The Battle Between Cribb and Molineaux, September 28, 1811

The Battle Between Cribb and Molineaux, September 28, 1811

George Cruikshank

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This print represents the start of a famous boxing match between the English champion Thomas Cribb, and his African-American challenger Tom Molineaux, on September 28, 1811 at Thistleton Gap in Rutland. Molineaux had crossed the Atlantic to pursue a boxing career and may formerly have been enslaved. The two men had fought first on December 3, 1810 at Shenington Hollow, Oxfordshire, with Molineaux defeated after 35 rounds in a disputed decision. Their return match, shown here, attracted at least 15,000 spectators including many members of the nobility. Cribb's second was John Gully and his bottle-holder Joe Ward. Molineaux's second was Bill Richmond (also Black and formerly enslaved), and Bill Gibbons his bottleholder. The man holding the stopwatch may be the referee John Jackson. Molineaux hit with great power until Cribb broke his jaw in the 9th round, then knocked him out in the 11th (see 59.533.1445 and 59.533.1446 for other prints of this subject).

Drawings and Prints

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Battle Between Cribb and Molineaux, September 28, 1811The Battle Between Cribb and Molineaux, September 28, 1811The Battle Between Cribb and Molineaux, September 28, 1811The Battle Between Cribb and Molineaux, September 28, 1811The Battle Between Cribb and Molineaux, September 28, 1811

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