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
14.—Pearce met his antagonist with determined
resolution, and put in so severe a blow on the
jaw, that every one feared lest he had broken
it; Spray fell. (Odds now rose ten to one on
Pearce.)
15.—Spray stood up to his man boldly, but
quickly received a floorer from the Chicken.
16.—Courage displayed on both sides. Spray put
in some well directed hits; but in closing,
Pearce threw him a cross-buttock.
17.—Spray attempted to rally, but received a
most desperate blow upon his temple that nearly
deprived him of his recollection, and which
spoilt him for the remainder of the fight. The
ensuing five rounds upon the part of Spray were
little better than mere exhibitions of animal
courage.
23.—All in favour of the Chicken. (Twenty to
one, but no takers.)
24.—Spray again showed himself, but his efforts
to turn the tide were futile. The Chicken smiled
at his attempts; yet the Coppersmith showed
considerable skill, and continued the battle to
27.—Hardly to be called fighting. Spray was down
as soon as he appeared.
28.—Spray could scarcely stand, yet could not
bring himself to say “No.” He put up his hands
and endeavoured to face his opponent. It was all
up: the Chicken hit him as he liked, and finally
knocked him off his legs.
29 and last.—Spray stood up, but only to exhibit
the spectacle of a game man struggling against
fate. Pearce put in a thrust rather than a blow,
and poor Spray was persuaded to give in. The
battle lasted thirty-five minutes. Pearce
immediately sprang over the ropes, laid down on
the grass for a few minutes, during which he
accepted a challenge from Carte, the Birmingham
“champion,” for 50 guineas. The money was
immediately staked, and they agreed to fight
within six weeks. The Chicken then started for
town in a chaise, full of spirits.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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