Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 1 (of 3): Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-40, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863Miles, Henry Downes
History
Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 1 (of 3): Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-40, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863
Miles, Henry Downes
Boxing
11.—Owen was determined not to give a chance
away; and he also appeared determined not to
have any more body blows. He accordingly kept at
out-fighting. A short but sharp rally occurred,
when Owen fell; and Mendoza likewise, at about
two yards distance, came heavily down upon his
face on the turf.
12th and last.—Mendoza was quite abroad, and
hit short, and at the ropes was again held by
Owen, and fibbed down. Mendoza said he would not
fight any more, as he could not win it. He was
terribly punished, and defeated in fourteen
minutes and twenty-seven seconds and a quarter;
while, on the contrary, Owen had not a scratch
on his face. The latter was carried out of the
ring by Cribb and Hudson, amidst the cheers of
the spectators.
Mendoza, while being dressed, seemed sensibly affected at his defeat. He
had not the least idea of losing the battle.
Mr. Jackson collected £20 on the ground for Mendoza, who was put into a
coach. Owen soon returned to the ring, decorated in the spoils attendant
upon conquest. Mendoza’s blue trophy was hung round Owen’s neck,
surmounted by the yellow-man of Hooper; now doubly won.
This battle hardly deserves comment, after the observations we have
already made under the memoir of Mendoza; yet it is valuable as a
warning. The merits of the combatants remain, except in the balderdash
of “the historian” of the P. R., just where they stood previous to the
fight.
Tom’s judgment as a second was unquestionable. His coolness and
readiness as second to Turner in his victory over Scroggins, and in the
remarkable fight with Sutton and Painter, may be cited.
Tom was known for many years as a pleasant companion, a good convivial
singer, and the landlord of a house on the ground now occupied by the
basin of St. Katherine’s Docks, whence the hand of improvement compelled
him to migrate. For several years he was well known as the landlord of
the Shipwrights’ Arms at Northfleet, where the fancy of all grades found
him a civil, pleasant, and obliging host. Owen died at Plumstead in 1843
aged 76 years.
CHAPTER VI.
TOM JONES (KNOWN AS “PADDINGTON JONES”).—1786‒1805.
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