‘A Thousand Blows’ Fact vs. Fiction: What Parts of the Hulu Series Are Based on History?
Hulu’s A Thousand Blows offers viewers a ringside seat to history as the show delves deep into the underground world of bare-knuckle Victorian boxing. A historical drama set in 1880s East London, the first season followed two Jamaican immigrants, Hezekiah and Alec (Malachi Kirby and Francis Lovehall) as they enter the brutal world of bare-knuckle boxing. During their fight for fame and glory, they find themselves at odds with an all-female Forty Elephants gang led by Mary Carr (Erin Doherty) and the menacing boxing kingpin Sugar Goodson (Stephen Graham).
The gritty, gripping series is packed with colorful and formidable characters whose antics make for compelling drama, many drawn from real life. As the intro explains, “The following is inspired by real characters who lived and fought together in London’s East End.” Mary was the queen of the Forty Elephants, and Sugar was a towering name in the boxing world, but their stories here are shaped for drama rather than strict historical accuracy.
As the series enters round two with Season 2, here is your chance to brush up on history with a few tidbits of information about the historical figures who populate the drama. Here is a look at what the series got both right and wrong with their depictions.
A Thousand Blows, Season 2, January 9, Hulu
Henry "Sugar” Goodson (Stephen Graham)
TRUE:
- Henry “Sugar” Goodson was a real Victorian-era East End bare-knuckle boxer, infamous for his brutality and repeated run-ins with the law. He also only had one functioning eye.
- He gained notoriety for an illegal bout in a chapel in 1882, which was raided by police, making him an East End anti-hero.
FALSE:
- The real Goodson was much younger during the series’ main events, and the mob boss narrative is fictionalized.
- He was born in 1856, so by the 1880s, Sugar was in his mid-20s, not a veteran struggling to maintain his top position.
- As for his rivalry with Hezekiah, the two likely knew each other but were probably peers rather than rivals.
- There is no historical evidence that Sugar provided “protection” for or even met Mary Carr.
- He never bit another opponent’s nose off, nor is there any record of him begin expelled from the sport.
- And finally, in Stephen Graham’s portrayal, Sugar appears to have two functioning eyes.
Hezekiah Moscow (Malachi Kirby)
TRUE:
- This one is a little tricky, as according to sources, there are only three official records of Hezekiah Moscow.
- He was actually a lion tamer. Before focusing on boxing, he worked as an animal tamer at the East London Aquarium in Shoreditch, which aligned with his goals in the series (though it was probably not the reason he came to London).
FALSE:
- It should be noted that most of Hezekiah’s story is largely invented, as historical records for him are fractured, with only a few official reports and newspaper entries.
- Hezekiah was a gloved fighter, not a bare-knuckle boxer.
- He had no known relationship with the real Mary Carr (though he did marry a woman named Mary).
- It was not known for certain if Hezekiah spoke Chinese like he does on the show. This was possibly added due to the fact that he later boxed under the name “Ching Hook.”
Mary Carr (Erin Doherty)
TRUE:
- Mary Carr really was the leader of one of London’s most notorious all-female gangs, the Forty Elephants, a group of skilled thieves and con artists known for their elaborate shoplifting and scams, with Carr becoming their “Queen” around 1890 before later being imprisoned.
FALSE:
- There is no historical record of her planning a high-stakes theft from a Chinese delegation to the U.K.
- The Moscow/Goodson Alliance was invented for the series. While Hezekiah Moscow and Sugar Goodson were real boxers, there is no evidence that they collaborated with Mary.
The Forty Elephants
TRUE:
- The all-girl gang specialized in large-scale shoplifting from luxury West End department stores like Harrods and Liberty.
- The women wore specially tailored skirts, bustles, and bloomers with hidden pockets to stash large quantities of stolen goods.
- They maintained strict independence from other male-led gangs, although many members were related to them. They followed a strict code, which included rules like no drinking before a raid and equal sharing of proceeds
FALSE:
- The show adjusts the timeline for dramatic purposes. For example, Alice Diamond was born in 1896 in real life, but appears as an adult alongside Mary Carr in the 1880s setting of the show.
Alice Diamond (Darci Shaw)
FALSE:
- The show depicts a young Alice Diamond as Mary Carr’s “loyal second” and protégé in the 1880s; historically, Alice was not born until 1896.
- Alice Diamond was actually the most famous leader of the Forty Elephants, historically succeeding Mary Carr and leading the gang during its most profitable and violent era.
- There are no historical records of Alice Diamond working retail in a high-end London shop as depicted in the show.
Treacle Goodson (James Nelson-Joyce)
TRUE:
- “Treacle” Goodson was the brother of the famous boxer Henry “Sugar” Goodson, both of whom were real figures in the 19th-century London boxing scene.
FALSE:
- On the show, his given name was Edward. In real life, it was Thomas.
- In real life, Sugar Goodson was born in 1856, so Treacle’s portrayal and timeline in the show — including how much younger or less experienced he is than his brother Sugar — is tailored to the narrative rather than keeping to history.
- Almost every aspect of his story arc, including his relationships to other central characters, the specific timeline of events, and narrative impacts are dramatic inventions rather than historical facts.
Alec Munroe (Francis Lovehall)
TRUE:
- Alec was the trainer and sparring partner of Hezekiah Moscow, who was born in Kingston, Jamaica, around 1850 and arrived in England about 20 years later.
FALSE:
- He did not arrive in London with Hezekiah Moscow, but instead met while both were already there.
- On the show, Alec is murdered by an assassin who mistakes him for Hezekiah Moscow. In reality, he was stabbed by Thomas Hewington, who admitted he lost his temper over comments the boxer made. Hewington claimed to have “accidentally” stabbed Alec with his knife, and was found not guilty and released.
A Thousand Blows, Season 2 Premiere, January 9, Hul
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services