On the Cobbles: The Life of a Bare-Knuckle Gypsy Warrior

About this book

This is the story of a gypsy man Jimmy Stockin born into a world where fighting is first nature. While football may be the chosen sport for most Britisn males bare-knuckle fighting is a passion among gypsies both as participants and spectators. Jimmy was born into a fighting family. His father and grandfather before him both "trod the cobbles " and young Jimmy was being put up against other boys on gypsy camps from the age of five. He took on bare-knuckle challenges from wherever they came and before long Jimmy was widely recognized as the champion of the bare-knuckle fighters. On the Cobbles is a rare insight into a community under threat a community that treasures tradition and a man who had little choice in becoming a fighter but was nevertheless determined to be the best.