Watch: Legendary boxer The Tipton Slasher honoured in latest heritage calendar

William Perry is a bona fide Black Country legend, though he is perhaps better known by the moniker ‘The Tipton Slasher’.

He was a legendary 19th-century bare-knuckle heavyweight boxer who claimed the first English heavyweight championship and was known for his prowess despite accounts of the time noting his “crooked leg”.

While it has been about 146 years since he died, the legend of the Slasher lives on.

Over the weekend, the second edition of a photo calendar dedicated to William Perry was launched by the Tipton Town Libraries Local History Group, starring a knitted version William Perry.

The proceeds for the first calendar went towards restoring William Perry’s grave at St. John’s the Evangelist Church in Kates Hill, Dudley.

• Read more: Black Country fighter the Tipton Slasher gets his own calendar - in adorable knitted form

Organiser Robert Hazel was joined by historian Keith Hodgkin at the launch of the 2027 edition alongside Rachel Hodges from A & A Walters Ltd Funeral Directors, and Deb Brownlee from St John’s Church, Kates Hill where William Perry is buried.

Robert Hazel said: “It’s our second one [calendar] and this year’s he’s gone further afield.

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“He’s gone outside, he’s gone to Lichfield, he’s gone to a couple of National Trust. He’s gone all over the Black Country boundary this time.”

Keith Hodgkin said: “[Perry was] bornin Tipton in 1819, and he became well known for his boxing prowess.

“He went down to London and became very famous amongst the great and the good and the aristocracy. He became a national celebrity.

“He became champion of England in 1850, and retained the title until 1857.”