Hezekiah Moscow

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

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

Early life

Moscow was born around 1862 in the West Indies, although his place of origin is unknown.

Career

In 1884, Moscow worked as a lion tamer and performer at the East London Aquarium. Moscow was later accused of mistreating four bears under his care by the RSPCA. In January 1888, Moscow, who boxed under the name Ching Hook, held a week-long residency at the Sebright Music Hall, where he sparred with Sam Baxter twice nightly. He also worked as a master of ceremonies, took part in benefit events, and managed boxing venues at the City of Norwich pub in Whitechapel and the Walnut Tree in Stepney. By the end of 1888, he had received the honorary boxing title of "Professor" and was teaching at Watford Boxing Club.

In 1891, Moscow toured with a theatre company as part of the act Daultray, Higgins and Ching Ghook. By June 1892, he had almost entirely disappeared from newspaper reports after about a decade in London.

Personal life

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

Death or disappearance

Moscow's whereabouts after March 1892 remain unknown. His wife appealed for information about him in the press, and their daughter later made similar appeals. No death, hospital, or obituary records for Moscow/Hook have been found under any name variations, leaving his disappearance a mystery.

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. 1 2 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.
  4. ↑ "A Conversation With A Black Fire-Eater Which May Or May Not Pertain To Hezekiah Moscow's Mysterious Past". Rediscovering the wrestlers and boxers of Late-Victorian London. 2025-03-20. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  5. ↑ Cormack, Morgan. "A Thousand Blows true story | Who was the real-life Hezekiah Moscow? | Radio Times". RadioTimes. Retrieved 2026-03-17.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "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