Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-21

brated of English champions, was the
first white title holder to defend his
honors against negro. Crib was
born in Worcestershire 1S4 years ago,
July 8. 1881. In his early battles he
was victorious over George Maddux.
Tom Blake and key Pig, all veterans.
He then fought and defeated Bill
Richmond, who was the first negro to
win pugilistic fame.
At this period Jem Belcher was
champion of England. but he had &C.
and had retired from the ring. When
Crib began to come to the front Jem
decided to return to the game. and in
1907 they were matched to do battle.
Captain Barclay, famous sportsman
and pedestrian, took Crib under his
wing and trained him for the contest.
Barclay made the pugilist walk 20
miles at a rapid gait every day. He
was very particular as to Cribs food,
giving him but two meals day These
consisted of plain joints or steaks, al
most raw, and half pint of old ale.
In the early rounds Crib was out
fought at all points by the one-eyed
warrior, but later Toms superiority
of condition became apparent, and in
the 41st round Crib was declared the
victor. In 1908 Crib fought Bob
Gregson for the championship and
$4,000. 1t was ferocious contest, and
although Crib won, he fell senseless
Immediately after landing the blow
which knocked out his opponent.
Old Jem Belcher, dissatisfied with
his showing at the first battle with
Crib, challenged the new champion
to another cambat. Crib was again
victorious, and reigned as the greatest
fighting man in England, with no
countryman to dispute his claim. A
challenger came from another quarter,
however, for Tom Molineaux, Vir.
ginia negro, had just arrived in Eng
land and, under the management Of
Bill Richmond, issued def to Tom
Crib. Molineaux had in the mean
time fought and defeated Tom Blake,
known as TON Tough, a 40-year-old
veteran 1t was in December, 1910,
that Crib faced the American black.
The crafty negro outgeneraled the
Englishman, and in the 18th round
Molineaux fairly won the fight. and
became, by rights, the heavyweight
champion of the world. He was rob-
bed of the fruits of his victory, how
ever, for when Crib recovered he was
permitted to go on. Unused to such
cold climate, the negro gradually
grew weaker. The cold rain which
was falling chilled him to the bone,
and at length the shiyering black fell
from sheer exhaustion. 1t was gener-
ally recognized, however, that the
negro was the real victor, and in the
tour he subsequently made over Eng.
land he was hailed as the greatest liv.
ing fighter. Dissipation soon robbed
him of his yigor, however, and when
Molineaux fought Crib again in 1911 |
the white man was an easy victor. For |
IL years thereafter Crib held the title |
OF champion, although he fought only
one fight in all that period, and it was
not until 1922 that he finally retired.
He was long the proprietor of al
famous sporting tavern, where his
''parlor" was noted as resort OF
sportsmen. Crib died in 1913.
After Molineaux there were no more
negro contenders for the heavyweight |
title until Peter Jackson, the Austral
ian black, challenged John L. Sulli-
van. The latter wisely drew the color
line and jackson was not given the