Johnny Broome
Encyclopedia
Johnny Broome was a lightweight
bare-knuckle boxer.
Broome was a gifted pugilist known as “Young Duckro.” He was never defeated in the prize ring, and had a younger brother (Harry Broome) who became Heavyweight Champion of England
. Johnny stood 5’ 6½” and weighed between 133 and 140 pounds.
Championship
of England
when he defeated Jack Hannan in Oxfordshire, England on January 26, 1841. The bout lasted 47 rounds and 79 minutes. Broome defended his title against Bungaree
on April 27, 1842 near Newmarket, England. Broome won in 42 rounds and 57 minutes.
steeplechase at Aintree
. On board an unconsidered outsider named Eagle, he got as far as Becher's Brook
on the second circuit before falling.
On 31 May 1855 he walked into the kitchens of the Wrekin Tavern, at Bow Street
, took a carving knife and cut his own throat. He bled to death and was buried at West Norwood Cemetery
.
His younger brother, Harry Broome (1825-1865) was also a prize fighter.
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
bare-knuckle boxer.
Broome was a gifted pugilist known as “Young Duckro.” He was never defeated in the prize ring, and had a younger brother (Harry Broome) who became Heavyweight Champion of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Johnny stood 5’ 6½” and weighed between 133 and 140 pounds.
Boxing career
Broome won the LightweightLightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
Championship
Championship
Championship is a term used in sport to refer to various forms of competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion.- Title match system :...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
when he defeated Jack Hannan in Oxfordshire, England on January 26, 1841. The bout lasted 47 rounds and 79 minutes. Broome defended his title against Bungaree
Bungaree
Bungaree was an Aboriginal Australian from the Broken Bay area, who was known as an explorer, entertainer, and Aboriginal community leader He became a familiar sight in colonial Sydney, dressed in a succession of military and naval uniforms that had been given to him...
on April 27, 1842 near Newmarket, England. Broome won in 42 rounds and 57 minutes.
Horse racing
In 1848 Broome accepted an offer to compete in the Grand NationalGrand National
The Grand National is a world-famous National Hunt horse race which is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England. It is a handicap chase run over a distance of four miles and 856 yards , with horses jumping thirty fences over two circuits of Aintree's National Course...
steeplechase at Aintree
Aintree
Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside. It lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, about north of Liverpool city centre, in North West England....
. On board an unconsidered outsider named Eagle, he got as far as Becher's Brook
Becher's Brook
Becher's Brook is a fence jumped during the Grand National, a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, England. It is jumped twice during the race, as the sixth and 22nd fence, as well as on four other occasions during the year...
on the second circuit before falling.
Suicide
Towards the end, Broome's reputation was tainted with scandal, as he was associated to some dubious transactions and a card fixing fraud.On 31 May 1855 he walked into the kitchens of the Wrekin Tavern, at Bow Street
Bow Street
Bow Street is a thoroughfare in Covent Garden, Westminster, London. It features as one of the streets on the standard London Monopoly board....
, took a carving knife and cut his own throat. He bled to death and was buried at West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery
West Norwood Cemetery is a cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery.One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, and is a site of major historical, architectural and...
.
His younger brother, Harry Broome (1825-1865) was also a prize fighter.
Further reading
- West Norwood Cemetery's Sportsmen, Friends of West Norwood CemeteryWest Norwood CemeteryWest Norwood Cemetery is a cemetery in West Norwood in London, England. It was also known as the South Metropolitan Cemetery.One of the first private landscaped cemeteries in London, it is one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of London, and is a site of major historical, architectural and...
http://www.fownc.org, 1995