Jacob Hyer (died 1838) was an American bare-knuckled boxer. He is generally credited as the first professional American boxer, due to his 1816 match with Tom Beasley, and has even been called `The Father of The American Ring`. ==Hyer v. Beasley== In October 1816 in New York City, Hyer (a butcher) fought Tom Beasley (an English mariner) in what i.....