History of London Boxing

The Lamb and Flag, Covent Garden

This pub, the oldest in Covent Garden use to stage bare-knuckle prize fights in the 17th Century. Fights took place on the cobbled front yard and more commonly in the back room which became known as The Bucket of Blood.

The pub is set in Rose Street that dates back to 1630. Poet John Dryden was once violently attacked in what was notorious Rose Street in 1679.

The Ring, Blackfriars

The Ring public house is all that remains of a historic boxing location in South London. Just across from the pub use to stand the Blackfriars Ring boxing arena until in 1940 when it was bombed during an air raid.

Boxing photos at The Ring

The Ring arena was originally called the Surrey Chapel, built in 1783, until the strange shaped building was bought by former British Lightweight champion Dick Burge in 1910. Together with his wife Bella they staged many boxing matches including well known fighters such as Len Johnson, Jack Drummond, Alf Mancini, Jack Hood and the legendary Ted 'Kid' Lewis.

The pub is a must for any fans of old fighters as the walls are adorned with posters and pictures of the many boxers who once fought at The Ring. Until recently the pub had a working gym above and it is still common to see old fighters who still visit this tribute to what was 'London's Premier Arena'.

Tom Cribb

The Tom Cribb pub in Panton Street is named after the English boxer of the 19th century.

Tom Cribb

Born in Wick near Hanham, Gloucestershire in 1781, Tom Cribb moved to London when he was 13 years old. He became a boxer and won the British title in 1807 and in 1810 fought a black American, former slave Tom Molineaux. He won the bout after a gruelling 32 rounds to become world champion – a victory he repeated in 1811.

In 1812, aged 31, he retired from boxing and later became a publican, running the Union Arms at 26 Panton Street. The Tom Cribb pub today is located at 36 Panton Street close to Haymarket.

On July 19th 1821, George IV was crowned at Westminster Abbey and Cribb was one of the country’s 18 leading boxers chosen by the King to be ushers and pages.

Tom Cribb public house

In 1839 he retired to Woolwich in south-east London where he died in 1848, aged 67. He was buried in the churchyard of St Mary's and St Andrew's, Woolwich – where a large stone lion monument was erected in his honour.