Owen Swift - The Story of a Truly Terrible Boxer

Just watch it eh? Then argue with me...
For those of you who insist on commenting before watching the video, firstly, have you considered hanging out on Instagram? And secondly he was a boxer, and he was terrible. A terrible human.
See, it's a play on words, a witticism, a little joke and nothing more.
Now subscribe to me, you know you want to!

[@sharp_medicine9858]

A hat thief?! Clearly a scoundrel of the lowest order.

[@BernasLL]

Considering how hat-makers (hatters) were one profession with an enormous health hazard (getting mad by chronic mercury poisoning), stealing such a costly possession does sound to me like a low scoundrel.

[@Grendelcynn]

Do love your videos, they just go to places in terms of originality, creativity and british irreverent sense of humour, other youtubers don't.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Thank you!

[@Stephen_Curtin]

I'd love to read Swift's memoirs, and see if any of these events were portrayed in a more favourable light.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Yeah, getting hold of a copy of those would be great.

[@davidemelia6296]

Mr Oz! Are you doing okay over there in merrie olde England? I hope everything's fine with you.

[@billusher2265]

A lot of boxers behave like this even today, so this isn’t surprising.

[@kaz5150619]

Brother idk if u remember but about 2 years ago u did Tom Cribb part 1 im curious where's part 2?

[@knw-seeker6836]

Good that social media wasn’t around in those days😅

[@lewisb85]

I rewatched that documentary channel 4 did about tom spring as part of their "Georgian underworld" series. it was a great doc. It offered a great overview of georgian bare knuckle boxing.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

I never saw that. I should go check it out.

[@johnstuartkeller5244]

I always thought Swift's memoirs were published under the title Gulliver's Travels ... the more you know. In truth, this is my introduction to the fellow. "Quite a character" is an unjustly moderate description of him, for sure. Nonetheless, great work on another facinating video. Also: ever consider another blow-by-blow of a cinematic fight? FIGHT TEAM ✊

[@addj7093]

Your production value is very professional 👏🏻

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Thank you.

[@deathblade7239]

Hay something I'd love to know is The most effective fighting style for a street fight situation ........ and all round readiness

[@cujotwentysix7519]

Man he sounds like a real piece of work sheesh

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Doesn't he just.

[@vincentcrowley5196]

I hadnt heard of him until now, thanks for the addition to fans knowledge . Do you know if the book he supposedly wrote about boxing is available?

[@davidemelia6296]

Wow, Owen Swift really was the real-life Raffles the Gentleman Thug from Viz magazine - minus the noble title 🤣

[@jamespresnell2248]

Love your videos

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Thank you!

[@dzonbrodi514]

Always enjoy your videos

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Thanks!

[@DreynHarry]

no buddy.... i guess this title belongs to me 😂

[@PierreSpake]

Very good to see these short stories of the prize ring presented without the usual rehashing of misinformed secondary sources. Too often so called prize ring historians have just not done any real research. Avoiding the pitfalls is tricky though.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

I've been guilty of that myself. Trying very hard to right the wrongs now.

[@BeepBoop2221]

I could give him a run for his money as "worst boxer".

[@Poohze01]

I'd no opinion on Swift one way or t'other, but I'd say your conclusion is supported by the presented facts. A nasty thug with Fancy friends. Fight Team!

[@Fred-px5xu]

I enjoyed your video lecture on Owen Swift. I agree the man was a piece of work but a great pugilist. That proves that the individual was the outcome of his environment. Once again Sir thank you for your brilliant video lecture on Swift.

[@billusher2265]

Do you have a video on what aspects of catch are superior to bjj?

[@sinfinite7516]

Can I suggest a video on Erik Paulson? He’s recently been featured on popular martial arts channels like Kevin Lee and Sensei Seth and I would like to know more about him and his connection to catch wrestling. :D

[@promiscuous675]

Thank you.

[@kaz5150619]

Uve done a video of the Bkxing champion of England. Can you do one on the WRESTLING champion of Cornwall or Scotland basically the wrestling counterpart to the Boxing one?

[@David-mz8xk]

Cn you do the venetian gondolier?

[@strongishguy683]

I have recently become fascinated by grappling techniques that appear across martial arts or styles. Since you have trained in multiple styles, do you have any interest in talking about which are cases of true multiple independent discovery and which are cases of "that works, I'm going to tax it"? To make it more fun, can a BJJ athlete develop a competition game plan, with or without the Strangle Pajamas, based solely around techniques that are found in multiple arts?

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Oh that's a very interesting subject. I wonder if I could make a BJJ instructional using only techniques that are in BJJ and also non BJJ sources at least 100 years old...

[@kevinlobos5519]

That's a criminal if I ever saw one, lol. Fight teaaaam 👊🏼.

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Yeah, and those are just the things he was caught for and made it to the papers!

[@Kroiznacher]

To answer your questions: No, yes and no

[@ruiseartalcorn]

A damn good fighter and a complete git!!! ;)

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Exactly!

[@AlphaToOmegaXG]

Sounds like a pretty good boxer based on this video. Bad person, good boxer.

[@BuJammy]

Did he go to Hereford because he "knew people" there that might influence his trial, or because the local gaol was particularly nice that time of year? Oh, and... Fight team!

[@Ozs_secret_researcher]

Actually, he went to Hertford, not Hereford. This was a typo on my part that, unfortunately, made it into the video. Hertford was where his fatal fight with Brighton Bill took place, and so that's where the trial was held.

[@jontyarnold8522]

I’d like to ask you if you could witness ANY bare knuckle fight from Figg onwards which fight would you like to see? For me I’d go for Broughton v Slack or Cribb v Molineaux I….

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Oh good question. They definitely fall into two categories. Watching for the sheer fun of it. And finding out what really happened. For the first maybe Cribb vs Belcher, or Johnson vs Perrins, for the second I think you nailed it.

[@BuJammy]

William Poole vs Anybody

[@BuJammy]

@@EnglishMartialArts William Poole vs Anybody

[@vercingetorixwulf9298]

Swift is a nice name though ......

[@exploatores]

I didn´t have a opinion, As I think this is the first time I hear about him.

[@fakename3042]

Theif? Nobody does anything with intent that way.

[@manwithnoplan5496]

Fight team

[@zachleprieur2871]

😮 definitely a great fighter but out of the ring was an awful guy. Which ruined his reputation by the sounds of it with the 20 years earlier people wouldve cared quote. Like nowadays convincing people that bj Penn can fight just based on his last fights and getting ko'd in the street

[@fletchkeilman2205]

Can't remember if I left a message before. Hope all is well. Mom says you need to do voiceover work. As usual. I hope this comment finds you and yours in good health, my friend

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Hi Fletch, I've had my traditional break and am now thinking of making more vids. Nice to hear from you, and send my love to your mum!

[@deMAXIMUUUS]

😆

[@EnglishMartialArts]

Is this Max from training who we definitely dont miss?