CRIBB, TOM

born July 8, 1781, Hanham, Gloucestershire, Eng. died May 11, 1848, Woolwich, London champion English bareknuckle boxer, one of the most popular and respected personages in the English prize ring. A former coal porter and sailor, Cribb began his boxing career in 1805. Although not reckoned as a world titleholder, he defeated two outstanding fighters of North American birth, both former black slaves: Bill Richmond, in 1805, and Tom Molineaux, in 1810 and again in 1811, the second contest being an especially savage battle. Cribb also scored two victories over Jem Belcher, a former London Prize Ring champion. He retired after the second Molineaux fight.