary stars like Lord Byron. Known as “Cribb’s Parlour,” it once hosted the Pugilistic Club, with Pierce Egan chairing, the famed chronicler of boxing’s golden age, who immortalized Cribb and his peers in prose.

But even champions are not immune to life’s harsh realities. Cribb’s later years were shadowed by gambling losses that cost him his beloved pub. Relying on the kindness of friends and admirers, he lived out his final days in modesty. In 1848, Cribb passed away at his son’s home in Woolwich. His tomb, marked by a lion resting its paw on an urn, stands as a silent monument to his extraordinary life.



Tom Cribb’s legacy extends far beyond the ring. His name inspired the likes of Pierce Egan, Charles Dickens, Georgette Heyer, and Patrick O’Brian. His story has been told in plays, novels, and folklore, and the Tom Cribb Pub remains a living testament to his enduring spirit, a place where his legend continues to inspire.
Cribb was more than a champion of boxing; he was a champion of life. His journey reminds us all that, no matter the odds, the human spirit can rise, endure, and leave a mark that shines for generations to come.



Though Tom Cribb never met or knew a Filipino, his influence extended far beyond his era and geography. One of England’s greatest boxing champions unknowingly inspired the descendants of Boxiana through the Americans, who introduced the sport of boxing to the Philippines as early as 1899. In time, Filipino boxers like Eddie Duarte, Francisco Labra, Dencio Cabanela, Francisco Guilledo, and later modern-day icons like Gabriel Elorde, Luisito Espinosa, and Manny Pacquiao inherited and made the sport their own, embodying the same courage and resilience that Cribb displayed.



In life’s unending contest, we are all fighters, stepping into the ring against challenges that test our resolve.

With a pint of Spitfire— or was it Bear Island— specialty beer by Shepherd Neame in hand, I raised a toast: “Here’s to Tom Cribb—the Black Diamond—whose strength, bottom, and legacy remain eternal.”

Notes and Recommended Readings:
• Boxiana, Volume 1, page 386 by Pierce Egan
• Tom Cribb: The Life Of The Black Diamond by Jon Hurley ISBN 10: 0752447513 ISBN 13: 9780752447513 Publisher: The History Press, 2009
• The Ring, April 1948
• Photos and articles in this article are from the collection of the Philippine Boxing Historical Society and used in compliance with the United States Fair Use Doctrine


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Carlos Flowers Shines on Day One for Team USA in World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Tellez Sisters Reina and Gabriela Sign with Boxlab Promotions
    , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Arena Grand Master Mohamad Sacar sweeps 1st Vientiane Open FIDE Rated Standard Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 02 Apr 2025
  • Unbeaten junior middleweight prospect Anthony “ATV” Velazquez Ready to bust out of New England
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • BOOTS VS. STANIONIS – ‘MAKE THE DAYS COUNT’ PREMIERES NOW
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • “THE FILIPINO FLASH” NONITO DONAIRE TO MAKE FIRST VISIT TO CANASTOTA FOR 2025 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Tokyo Olympian Rashida Ellis signs long term management contract with Trifon Petrov
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Fightbook Adds Brendan Gibbons to Lead Athlete & Fan Activation Strategy
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • BOXLAB PROMOTIONS RETURNS TO ORLANDO FOR ACTION-PACKED FIGHT NIGHT ON APRIL 18
    , Tue, 01 Apr 2025
  • Takeaways From Last Weekend's Fights in Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Lope Tenorio: El Bulakeño Matón (The Bulacan Brawler)
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Luka Doncic's Shock Factor for LAL Dissipating? Dallas Mavs Getting Playoff Bid Boost From AD
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem Easily Repeats Over Shigeoka, Spoils A Huge Boxing Weekend for Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • THE INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS LIVINGSTONE BRAMBLE
    , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • IIEE GenX 3-peat, SAEP Millennial Champ in PTC WED Basketball
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 31 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem dominates Shigeoka in rematch, retains WBC World title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • AND STILL! WILLIAM "EL CAMARÓN" ZEPEDA RETAINS WBC INTERIM LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE WITH MAJORITY DECISION VICTORY AGAINST TEVIN "2X" FARMER
    , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • A Second Coat of Paint: Mikaela Mayer Defeats Sandy Ryan in Action-Packed Rematch
    , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • Cartel, 5 others share lead after Day 1 of 6th AQ Prime Standard Open Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 30 Mar 2025
  • Jerusalem, Shigeoka successfully make weight for their WBC World Title rematch
    , Sat, 29 Mar 2025
  • Rematches Rule the Day with Zepeda/Farmer & Mayer/Ryan on ESPN and DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 29 Mar 2025
  • Three Lions Promotions Official Weights from Hamilton, Canada
    , Sat, 29 Mar 2025
  • Weights from Las Vegas: Mikaela Mayer - 146 lbs., Sandy Ryan - 145.5 lbs.
    , Sat, 29 Mar 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM CANCUN: ZEPEDA - 134.2 LBS, FARMER - 135 LBS.
    , Sat, 29 Mar 2025
  • YAIR GALLARDO TO FACE DAVID STEVENS IN ACTION-PACKED LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT MAIN EVENT OF ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS’
    , Sat, 29 Mar 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.