Edwin Bibby

[2] Bibby was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, United Kingdom on 15 November 1848.

On 19 January 1881, Bibby became the first American Heavyweight Champion with his victory over Duncan C. Ross.

He lost that title the next year, on 7 August 1882, to Joe Acton in New York City.

Bibby's final wrestling match was against Sorakichi Matsuda, whom he defeated on 28 October 1887, in Buffalo, New York.

[3] Bibby's son Tom donated the Championship silver belt that can allegedly still be found at a Lancashire museum.

Illustration of Edwin Bibby [ 4 ]