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
Lord Say and Sele, The Hon. Berkeley Craven, Sir
Thomas Apreece, Colonel Montgomery, Captain
Taylor, and many other distinguished amateurs
were present.
Jack O’Donnell having beaten Pardo Wilson (Belcher’s brother-in-law),
and Smith, was now the recognised “Irish champion,” and he challenged
Caleb for fifty guineas a-side, who, nothing loth, entered into articles
of agreement. As there was great apprehension that the Bow Street
authorities would interfere, the matter was “kept dark,” and on Friday
morning, October 21st, 1803, the men and their friends started early by
different roads out of town. Wimbledon Common, in the vicinity of that
interesting landmark of civilisation,[116] the gibbet of the notorious
Jerry Abershaw, was the rendezvous, and there at twelve o’clock all had
arrived. Vehicles of every description and thousands of spectators and
equestrians thronged the valley, a ring was quickly formed, and at
half-past twelve O’Donnell entered, followed by the veteran Caleb. The
men immediately threw themselves in attitude. Odds six to four on
Baldwin, readily taken.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—O’Donnell put in the first blow in his
adversary’s side. Caleb returned dexterously
right and left, then closing, threw his
opponent.
2.—O’Donnell fought very shy, but Caleb stood to
his man, followed him round the ring, and put in
several severe blows, which were well parried by
his adversary. It was here thought O’Donnell was
endeavouring to wind Caleb; however, he did not
fall off in putting in his blows, and having got
O’Donnell to the edge of the ring, put in a most
severe body hit, which brought him down.
3.—At the commencement of this round O’Donnell
appeared sick from the effects of the last blow,
which Caleb perceiving, stuck to him closely,
not allowing him even time for breath. O’Donnell
tried to avoid him, but failed. They closed, and
Caleb again threw him. (Odds had now risen as
high as four to one.)
4.—This round was well contested by both
combatants. O’Donnell recovered, came up in
better spirits, and fought more manfully. He put
in several good blows, and cut his opponent over
the right eye; they closed, and O’Donnell for
the first time threw Caleb.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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