Robert Brettle (1832–1872)[1] was a successful bare-knuckle boxer[2] active in Birmingham, England, during the 1850s.[2] He was known as "The Birmingham Pet".[2]
Bob Brettle | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Brettle 18 January 1832 [1] |
| Died | 7 April 1872 (aged 40) [1] |
| Resting place | St. Peter's Church, Harborne |
| Other names | The Birmingham Pet |
| Known for | Boxing |
A silver belt, given to him by his patrons to honour his achievements, and made in Birmingham, was featured on the television programme Antiques Roadshow,[3] while in the possession of one of his descendants. It was subsequently donated to the British Boxing Board of Control and is now displayed at their headquarters.[4]
Brettle died aged 40 and is buried in the churchyard of St. Peter's Church, Harborne[2] in Birmingham.
Fights edit
- February 1854: James Malpas, for a purse of £50 in February 1854.[2]
- November 1854: Jack Jones of Portsmouth, for £100.[2]
- 1855: Defeated Roger Coyne, for £200, plus side bets.[2]
- 1855: Defeated Sam Simmonds, for £200, plus side bets.[2]
- 4 August 1857: Job Cobley, The Elastic Pot-Boy (47 rounds, 1 hour 37 minutes. £100 a side).[5]
- 20 September 1859: Tom Sayers, British champion. Brettle retired with a dislocated shoulder in the 7th round.[2][6]
References edit
- ^ a b c Robert “The Birmingham Pet” Brettle at findagrave.com
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Meet Bob Brettle, the bare-knuckle boxing landlord; back in time". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham, England: Birmingham Post & Mail Ltd. 11 March 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ Antiques Roadshow Greatest Finds: Part 2 (2006, BBC) on YouTube, starting at about the 16 min. 52 sec. mark
- ^ Antiques Roadshow's Greatest Finds (episode unknown)
- ^ Cobley, Mark. "Job Cobley - The Elastic Pot Boy". Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "Fight between Tom Sayers and Bob Brettle, for £600". Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle. 25 September 1859. p. 7. Retrieved 18 February 2019 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
External links edit
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