Is this the famous Tipton Slasher in action?
He's the most famous fighter ever to come out of the Black Country, but pictures of the Tipton Slasher are as rare as his defeats.
Now, however, one of the few photographs believed to be of bare knuckle champion William Perry has gone on display after experts matched up the image with a wood engraving.
The print was unveiled at Tipton library after manager Robert Hazel looked at the clues.
He said: "As William had rickets he had a specific stance where his leg was in a K-stance, which was seen on the image.
"There was also an engraving of the slasher made from wood, and the face from the engraving was said to have matched up with the one from the picture.
"As the photograph is thought to be from the same period, we believe it is the Tipton Slasher."
The black and white image shows William Perry – aka the Slasher – on the left, standing off against his opponent with his guard raised.
It is thought to have come from the mid-19th century and is possibly one of his early fights, given the small crowd watching.
The Slasher was born in 1819 with historians unsure whether his birthplace was Tipton or Darlaston. Regardless, he became British heavyweight prizefighter champion, with a fearsome reputation.
After losing his English champion title in 1857, he became a pub landlord, before dying as an alcoholic in Bilston in 1880.
He is buried in St John's church, Dudley and his statue stands in Coronation Gardens, Tipton.
The photograph was uncovered by chance last year by Roy Hawthorne and David Kingston, from Wolverhampton, in the Queen's own collection at Windsor Castle.
The print was unveiled on Saturday by John Miller, director of the Tipton and Coseley Building Society, and members of the William Perry Boxing Club.
