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
On the 19th of August, it being Camberwell Fair, those two disappointed
and hitherto considered equal champions accidentally met, never having
seen each other since their proposed match in Yorkshire. “Belcher first
espied his pugilistic rival entertaining a number of people with the
manner in which he would serve out Belcher the first time he met him;
but this seeming to have happened unexpectedly, their first salute was
at least civil. Belcher, however, could not help expressing his regret
that Berks should boast everywhere of his superior prowess, that he
could beat Belcher with ease, that Belcher was afraid to fight, etc.
Berks did not deny these accusations, and offered to fight him
immediately. They then adjourned to the bowling-green belonging to the
house where they met, and Berks attacked Belcher before he could get his
shirt off. However, when they fairly met, Belcher put in a well-directed
hit, knocked out one of Berks’ front teeth, and following it up with a
blow under the ear, brought him down. Berks not being quite sober, and
Belcher indisposed, their friends agreed that they should meet next day
at Oxendon Street, Leicester Square. This being settled, they
separated.”
August 20.—“This day they met according to agreement, and after some
negotiation respecting the order of proceeding, they went, each in a
separate hackney coach, accompanied by their friends.
“At a little before one o’clock the parties arrived at Tyburn Turnpike,
where they immediately fixed on the first open space, a large field
directly behind St. George’s Chapel, which faces Hyde Park. The combat
having been so suddenly determined on, very few amateurs were present,
excepting Mr. Fletcher Reid and Mr. Crook. There not being time to build
a stage, an extensive ring was immediately formed, and the multitude,
which was immense, placed around it. The first row almost lying, the
second sitting, the third kneeling, and the remainder standing; those
behind thinking themselves well favoured if they now and then got a
peep.
“After walking about for a few minutes they began to strip, and when
prepared, Berks asked Mr. Fletcher Reid ‘Whether it should be a fair
stand-up fight.’—‘Certainly, in every way,’ said Mr. R., and immediately
called Belcher to acquaint him with what Berks had asked, when he said
‘Certainly, I can do no otherwise.’ Berks then requested that the pauses
between each round might be three quarters of a minute, but Belcher’s
friends insisted on the old established interval of half a minute.
“A purse of thirty guineas was subscribed for the winner, and five for
the loser, by the amateurs present. A few minutes after one they entered
the ring; Belcher, accompanied by Joe Ward as his second, and Bill
Gibbons as his bottle-holder; and Berks, by Tom Owen as his second, and
Yokel, the Jew, for his bottle-holder. After the accustomed salutation
they set-to.”
THE FIGHT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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