Raynor HCA 2013-07
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/18/2013
Scarce engraving, 3” x 4,” printed one side only, “Richmond,” from a tipped in image printed in the book “Boxiana; or Sketches of Ancient and Modern Pugilism,” 1813. There is minor offset from facing page, but a strong crisp rare image. Presented in cut matte ready for a frame. Bill Richmond (1763-1829), an African 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 the American Revolutionary War, who took him to England in 1777. On September 22, 1776, Richmond was the hangman who executed Nathan Hale. Richmond was sent to school in Yorkshire and apprenticed to a cabinet maker in York. However, he made his career as a boxer, narrowly losing to later British and world champion Tom Cribb. After his retirement from boxing, he bought the Horse and Dolphin pub in Leicester Square and set up a boxing academy. He had excellent footwork and quick hands, which enabled him to avoid the big punches and outwork bigger fighters (the bob and weave technique). This was demonstrated in his fight with Tom Cribb, who was unable to land a punch in the early rounds. However, 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.
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