Historical Events

Fisticuffs on the Village Green!

On Wednesday September 15th 1819 a boxing match took place on Tasburgh Common. A reported crowd of between 8,000 to 10,000 watched the event.  This was a prize fight in the bare-knuckle golden era of boxing.  

The fighters were Israel Belasco, sometimes called John Belasco, and Christopher Barlee. Belasco came from a Jewish London family and was one of ten children (seven brothers and three sisters). Four of the brothers were involved in boxing, the most well known being Abraham, sometimes known as Aby. Israel was born in 1800 and his brother Abraham was two years older. Barlee was known as the 'Bergh Apton Groom' but no information was found regarding his birth date, early life etc.

The bare-knuckled era was fought under 'Broughton's Rules.' Established in 1743 by Jack Broughton the rules stated that wrestling moves above the waist were allowed but a fighter could not hit an opponent once he was down. In fact knockdowns marked the division of rounds as the downed fighter had 30 seconds to return to the centre or he would lose. If the fighter, with the help of his handlers, made it to the centre the fight resumed in what was considered a new round. In this way fights were recorded according to the number of rounds and the time.

Where was Tasburgh Common? It is documented that people sat on a hill overlooking the fight area.It is believed that the land referred to is probably between the Low Road (Lower Tasburgh) and the Heritage Field. Maybe somewhere near where the allotments are today.

This also appeared to be a sport for the ladies as hundreds of women attended, "some of very dashing and many more of respectable appearance to be spectatresses of bloody noses and cross buttocks" recalled one correspondent, adding a bit too much detail. N.B. cross buttocks is a throw in which a wrestler or boxer pulls his opponent over his hip.

How did the crowd get to Tasburgh? This was before the age of the train and the crowd would have had to come by coach (horse drawn of course), by walking, by horse and cart and maybe by horse alone.

This was not the biggest crowd seen at a local boxing event. In an age lacking mass spectator sports, before the rise of ball games that obsess us today, boxing rivalled horse racing for popular appeal. In this golden age a crowd of 20,000 fans watched a bout in July 1820 at North Walsham between Ned Painter and a chap from London called Oliver. Painter was a local man and won the fight. The writer George Borrow later immortalised the 1820 bout in his book 'Lavengro'.

There are records of bouts also taking place at Wickhampton, Limpenhoe, St Olaves, Cley, Bungay Common, Kirby Park, St Faiths, Near Thorpe Asylum and Mousehold Heath to name just a few.

But what of the fighters on Tasburgh Common?

Barlee fought William Cox in 1818 in front of a crowd of 5,000 at Kirby Park. Cox won in 75 rounds. Later on Barlee got his revenge and downed Cox in the 80th round. At Testerton Park near Fakenham, Barlee beat a Norwich butcher named Gales in front of a 5,000 crowd.

Belasco's first recorded fight was in 1817 at the age of 17 but he lost this one. This came only 3 years after the founding of the Pugilistic Society in London (the first organized boxing association). The Tasburgh bout may have been only his second recorded fight but in 1821 he defended his family's honour when he beat Fred Saunders. Saunders had defeated Israel's brother Abraham on 2 occasions. Israel's last recorded fight was in 1823.

So what happened at Tasburgh? The fight went 41 rounds and lasted about 45 minutes. The winner was Israel Belasco. The prize was believed to be £50.00. Abraham Belasco was one of Israel's handler's for this fight.

In 1867 the Marquis of Queensberry rules came into force and put an end to the rough and tumble days of bare-knuckle prize fighting.

Research by Malcolm Graver Tasburgh History Group. August 2019

Research footnote:  There is some discussion about the location of this fight as the area believed to have been the village green doesn't seem large enough to hold the large crowd reported as attending.  Other areas around the village might have been more likely or perhaps the person reporting the event added a little embellishment!  


Page last updated: 4 Sep 2019 by AW
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