Jem Belcher
Encyclopedia
Jem Belcher was an English
bare-knuckle boxer
and Champion of All England 1800-1805.
Born in Bristol
, Belcher beat Paddington Tom Jones
in April 1799 in the Middleweight Championship of England. He drew with champion Jack Bartholomew in a 51-round bout in 1799, and won the rematch in the following year to become champion. He lost an eye in 1803 whilst playing fives
, and evaded challenges to his title until 1805 when he lost - in eighteen rounds - to Hen Pearce
.
In 1807 Belcher returned to the Prize Ring and lost to the outstanding new talent Tom Cribb
in 31 rounds. Virtually ruined by the huge gambling losses he sustained at this fight he caused a fracas after the bout, for which he spent four weeks in prison
. He died in London
in 1811, a broken man.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
bare-knuckle boxer
Bare-knuckle boxing
Bare-knuckle boxing is the original form of boxing, closely related to ancient combat sports...
and Champion of All England 1800-1805.
Born in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, Belcher beat Paddington Tom Jones
Paddington Tom Jones
Paddington Jones was a boxer from 1785 to 1805.-Career:Jones is credited with having fought more bouts and seconded more pugilists than any person before him...
in April 1799 in the Middleweight Championship of England. He drew with champion Jack Bartholomew in a 51-round bout in 1799, and won the rematch in the following year to become champion. He lost an eye in 1803 whilst playing fives
Fives
Fives is a British sport believed to derive from the same origins as many racquet sports. In fives, a ball is propelled against the walls of a special court using gloved or bare hands as though they were a racquet.-Background:...
, and evaded challenges to his title until 1805 when he lost - in eighteen rounds - to Hen Pearce
Hen Pearce
Henry Pearce was an English bare knuckle prizefighter who fought under the London Ring Rules and was the recognised English Champion from 1804 until his retirement, due to ill health, in 1807.Pearce was known as "The Game Chicken", a nickname probably derived from his habit of signing his name...
.
In 1807 Belcher returned to the Prize Ring and lost to the outstanding new talent Tom Cribb
Tom Cribb
Tom Cribb was an English bare-knuckle boxer of the 19th century, so successful that he became world champion. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.-Life:...
in 31 rounds. Virtually ruined by the huge gambling losses he sustained at this fight he caused a fracas after the bout, for which he spent four weeks in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
. He died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1811, a broken man.