Frank Craig

Frank Craig (April 1, 1868 – January 1, 1943) was an American boxer who was the colored middleweight champion of the world in the Gay Nineties.

[3] Craig fought colored middleweight champ Joe Butler on March 18, 1893 in Philadelphia and was defeated in the second round.

He competed for the middleweight championship of England, losing to Dan Creedon on October 14, 1895 but winning the title by defeating George Chrisp November 24, 1898 via a knock out in the 13th round.

In 1900 he put on a boxing exhibition in Sunderland, defeating a popular local strong man; the audience started to riot in protest, and beat up a black acrobat who had been performing in Craig's troupe, mistaking him for the boxer.

By 1937, it was reported that he was reduced to performing in boxing booths at local fairs, and had appeared in court charged with striking a woman over the head with a bottle.

In The Sketch , June 26, 1901