Jem Belcher

Portrait of Jem Belcher, circa 1800

Jem Belcher (15 April 1781 – 30 July 1811) was an English bare-knuckle boxer and Champion of All England 1800-1805.

Born in Bristol, Belcher beat Paddington Tom Jones in April 1799 in the Middleweight Championship of England. He drew with champion Jack Bartholomew in a 51-round bout in 1799, and won the rematch in the following year to become champion. He lost an eye in 1803 whilst playing fives, and evaded challenges to his title until 1805 when he lost - in eighteen rounds - to Hen Pearce.

In 1807 Belcher returned to the Prize Ring and lost to the outstanding new talent Tom Cribb in 31 rounds. Virtually ruined by the huge gambling losses he sustained at this fight he caused a fracas after the bout, for which he spent four weeks in prison. He died in London in 1811, a broken man.

References in popular culture

Belcher features as a character in Rodney Stone, a Gothic mystery and boxing novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

See also

• List of bare-knuckle boxers

References

• Pierce Egan. Boxiana, or, Sketches of ancient and modern pugilism; from the days of the renowned Broughton and Slack, to the heroes of the present milling æra! (1812)
• William Oxberry, Pancratia, or a History of Pugilism (1812)

External links

• Fighters of the West Country
• Jem Belcher at The International Boxing Hall of Fame
• an oil painting portrait of Jem Belcher by an unknown artist at the British National Portrait Gallery
• Box Rec website data