Hezekiah Moscow

Hezekiah Moscow
Born1862 (1862)
Jamaica, British West Indies
Died1901 (aged 38–39)
Other names
  • Ching Hook
OccupationProfessional boxer
Years active1882-1892
Spouse
  • Mary Ann Maddin
    ​
    (m. 1891)​

Hezekiah Moscow (c. 1862 – c. 1901) was a West Indian migrant to Victorian London who worked as a lion tamer and competed as a professional boxer under the ring name Ching Hook. A 2025 Disney+ series A Thousand Blows, in which a fictionalized version of his character is portrayed by Malachi Kirby.[1][2]

Early life

Moscow was born around 1862 in Jamaica[3], a part of British West Indies.[4]

Career

In his early days around 1884, he worked as a lion tamer and performer at an aquarium in East London in Shoreditch[5], but was later accused by the RSPCA of treating four bears cruelly.[4] Starting around 1888, gained prominence through regular sparring exhibitions at venues like the Sebright Music Hall, where he performed twice nightly against opponents such as Sam Baxter.[6][7] Also, he worked as a second MC, and benefit organizer, managed boxing saloons including at the City of Norwich pub and Walnut Tree in Stepney, and earned the honorary title of "Professor" for his teaching roles at clubs like Watford Boxing Club.[6]

By 1890–1891, Moscow's career included high-profile bouts such as a proposed match for England's black championship against Felix Scott, and continued music hall tours. However, after a decade in London references to him faded by mid-1892.[6]

Personal life

He married Mary Ann Maddin in 1891, and their daughter Eliza was born the same year.[6]

Death or disappearance

In 1896, his wife placed a public notice seeking information about him, and by 1901 she and their daughter were listed as widows. No death, hospital, or obituary records for Moscow/Hook have been found under any name variations, leaving his disappearance after 1892 a mystery.[6]

References

  1. ^ "A Thousand Blows: Show offers 'different narrative' of Jamaican Londoners". BBC. 2025-02-23. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
  2. ^ Jessop, Vicky (2025-02-24). "The true story behind A Thousand Blows by the show's historical advisor". The Standard. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
  3. ^ Jennings, Michael-John (2025-03-31). "The real boxing world behind A Thousand Blows — in pictures". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
  4. ^ a b Okundaye, Jason (2025-02-26). "The Long Wave: How A Thousand Blows recovers the lost history of a lion-taming West Indian boxer". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
  5. ^ Cormack, Morgan. "A Thousand Blows true story | Who was the real-life Hezekiah Moscow? | Radio Times". RadioTimes. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Where Did You Go, Hezekiah Moscow? The Life and Times of Ching Hook (Part II: 1888-96)". Rediscovering the wrestlers and boxers of Late-Victorian London. 2019-05-28. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
  7. ^ Evans, Greg (2025-02-21). "A Thousand Blows: The remarkable true story of Hezekiah Moscow and The 40 Elephants". The Independent. Retrieved 2026-03-17.

Further reading

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