- Bill Richmond
Bill Richmond (1763–
December 28 1829 ) was anAfrican American boxer, born a slave in Cuckold's Town (now Richmondtown),Staten Island, New York . His nickname was 'The Black Terror'.Richmond was the servant of Lord Percy, the
Duke of Northumberland , during theAmerican Revolutionary War , who took him toEngland in 1777. OnSeptember 26 1776 , Richmond was the hangman who executedNathan Hale . [cite web |url=http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/integrate/CHRON1.html |title=A CHRONOLOGY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MILITARY SERVICE |accessdate=2007-02-09 |work=Integration of the Armed Forces |publisher=Redstone Arsenal Historical Information] Later, Richmond was sent to school inYorkshire and apprenticed to a cabinet maker inYork . However, he made his career as a boxer, narrowly losing to later British and world championTom Cribb . After his retirement from boxing, he bought the Horse and Dolphin pub inLeicester Square and set up a boxing academy.Richmond received no boxing tutoring and was entirely self-taught. By today's standards, Richmond would have been a welterweight and yet he often fought men who weighed 4 or 5 stone heavier then himself. Richmond had excellent footwork and quick hands which meant he was often able to avoid the big punches and outwork bigger fighters. This was demonstrated in his fight with Tom Cribb, who was unable to land a punch in the early rounds. Though Cribb's superior weight and power eventually caught up with Richmond who lost in the 60th round.
He was also a friend and coach of
Tom Molineaux , another freed slave who took up boxing in England and fought Cribb twice for the title of world champion.He died at his home in London in 1829.
ee also
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List of bare-knuckle boxers References
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