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
“Although in this state, Warr obstinately contested another round, in
which he could not fail to be completely worsted. His friends now
interfered, and insisted on his giving in. But he refused; and then
fainting, was immediately carried off the ground almost lifeless, every
one complimenting him by calling him ‘A chip off the old block.’
“The nineteen rounds were fought in thirty-three minutes.”
The son, emulous of the sire, seems at this time to have found favour
with the pugilistic world as with the turf, on an absurd application of
the “like begets like” principle.[87] Accordingly, Bill Ryan, son of
Michael,[88] was selected to lower the pretensions of “Young Tom.” The
“amateurs” might have done worse, as the event proved, for Bill polished
off the youthful Tom in thirty-eight rounds, November 30, 1804, as we
shall notice in the Appendix to this Period. (See RYAN, BILL, p. 229,
_post_.)
It appears that Tom was not only dissatisfied with this defeat, but
considered it a “snatched battle.” On Saturday, April 27, 1805, Pearce
triumphantly beat Carte, the Birmingham bruiser (see PEARCE), at
Shepperton Common, Surrey, in thirty-five minutes. The “fancy” were
unsatisfied, and a subscription purse being collected of 20 guineas,
O’Donnel,[89] “the celebrated Irish hero,” offered himself. Pierce Egan
says, “O’Donnel showed himself entitled to respectful attention; but who
was completely satisfied in fifteen rounds.” The reporter from whom he
copies says, in better English and with more sense, “Tom displayed his
known dexterity, and showed good science; but O’Donnel, who fought well
at the commencement, at the end of the fifteenth round played _a cross,
and gave in_.” We suspect he was tired of the job.
Tom fretted, it appears, after the lost laurel with Bill Ryan, and
challenged him a second time to the lists. They accordingly met for 25
guineas a-side, at Laleham Burway, near Chertsey, Surrey, June 4, 1805.
Belcher was seconded by Tom Blake (Tom Tough), and was backed by Mr.
Fletcher Reid; Bill Ryan was waited on by George Maddox and a “friend.”
The Hon. Berkeley Craven posted his stake, and laid the odds of seven to
four on Ryan. At one o’clock the men stripped, and two to one was
offered on Ryan. We quote the report.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Both men kept at distance; but after
some little sparring Ryan put in the first blow.
Tom parried it extremely well; Ryan bored in and
both fell, Ryan uppermost.
2.—Some good straight blows exchanged; Belcher
struck, Ryan parried, and Belcher fell from the
force of his own blow.
3.—Excellent fighting; as many as ten blows
passed, when Belcher cleanly knocked down his
opponent.
4.—Some sharp blows; Ryan threw Belcher a cross
buttock with great violence.
5.—A tightly contested round; Belcher fell.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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