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    • James Figg

    United Kingdom
    b. 1695~, ThameBorn 1695~, Thame
    d. 1734-12-08Died 1734-12-08
    id_cardfamily_historyconversion_path

    Also known as

    James Fig

    Description

    English prizefighter and teacher of boxing, backsword, quarterstaff and cudgel, from Thame. In 1719 he opened an amphitheatre and fighting school in London; he is counted as the first champion of England, 1719–1730. His pupils included Jack Broughton, George Taylor and Thomas Sibblis.

    Teachers (1)

    • person
      Timothy Buck
      sports_martial_artsEnglish swordsmanship Probable
      Probable
      Single source.
      The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      1 source expand_more
      fact_check
      Single source.
      “Little is certain about his early life before 1714, by which time he was a student of the defence instructor Timothy Buck of Clare Market.”
      — James Figg - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

    Students (3)

    • person
      Thomas Sibblis
      sports_martial_artsBoxing Probable
      Probable
      Single source.
      The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
      location_onFigg's Amphitheatre badge
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      1 source expand_more
      fact_check
      Single source.
      “His students included early professional prizefighters such as William Flanders, William Gill, and Thomas Sibblis, as well as men of the gentry and nobility.”
      — James Figg - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info
    • person
      Jack Broughton
      sports_martial_artsBoxing Probable
      Probable
      Single source.
      The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      1 source expand_more
      fact_check
      Single source.
      “In 1738, a former pupil of Figg, Jack Broughton (ca. 1703–1789), became champion.”
      — Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation info
    • person
      George Taylor
      sports_martial_artsBoxing Probable
      Probable
      Wikipedia only.
      The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
      (1719)
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      2 sources expand_more
      fact_check
      Wikipedia only.
      “His mentor was James Figg, whose boxing booth Taylor had fought in since 1719.”
      — George Taylor (boxer) - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info
      “His former student George Taylor took over Figg's business after his death.”
      — James Figg - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

    Honours (1)

    • receipt_longChampion of England Confirmed
      Confirmed
      Independent sources state it.
      The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
      Title (1719)
      fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
      Frederico Muñoz
      Researcher, Martialis
      2 sources expand_more
      fact_check
      Independent sources state it.
      “Pugilism’s first popular champion was James Figg (ca. 1695–1734). Figg, from Thame in Oxfordshire, was considered champion of England from 1719 to his retirement in 1730.”
      — Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation info
      “He claimed to have won more than 200 matches during his career, and was posthumously considered the first boxing champion.”
      — James Figg - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

    Sources

    “Moreover, Figg taught his pupils the use not only of the fist but also of the sword, broadsword, and cudgel.”
    — Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R.. (2010). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation info
    James Figg - Wikipedia (English). Wikipedia (English)link history info

    Identifiers

    https://martial.is/entity/01M5JPY6FNBQZ36WZ4QDD1ZST8
    Wikidata

    Cite and reuse

    CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
    Plain text
    Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). James Figg. In Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01M5JPY6FNBQZ36WZ4QDD1ZST8 - CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
    BibTeX
    @incollection{martialis_01M5JPY6FNBQZ36WZ4QDD1ZST8, author = {Muñoz, Frederico}, title = {James Figg}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url = {https://martial.is/entity/01M5JPY6FNBQZ36WZ4QDD1ZST8}, urldate = {ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
    data_object JSON-LDdata_object Turtle

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