Making a Sport of Fists: The Battles, Decline and Death of Tom Johnson, the Champion of England (1783 -1791). By Ray Esten
Abstract This work looks at the life of prize fighter Tom Johnson, the champion of England. His battles, his decline, and place of death. In essence unlocking a window into eighteen century life in Britain, and Ireland. It contemplates Johnson’s legacy, as one of the foremost of the scientific bareknuckle boxers, and it concludes with ways in which this has impacted on the modern sport of boxing. Early Life We know very little about the early life of Thomas Johnson. He was said to have been born Thomas Jackling in either Yorkshire or Derby. The Derby Mercury, however, generally recorded Johnson as being a local man. While the later publication Famous Fights argued that he liked to finish his personal letters with his signature followed by the words ‘of Derby’. Besides, the surname of Jackling is said to be common in Derby, but not in Yorkshire. His date of birth is also disputed, and is generally given as either 1750 or 1760. Tom Johnson from old cigare...