In the early 19th century, the brutal and illegal sport of bare knuckle boxing flourished within a Hogarthian demi-world of gambling, womanising, and drinking.
This was a world where young men sought their fortune by 'throwing their hat into the ring' and the rich enjoyed gambling fortunes on a violent, no holds barred sport that, for a few decades, defined the age.
In the prize ring, anyone could achieve national fame whether they were poor, Jewish, Irish or black. But by taking on Tom Cribb, Bill Richmond would discover that there was a limit to how far an outsider could go in British sport.
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