Bartley Gorman

Bartley Gorman V (1 March 1944 – 18 January 2002) was a Traveller, who was a bare-knuckle boxer of Irish descent, he declared himself as the King of the Gypsies. Between 1972 and 1992, he reigned supreme in the world of illegal gypsy boxing. During these years, he fought down a mineshaft, in a quarry, at horse fairs, on campsites, in bars and clubs and in the street. Several relatives of Gorman have become professional boxers in recent years, including Nathan Gorman, Hughie Fury and Tyson Fury.

Early life

Gorman was born on 1 March 1944, in Nottingham, England, to a Welsh father who did not fight and Irish mother who did, who were both Travellers. His paternal grandfather and great-grandfather were also boxers. Gorman had his first bare-knuckle fight at the age of 12. His son, Shaun, was not a fighter, he was a rugby union player.

Career

When he won the title of Bareknuckle Champion of Great Britain and Ireland, having beaten rival Jack Fletcher in a fight at a quarry, he was aged 28, was 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighed 15.5 stone (98 kg).

On St Leger day in 1976, Gorman was ambushed by an armed mob and almost killed. He had turned up expecting to fight a challenger by the name of Ricky "Top Hat" Donahue, but was set upon by the group, who had reportedly been paid £25,000 to carry out the attack. Bartley detailed in his book: "I showed up at 10.30am, the agreed time, but he (Donahue) was no where to be seen. Then from out of no where 25 guys appeared with crowbars and bricks. I was beaten senseless."

Retirement and death

Gorman claimed to remain unbeaten until his retirement from boxing in 1992, with his last fight being a draw with Graeme O'Laughlan (Kennedy). Gorman lived on a traveler site in Uttoxeter, England, and that is where he lived out his final days.

Gorman is survived by his three children his son Shaun and daughters Maria and Julie.

In popular culture

For the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises, actor Tom Hardy revealed that he used Gorman's voice as one of the inspirations for the accent of Bane. Gorman has also been cited as the main inspiration for professional wrestler Wade Barrett's finishing move, the Bull Hammer Elbow.

Gorman's autobiography King of the Gypsies, written with the help of Peter Walsh, was completed just before Gorman's death. Gorman tells an uncompromising but touching story of a man compelled by the weight of his own violent family history to fight and suffer pain. The book reveals that he was only nine years old when he first witnessed the misery that violence brings. Bartley saw his uncle killed by one punch thrown by a rogue showman. Much of the book is taken up with tales of brutal fights at fairs, racecourses and bars.

Shane Meadows filmed a documentary entitled King of the Gypsies, interviewing Gorman about his life in 1995. The 1999 Comedy Drama 'A Room for Romeo Brass' featuring Paddy Considine who played the part of Morrell based his accent on Gormans.