Bartley Gorman V (1944-2002) was an Irish Traveller who was the undefeated Bare-knuckle boxing champion of United Kingdom and Ireland, often referred to as King of the Gypsies.[1]
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Gorman was born in Nottingham to a Welsh father and Irish mother.[1] Both his grandfather and great-grandfather were also boxers.[2]
Gorman had his first bare-knuckle fight at the age of 12.[3]
At the age of 28, by which time he was based in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, Gorman was the Bareknuckle Champion of Great Britain and Ireland, having beaten rival Jack Fletcher in a fight at a quarry. [3][4] On St. Leger Day in 1976 Gorman was ambushed by an armed mob and almost killed. He had turned up expecting to fight a challenger but was set upon by the group, who had reportedly been paid £25,000 to carry out the attack.[5]
Gorman remained unbeaten until his retirement from boxing in 1992.[6] A documentary about Gorman was made by Shane Meadows in 1995, and Gorman lived in a caravan on grounds that had featured in the documentary. Gorman was building a house in Uttoxeter but died of liver cancer before it was finished.[7] He was 57 years old.[8]
A film is to be made, co-written by Shane Meadows and Paddy Considine on the life of Gorman, entitled King of the Gypsies.[8]