Thursday, December 31, 2009
Bristol author and boxing fan Jack Allen has written a fascinating book tracing the origins of boxing right back to the days of the bare knuckle fighters. According to Jack, Bristol was at one time home to five world champions in the late 1700's and early 1800's in the days when fights went on until one of the boxers didn't get up. Huge crowds attended and vast amounts of money was wagered on the outcome - all of it against the law. yet the sport was patronised by the likes of George IV, William IV and Lord Byron. Jack Allen came into the Hatton TV studios to tell us all about this long forgotten era. His book "The Bristol Boys" is published by Redcliffe Press