Tom Molineaux

“Tom” Molineaux (23 March 1784 - 4 August 1818), was an African-American bare-knuckle boxer and former slave. The most detailed account of his story claims that he was born on a plantation in America and he took his surname from the landowner's name. In one account he boxed with other slaves to entertain plantation owner and was granted his freedom and $500 after winning a fight on which the son of the plantation owner had staked a $100,000 bet on Molineaux victory.