Edwin Bibby

Edwin Bibby
Edwin Bibby in 1884.
Ring name(s)	Edwin Bibby
Billed height	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Billed weight	155 lb (70 kg)
Born	November 15, 1848 Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Died	1905 (aged 56–57) Fall River, Massachusetts, United States
Debut	1872
Retired	1887

Edwin Bibby (1848–1905) was an English wrestling champion during the 1870s and 1880s.^[1] He was a popular catch-as-catch-can style wrestler in his generation. He became the first American Heavyweight Champion in 1881 with a victory over Duncan C. Ross. During his career his fans also called him Ned and Eddie.

Early life in England

Bibby was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, United Kingdom in 1848. He married Mary Ann Connelly (age 16) in 1867 and had 13 children, only three of whom survived. He began working as a coal miner in 1871.

Bibby began his wrestling career in 1872 and quickly became a top wrestler. He performed for Queen Victoria in Prince Albert's Court in London.

Life in America

In 1879 he immigrated to America and later sent for his family. He lived in New York and later Rhode Island, and became a naturalized citizen in 1900.

On January 19, 1881, Bibby became the first American Heavyweight Champion with his victory over Duncan C. Ross. He lost that title the next year, on August 7, 1882, to Joe Acton in New York City.

Bibby's final wrestling match was against Sorakichi Matsuda, whom he defeated on October 28, 1887, in Buffalo, New York. In 1905, Bibby died from rheumatism. He is buried in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Bibby's championship silver belt can be found at a Lancashire museum.

Notable opponents

• Duncan C. Ross: Bibby became the first American Heavyweight Champion on January 19, 1881.
• Clarence Whistler: Drew to Clarence Whistler twice, November 19, 1880, and December 21, 1880. He lost to Whistler on June 8, 1883.
• William Muldoon: Lost to Muldoon 2–0 on March 2, 1881.
• Joe Acton: Lost to Acton in 38 minutes on August 7, 1882.
• Carl Abs: Lost to Carl Abs in Germany on April 30, 1885.
• Sorakichi Matsuda: Defeated Sorakichi in his final fight, October 28, 1887.

References