This book is an attempt to portray all the so called Champions of the English Prize Ring and many of the most prominent pugilists of the lighter weights, from the generally agreed beginning of bare knuckle prize fighting, starting with James Figg in 1719, up until its demise in England around 1870. This was due to a gradual and increasing number of fighters starting to use gloves, as recommended in the Queensbury Rules of 1867, for the fighters own safety. Those who refused to give up the old style found it increasingly difficult to obtain paid fights in England so left these shores, mostly for America where bare fist fighting was still popular.