George Godfrey received his initial boxing instructions right where he was born on March 30th 1853, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, under the tutelage of Dick Cronin. He began prize fighting at age 27 which was rather old to be starting out in the sport, even in the bare knuckle era. On top of that, Godfrey was a very light man for the heavyweight division, weighing between 165 and 176lbs throughout his entire prize fighting career. Godfrey would later move to Boston, Mass. and despite what many considered obvious disadvantages, the extremely fast and tremendously fit “Old Chocolate” soon after, would become the first ever American Coloured Heavyweight Champion!

George Godfrey had an estimated one hundred bouts under his belt as a prize fighter starting in 1880. But even with his championship title, and Godfrey publically requesting the opportunity numerous times, Old Chocolate would never be permitted to cross what was called “the color-line” and fight the World Heavyweight Champion John L. Sullivan. Godfrey ended his prize fighting career on November 11th, 1895 with a victory, and continued his extremely healthy lifestyle, allowing him to give exhibitions both in his boxing school and gymnasium in Boston, as well as in his original home of PEI! George Godfrey died on October 17th, 1901, exactly 108 years before being the first Canadian Boxer inducted into the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame.

Born in Stirling, Ontario, Canada, ice hockey player Rob Ray (nicknamed “Rayzor”) became Canada’s 1st honorary member of the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame, at its inaugural inductions on October 17, 2009 in Belfast, New York, U.S.A. Being that Ice Hockey is the only place in the world where bare knuckle fights still take place legally in sport. Having a former NHL enforcer for the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators, a guy who massed enough career minutes in the penalty box to have him ranked 6th all time in the NHL; a guy who also picked up the King Clancy Memorial Trophy which is awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice, and who has made a significant contribution to his community, inducting Rob Ray would make perfect sense!

Rob Ray attended the induction ceremony alongside local Professional Boxing Icon and former #1 ranked Heavyweight Contender, Baby Joe Mesi (36-0, 29ko’s), as well as former Heavyweight Champion of the World Leon Spinks, who defeated Muhammad Ali in only his eighth Pro Bout to become Champion of the World. In order to be an honorary inductee into the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame, a person must have brought a positive spotlight to Upstate New York where the only Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame exists, through either the use of their fists or promoting skills; as well as love the area, and love the sport of Boxing. Canadian Rob Ray definitely fits the bill!

The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame is housed in the original barns where the Legendary John L. Sullivan successfully trained for the last ever Bare Knuckle Championship of the world in 1889, in Belfast New York. The barns remained virtually untouched for over 100 years, until the church who had received the barns and the land from owner and Legendary Boxing Trainer, and American as well as World Greco Roman Wrestling Champion, William Muldoon, (who trained John L. Sullivan for the famous 75 round fight against Jake Kilrain in 1889); donated the barns and their contents to the Hall of Fame, which is located only a mere 120 steps away from the barns initial resting grounds.

As the story goes, retired undefeated wrestler, “The Iron Duke” William Muldoon, on a friendly wager, had taken on the responsibility of restoring “The Boston Strong Boy” John L. Sullivan, (who had been reduced to using crutches to walk, due to his obsession with alcohol, food, and women); back into top physical condition for what would be the first pre-fight training camp, for the last ever Bare Knuckle Heavyweight Championship Fight. For the first time ever, newspapers carried extensive pre-fight coverage of this hugely anticipated Prize Fight. This was also the first American sporting event ever to receive national coverage!

Muldoon openly admitted his toughest challenge in bringing the champ back to his former self, was keeping Sullivan away from liquor. They even had to chain Sullivan down in the barns that now host The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame, in order to dry him out! John L. Sullivan, after throwing up in the 44th round, in front of around 3,000 spectators, would go on to defeat Jack Kilrain in the 75th round, after Kilrain’s manager threw in the sponge! This would be the last time a world title bout would be fought under the London Prize Ring Rules, as the Marques of Queensberry rules from that point forward, would govern professional boxing; officially making this the last Bare Knuckle World Title Fight ever fought.

Accompanying John L. Sullivan and William Muldoon in the inaugural inductions into the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame were legendary Bare Knuckle Boxers, Jack Broughten, Bill Richmond, Tom Cribb, Tom Hyer, Paddy Ryan, Jake Kilrain, and of course Canadian George Godfrey. Also inducted was boxing writer and promoter Richard K. Fox. Honorary inductees included boxers Carmen Basilio, Leon Spinks and Joe Mesi; local boxing promoter in Belfast, New York Bill Heaney, and of course former NHL’er, Canadian Rob Ray.

The barns where the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame now reside, and their contents, were actually very well preserved, and quite a bit of the training equipment used to prepare John L. Sullivan still remains inside of this time capsule. Including the 1st known punching bag, and the world’s 1st medicine balls, which were actually invented by William Muldoon in the late 1800’s, along with numerous other pieces of equipment, artefacts and pictures, all of which were safely kept in their original form for over 100 years.

Coordinator Scott Burt who took over responsibility of the barns where John L. Sullivan trained, from the church, for the purpose of opening the Hall of Fame, in reference to these historic barns stated, “The 1st time I saw these barns, I was nine; the second time I was forty-nine. When I viewed them the 1st time, I was in awe. When I viewed them the 2nd time, I was still in awe. To have the responsibility passed on to me is a great honour. Opportunities to touch both the past and the future are few in one’s lifetime. I am fully aware of the importance of this project to both the boxing world and the town of Belfast. I hope you enjoy your trip back 120 years!”

For more information on The Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame, you can visit www.bareknuckleboxinghalloffame.com

If you wish to contact the author of this article, email John Robbins at FightNews Canada