Bare facts on Slasher in new book

The first book on the Tipton slasher for 30 years has been produced in Sandwell.

West Bromwich-based author Robert Davies, 54, has for his latest literary effort penned a 48-page book about the bare-fisted fighter and his work on the canals in the region.

It is called The Tipton Slasher – Champion Bare Knuckle Boxer and his life on the Black Country Canals.

The author said: "My other books have been about Black Country canals and I went into the book shop in Wednesbury and the proprietor Geoff Lambert said there had been nothing about the Tipton slasher for some years and why don't I have a look at one.

"The last one came out 30 years ago and was done by the Black Country Society and can now go on Ebay for anything between £30 and £40 as it is quite rare."

He added: "The Tipton Slasher worked on the canals when he was a boy and returned to them after he lost his last fight."

The Tipton Slasher, aka William Perry, was born in 1819, the son of a "boatee" from Tipton.

"He was feared as a hard and relentless bare-fisted fighter and challenged all the best fighters in England to take him on.

"In 1851 he was named the champion of all England and retired to keep the Champion of England beer house in West Bromwich. He gained the nickname of the Tipton Slasher because he fought with round right-arm blows in a slashing motion.

To help publicise the book Mr Davies is holding a book launch at Tipton Library, off Owen Street, which recently ran a poetry competition about the slasher, on November 17.

This is the third book Mr Davies has published. Other titles include Boats, Smoke, Steam and Folk which was illustrated by his wife Jane, and Midland Canal Carriers. His new release costs £7.95 from the Abacus Book Shop, Lower High Street, Wednesbury.