Thomas Molineaux (March 23, 1784 – August 4, 1818), sometimes spelled Molyneaux or Molyneux, was an American bare-knuckle boxer and possibly a former slave. He spent much of his career in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, where he had notable successes. He arrived in England in 1809 and started his fighting career there in 1810.

Born into enslavement on a Virginia plantation, Tom Molineaux (1784–1818) fought fellow enslaved people while plantation owners wagered on the contests. After winning one of these matches against a rival, Molineaux was granted his freedom and the sum of $500.

Dec 14, 2018 · Tom Molineaux found freedom with his fists. Regarded as America's first great prizefighter, very little is known about Molineaux’s early life. The most common account, however, says that...

Sep 9, 2019 · Centuries before Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson or even the greatest Mohammed Ali graced the boxing ring, a black slave called Tom Molineaux marvelled and entertained his masters from the farm he was...

Aug 20, 2020 · A new TG4 documentary tells of Tom Molineaux, who boxed his way to freedom from slavery before he died destitute in Ireland, writes Richard Fitzpatrick In the grassy, hilltop graveyard in Mervue, close to Galway City, lie the remains of America’s first boxing star.

Sep 16, 2019 · In 1810, with the help of Richmond, Molineaux began making a name for himself in England’s boxing world, eventually drumming up enough interest to earn a fight with England’s heavyweight champion Tom Cribb, once in 1810 and again in 1811. Molineaux lost both fights but not without controversy.

Both Richmond and Molineaux fought against the top English pugilists of the day; indeed, Molineaux fought Tom Cribb twice for the championship title, in 1810 and 1811. Soon British champions began touring the United States and fighting American opponents.

Tom Molineaux was born a slave but fought his way to freedom and ultimately a shot at the heavyweight title. He began boxing other slaves while plantation owners wagered on the bouts. Finally after defeating a slave from a rival plantation, he was given his freedom and $500.

On 4 August 1818, an African-American bare-knuckle fighter named Tom Molineaux died destitute in the band room of an army barracks in Galway town. Aged just thirty-four, it was a tragic end for a man who had fought in the first ever world title fight less than a decade earlier.

Oct 14, 2017 · "Tom Molineaux is simply a huge figure," says Patrick Myler, the boxing writer and historian. “He would really be considered the pioneer. At the time he reached his peak, England was at...