A bareknuckle fighter know as
"The Birmingham Pet"
Fight details:
1854 Feb 14: Draw v. James Malpass
1854 Nov 21: Lost v. Jack Jones
1855 Nov 20: Won v. Roger Coyne
1856 Jun 3: Won v. Sam Simmonds
1857 Aug 4: Won v. Job Cobley
1858 Jan 25: Won v. Bob Travers
1858 Feb 14: Won v. Jem Mace *
1859 Sep 20: Lost v. Tom Sayers **
1860 Sep 19: Lost v. Jem Mace *
(Fight details supplied by Eddie Reed).
* Jem Mace was Bareknuckle Champion of England at the time of both fights with Bob Brettle.
** Tom Sayers was British Champion at the time. Some reports state that this fight took place in 1860.
Bob Brettle came to Birmingham in 1854 to fight James Malpass, and liked the City so much he stayed. His various fights were for purses of between £50 and £200, the equivalent of £23,000 in 2016.
His fight with Job Cobley was very bloody and the 47 rounds lasted 1hr 37mins. Another of his fights was against the formidable Tom Sayers the British Champion. Although a mismatch Brettle started well and knocked Sayers down in the second round. However Sayers recovered and struck a heavy blow to Brettle's shoulder, dislocating it in the process. Brettle was in extreme pain and could not continue.
His last fight was a re-match against Jem Mace. Due to police intervention the fight was moved from Oxfordshire to Essex. Days later he announced his retirement, and with the money made from boxing became the licensee of The White Lion, Digbeth. He was the last landlord of The White Lion which was demolished in 1869 to enable road widening.
A silver belt presented to him by his patrons was featured on The Antiques Road Show whilst in the possession of one of his descendants. It was later donated to The British Boxing Board of Control, and is displayed at it's headquarters.
"The Birmingham Pet"
Fight details:
1854 Feb 14: Draw v. James Malpass
1854 Nov 21: Lost v. Jack Jones
1855 Nov 20: Won v. Roger Coyne
1856 Jun 3: Won v. Sam Simmonds
1857 Aug 4: Won v. Job Cobley
1858 Jan 25: Won v. Bob Travers
1858 Feb 14: Won v. Jem Mace *
1859 Sep 20: Lost v. Tom Sayers **
1860 Sep 19: Lost v. Jem Mace *
(Fight details supplied by Eddie Reed).
* Jem Mace was Bareknuckle Champion of England at the time of both fights with Bob Brettle.
** Tom Sayers was British Champion at the time. Some reports state that this fight took place in 1860.
Bob Brettle came to Birmingham in 1854 to fight James Malpass, and liked the City so much he stayed. His various fights were for purses of between £50 and £200, the equivalent of £23,000 in 2016.
His fight with Job Cobley was very bloody and the 47 rounds lasted 1hr 37mins. Another of his fights was against the formidable Tom Sayers the British Champion. Although a mismatch Brettle started well and knocked Sayers down in the second round. However Sayers recovered and struck a heavy blow to Brettle's shoulder, dislocating it in the process. Brettle was in extreme pain and could not continue.
His last fight was a re-match against Jem Mace. Due to police intervention the fight was moved from Oxfordshire to Essex. Days later he announced his retirement, and with the money made from boxing became the licensee of The White Lion, Digbeth. He was the last landlord of The White Lion which was demolished in 1869 to enable road widening.
A silver belt presented to him by his patrons was featured on The Antiques Road Show whilst in the possession of one of his descendants. It was later donated to The British Boxing Board of Control, and is displayed at it's headquarters.
A bareknuckle fighter know as
"The Birmingham Pet"
Fight details:
1854 Feb 14: Draw v. James Malpass
1854 Nov 21: Lost v. Jack Jones
1855 Nov 20: Won v. Roger Coyne
1856 Jun 3: Won v. Sam Simmonds
1857 Aug 4: Won v. Job Cobley
1858 Jan 25: Won v. Bob Travers
1858 Feb 14: Won v. Jem Mace *
1859 Sep 20: Lost v. Tom Sayers **
1860 Sep 19: Lost v. Jem Mace *
(Fight details supplied by Eddie Reed).
* Jem Mace was Bareknuckle Champion of England at the time of both fights with Bob Brettle.
** Tom Sayers was British Champion at the time. Some reports state that this fight took place in 1860.
Bob Brettle came to Birmingham in 1854 to fight James Malpass, and liked the City so much he stayed. His various fights were for purses of between £50 and £200, the equivalent of £23,000 in 2016.
His fight with Job Cobley was very bloody and the 47 rounds lasted 1hr 37mins. Another of his fights was against the formidable Tom Sayers the British Champion. Although a mismatch Brettle started well and knocked Sayers down in the second round. However Sayers recovered and struck a heavy blow to Brettle's shoulder, dislocating it in the process. Brettle was in extreme pain and could not continue.
His last fight was a re-match against Jem Mace. Due to police intervention the fight was moved from Oxfordshire to Essex. Days later he announced his retirement, and with the money made from boxing became the licensee of The White Lion, Digbeth. He was the last landlord of The White Lion which was demolished in 1869 to enable road widening.
A silver belt presented to him by his patrons was featured on The Antiques Road Show whilst in the possession of one of his descendants. It was later donated to The British Boxing Board of Control, and is displayed at it's headquarters.
"The Birmingham Pet"
Fight details:
1854 Feb 14: Draw v. James Malpass
1854 Nov 21: Lost v. Jack Jones
1855 Nov 20: Won v. Roger Coyne
1856 Jun 3: Won v. Sam Simmonds
1857 Aug 4: Won v. Job Cobley
1858 Jan 25: Won v. Bob Travers
1858 Feb 14: Won v. Jem Mace *
1859 Sep 20: Lost v. Tom Sayers **
1860 Sep 19: Lost v. Jem Mace *
(Fight details supplied by Eddie Reed).
* Jem Mace was Bareknuckle Champion of England at the time of both fights with Bob Brettle.
** Tom Sayers was British Champion at the time. Some reports state that this fight took place in 1860.
Bob Brettle came to Birmingham in 1854 to fight James Malpass, and liked the City so much he stayed. His various fights were for purses of between £50 and £200, the equivalent of £23,000 in 2016.
His fight with Job Cobley was very bloody and the 47 rounds lasted 1hr 37mins. Another of his fights was against the formidable Tom Sayers the British Champion. Although a mismatch Brettle started well and knocked Sayers down in the second round. However Sayers recovered and struck a heavy blow to Brettle's shoulder, dislocating it in the process. Brettle was in extreme pain and could not continue.
His last fight was a re-match against Jem Mace. Due to police intervention the fight was moved from Oxfordshire to Essex. Days later he announced his retirement, and with the money made from boxing became the licensee of The White Lion, Digbeth. He was the last landlord of The White Lion which was demolished in 1869 to enable road widening.
A silver belt presented to him by his patrons was featured on The Antiques Road Show whilst in the possession of one of his descendants. It was later donated to The British Boxing Board of Control, and is displayed at it's headquarters.
Inscription
(Taken from a BMSGH survey 1985)
Affectionate remembrance of MARY ANN beloved wife of ROBERT BRETTLE died July 2nd 1862 aged 33 years.
Also ROBERT BRETTLE late of Birmingham died April 7th 1872 aged 42 years.
Also memory of MARY ANN beloved wife of WILLIAM EDWARD SHAW daughter of ROBERT & MARY BRETTLE died at Stoke-on-Trent July 4th 1883 aged 29 years.
Also JOSEPH BRETTLE died Dec 22nd 1891 aged 29 years.
Family Members
Children
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