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Author Topic: "Bare Knuckle" fighters  (Read 2237 times)

Offline cathyturner17

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"Bare Knuckle" fighters
« on: Saturday 05 November 11 10:48 GMT (UK) »
Does anyone know anything of Bare Knuckle fighters in Australia.

I am seeking information on "Brigga Brown", most likely in New South Wales/Victoria.

Note: split from this topic on ANTRIM (Ireland) board-
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,181232.0.html

Offline Neil Todd

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Re: "Bare Knuckle" fighters
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 05 November 11 22:01 GMT (UK) »
Hi Cathy,
What years are you talking about? Bare knuckle fights were never a condoned sport in Australia and in fact were outlawed by most State Governments. In our very early days they were promoted by the wealthy for a winner takes all purse. Many received life threatening injuries and never fought again. :P There were several reasonably famous entrepreneurs of this. ;)

It sort of resurrected itself during the depression years although illegal and was, when discovered closed down by the Police, although even some of them participated. :o

Neil
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Offline Pastmagic

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Re: "Bare Knuckle" fighters
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 05 November 11 22:15 GMT (UK) »
try Google books - there are quite a few about it. For example:

Peter Jackson: A Biography of the Australian Heavyweight Champion, 1860-1901 By Bob Petersen
Has info on bare-knuckle fighting in AUS.

Search I used was "bare-knuckle" Australia

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Offline Pastmagic

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Re: "Bare Knuckle" fighters
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 05 November 11 22:18 GMT (UK) »
Discover Australia: our highways & byways
   
books.google.ie
Robert Wilson, Robert Wilson - 1982 - 487 pages - Snippet view - so that's all you can see. Wonder if the name has some connection with this place...
A restored 1847 magazine, the oldest mining building in Australia, is in good repair. Burra grew up around pretty Market Square, scene of many wrestling and bare-knuckle matches. These were held in front of the Burra Hotel, ..

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Offline cathyturner17

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Re: "Bare Knuckle" fighters
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 06 November 11 09:32 GMT (UK) »
As the Brown family I am researching lived in the Daylesford area and surrounds (Victoria) I am sure that is where I should be looking.

My man was born in about 1847, so I am searching from about 1865 through until about 1884, when he jumped ship and came to New Zealand.  (Thomas Henry Brown)  Not sure of exactly when he came over, but it was between 1882 and 1884

I am not sure if he is Brigga Brown or that was a name one of his sons went by, but I believe that several of the Brown men may have been bare knuckle fighters.  If Brigga Brown was one of Thomas' sons, then the time frame would be later.

Thomas was a Sawyer in Victoria but his occupation after arrival in New Zealand followed a completely different path.

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