Bartley Gorman

King of the Gypsies

Bartley Gorman was a traveller who was the undefeated champion at bare-knuckle boxing in the UK and Ireland. He was known, quite simpy, as the King of the Gypsies.

Boxing was in the Gorman's blood. Although Bartley's father, a religious man, didn't fight, his grandfather, Bulldog Bartley, and his great-grandfather, Boxing Bartley, were both champions. Young Bartley was only nine when he watched his uncle killed with a single punch by a showman. Bartley himself had some training and eventually fought dozens of bare-knuckle fights. On one famous occasion he was set upon by an armed mob near Doncaster Racecourse, and it took him a year to recover from his injuries.

Bartley retired in 1992, and died from liver cancer in 2002. His funeral was attended by hundreds. We hope Meadows and Considine make a film version of his life.

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