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James Figg lives in history as one of England's great athletes and as the originator of bare-knuckle fighting, largely because he departed from the custom of the times when involved in contests. Figg was an all-around athlete, a swordsman of ability and a fine wrestler, and was the pioneer in England to realize the value of a blow with fists. Figg, in battles with other men, never wasted time trying to wear them out with wrestling grips and crashing falls to the turf. He moved in as close as possible and when his rival made a grab for him Figg lashed out with his huge fists. Since the others did not try for defense, Figg's punches usually landed. He either knocked out the other man or rendered him helpless with a succession of blows.

Naturally, Figg became talked-about. Crowds turned out whenever he went into action. While all men were permitted to use their fists, Figg popularized punching and soon his quick dispatch of opponents won him great acclaim. His immediate attack with fists, without waiting until the rival was groggy from gouging, butting and falls, became known as "Figg's Fighting," which grew immensely in favor. Figg moved along to fame and to recognition as England's champion and later capitalized on it by becoming a teacher of the art of punching solidly to the jaw and body-mostly to the jaw.

Figg, born about 1696, when pugilism was gaining real momentum in England, began his career rather early and was winner of 15 successive fights going into 1719. He was acclaimed as England's best. He stood willing to fight anyone for a side bet, as was the custom of the times, but no one cared to risk money and give him battle. They figured to lose both. Figg was invincible, since he was as great at wrestling as anyone else and, additionally, knew the art of delivering punches with crushing force. Therefore, lacking opponents, Figg was forced into temporary retirement. However, his fame was such that there was created a demand for his services as a teacher and in 1719 he opened a place called "Figg's Academy for Boxing," where, for a fee, he taught the proper way to clench fists, how to punch expertly and indicated all the vulnerable spots of a foeman. The novices first were taught all the wrestling tricks and then were schooled in punching.

Figg later changed the name of his place to "Figg's Amphitheatre," which was located on Tottenham Court Road, London. His graduates opened "boxing schools" of their own and by 1728 and 1729 there were more than a dozen boxing academies in the metropolis of England.
Figg's role of teacher did not cause him to forget that he also was a "boxer." He fought whenever the chance offered. He met six foemen in 1720, one in 1721, several in 1723 and battled occasionally from then until 1730, when, undefeated and having reached the age of 34, he announced his retirement. He died of pneumonia in 1734.

Although boxing has been almost exclusively a masculine sport, it is a matter of record that in 1722, after Figg had popularized fist fighting in England, a pair of English women generated a great dislike for each other, with the result that in June, 1722, this advertisement appeared in a London paper:

"Challenge-I, Elizabeth Wilkinson, of Clerkenwell, having had some words with Hannah Hyfield, and requiring satisfaction, do invite her to meet me upon the stage and to box for three guineas ($15); each woman holding half a crown (a piece of money) in each hand, and the first woman that drops the money to lose the battle."

The fight never was put on. The women were willing-even wildly eager. They wanted to punch it out before a public audience. But the police advised the women that such an affair would violate decency as well as ethics, and they served notice that if the fight were attempted the women would be jailed. That cured both of the lust for battle in public.

Figg was the dominating authority on boxingwhile he lived. His basic rule was that the men must continue battling until there was a definite winner or loser. No rest periods were allowed. Figg's ideas prevailed until 1743, when Jack Broughton, a great fighter and student of the sport, created radical changes in answer to demands to "lessen the brutality of pugilism."

Broughton drew up a set of rules and introduced them at a bout on Aug. 10, 1743. Broughton was to act as referee that night and his original rules were intended only to govern that particular affair, as witness paragraph 3 below. In 1838 these rules were elaborated into the London Prize Ring Rules. The Broughton rules follow:

1. That a square of a yard be chalked in the middle of the stage; and every fresh set-to after a fall, or being parted from the rails, each second is to bring his man to the side of the square, and place him opposite to the other, and till they are fairly set to at the lines, it shall not be lawful for one to strike the other.
2. That, in order to prevent any disputes, the time a man lies after a fall, if the second does not bring his man to the side of the square within the space of half a minute, he shall be deemed a beaten man.
3. That in every main battle, no person whatever shall be upon the stage except the principals and their seconds; the same rule to be observed in by-battles, except that in the latter, Mr. Broughton is allowed to be upon the stage to keep decorum, and to assist gentlemen in getting to their places, provided always he does not interfere in the battle; and whoever pretends to infringe these rules to be turned immediately out of the house. Everybody is to quit the stage as soon as the champions are stripped, before set-to.
4. That no champion be deemed beaten unless he fails coming up to the line, in the limited time; or, that his own second declares him beaten. No second is to be allowed to ask his man's adversary any questions, or advise him to give out.
5. That in by-battles, the winning man to have two-thirds of the money given, shall be publicly divided upon the stage notwithstanding any private agreements to the contrary.
6. That to prevent disputes in every main battle, the principals shall, on the coming on the stage, choose from among the gentlemen present, two umpires, who shall absolutely decide all disputes that may arise about the battle; and if the two umpires cannot agree, the said umpires to choose a third, who is to determine it.
7. That no person is to hit his adversary when he is down, or seize him by the hair, the breeches, or any part below the waist; a man on his knees to be reckoned down.