Crib uncorking blackstrap
[Tom Cribb beats Tom Molineux]
Hand-coloured etching, by William Elmes, 1811
The British Museum

The fight between Tom Cribb and Tom Molineux took place on the 18th of December, in Copthall Common, England. Tom Cribb, an Englishman, was a renowned bare-knuckle boxer and the reigning champion at the time. Tom Molineux, an African American, was a challenger seeking to dethrone Cribb and become the champion himself. The match was a brutal and closely contested battle, lasting for 39 rounds. In the end, Cribb emerged victorious when Molineux's second threw in the towel, conceding defeat on behalf of his fighter. The outcome of the fight was controversial, with allegations of foul play and biased refereeing, but Cribb retained his title.