The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #79775   Message #3818789
Posted By: GUEST,Jo old folksinger
07-Nov-16 - 06:09 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Songs about boxing or prizefighting
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about boxing or prizefighting
I don't know if you are still looking for the lyrics but I heard it sung quite a bit in the 60s and 70s when I was in a folk group. It was sung to advertise the fight between Tom Cribb and Tom Molinineaux at Thistleton Gap, here in Rutland. It was a return fight and took place on 28th September 1811. Grubb knocked out Molineaux in the eleventh round. I know the first verse:
To Rutlandshire, to Rutlandshire,
All roads in England lead,
For Cribb is fighting Molineaux,
And there is sport indeed.

As it was illegle the match was publicised by singing this song in pubs etc.
Molineaux was a former African American slave.