Once home to fishermen, Pyms Gardens was known for its pungent smells, poor sanitation and tough living conditions.
Among its residents was Tom Sayers, a bricklayer who would become one of Britain’s greatest bare-knuckle boxers.
This year marks the 200th birthday of the famous boxer.
Cllr Jacob Allen marked the occasion by cleaning the plaque on North Road to Pugilist Tom Sayers ahead of his birthday on Monday, May 25.
He said: “I wanted to pay respects to Sayers and make sure his plaque was looking pristine ahead of his bicentennial birthday.
“As an administration, we are proud of Brighton & Hove’s heritage, and that includes celebrating figures from our past who made an impact (literally in Tom the boxer’s case!).”
Born in 1826 and brought up in the Pimlico area of the North Laine, Mr Sayers worked on the London Road viaduct, which was completed in 1846.
By this time, he had already turned to prizefighting.
His first bout was broken up by police, as bare-knuckle boxing was illegal and fights were typically held in secret locations.
Though just 5ft 8in and weighing between 112 and 154 pounds, Mr Sayers gained a reputation for his skill and tenacity in the ring.
He fought for the English Middleweight title in 1853 and eventually won it in 1857, becoming the last English champion before the introduction of the Queensbury Rules.
In 1860, Mr Sayers made history by fighting American John Heenan in what is considered the first international boxing match.
The bout lasted 37 rounds over two hours and 20 minutes before being declared a draw after spectators invaded the ring.
He retired immediately after the fight and died of diabetes five years later on November 8, 1865, at the age of 39.
Mr Sayers’ funeral at Highgate Cemetery drew a crowd of 10,000.
He was posthumously inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954, cementing his legacy as one of boxing’s greats and Brighton’s most famous sons from a long-lost neighbourhood.