Joe Goss
Joseph Goss was an English bare knuckle boxer. After defeating Tom Allen in Boone County, Kentucky, he held the American and what many boxing historians now consider the World Heavyweight boxing championship from 7 September 1876 to 30 May 1880. Although he rarely scaled more than 160 pounds, the clever and aggressive Goss routinely fought men both bigger and heavier than himself. Early life and career Goss was born on 6 November 1837 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, East Midlands, England. His father was a shoemaker, and brought his son up in that trade. By 18, Goss was fighting exhibitions at county fairs and beginning to win a reputation as a talented hard hitting boxer. At the age of twenty, Goss began his career with a 90-minute victory over George Ayers at London's Brompton Bushes for the modest sum of £5. Goss then defeated Jack Rooke in a marathon 64 rounds taking an hour and forty-four minutes on 20 September 1859 in Leaseford, England. On 17 July 1860, Goss defeated Bodger Crutchley in 120 rounds lasting 3 hours and 20 minutes for a split of £100. He defeated Bill Ryall convincingly, first on 24 September 1861 in 37 rounds requiring 2 hours and 50 minutes for £50. In their second meeting, on 11 February 1862, Goss, with astonishing persistence, fought with one hand from a dislocated shoulder for $100, drawing with Ryall in 36 rounds, requiring 3 hours and eighteen minutes. English Middleweight champion, 1862 In an important bout on 25 November 1862 for £25 a side, Goss defeated John "Posh" Price for the Middleweight championship of England in 66 rounds, at Stonebridge. The fight had been moved once due to pressures from police. The first hour of fighting appeared fairly equal but afterwards Price appeared visibly exhausted. After one hour 40 minutes and a hard fought 66 rounds, Price went down without a blow, unable to continue, and his seconds threw in the sponge signalling an end to the bout in what would be considered a technical knockout today. Goss claimed the middleweight championship of England. Both men fought at 10 Stones, 12 pounds or roughly 69 kg (152 lbs.) catchweight, below Goss's future fighting weight and what would now be considered below middleweight range. Goss lost one of the few matches of his early career when Hall of Famer Jem Mace defeated him in 19 rounds (1 hour and 55 minutes) near London on 1 September 1863 for the exceptional purse of £500 a side. The title bout was for the middleweight championship of England. Mace won the bout, Goss being "knocked out of time", or down and unable to continue the fight. Eluding the police, the large crowd had to be moved from two previous locations to Plumstead Marshes, Southeast of London. According to the Irish Post Goss lost to future American Champion Joe Coburn in a buildup to his fight with Jem Mace, which was to take place in Piercetown, Tipperary, Ireland in 1864. Goss fought a 1