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
In May, 1816, a curious day’s “outing” took place, to witness a battle
between a couple of “darkies,” hight Stephenson[118] and Sam Robinson;
“Ethiopian” bruisers, like Ethiopian serenaders, being now in fashion,
from the exploits of such men as Richmond, Kendrick, and Co. To Coombe
Warren, also, one Bristow, known as “Young Massa,” in the service of a
sporting gentleman, had repaired. Caleb as one of the M.C.’s was beating
out the ring, when he applied the thong to Young Massa, who, new to his
freedom and unacquainted with the person and privileges of Caleb as a
public functionary, retorted by a couple of such unexpected facers as
drew “the veteran’s” cork. A row was the immediate consequence, in which
Caleb proposed to cast the question of his ring privilege to the winds,
and then and there vindicate his insulted manhood. He was at length
indulged. The two principals actually quitted the ropes and Caleb was
“indulged” with “a round or two,” as he expressed it. Bill Richmond
hereon offered to pick up Bristow, and Harry Harmer valeted the Veteran.
The affair showed that Young Massa was not to be easily disposed of. The
report is Pierce Egan’s, though it is not even alluded to in his life of
Caleb Baldwin.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Caleb seemed angry, and eager to check
this daring novice for his presumption, set-to
with great courage, and wished to mill off hand
this sprig of colour, but Massa laughed at the
attempt, returned hit for hit, and in closing
brought the veteran down.
2.—Young Massa not only showed pluck, but his
attitudes were imposing, and the champion of
Westminster did not know what to make of him.
Caleb hit out viciously, which the black
returned on the nob of his opponent, and the
veteran, in a close, went down undermost.
3.—On setting-to Massa put in a severe facer,
and followed it up so strongly, that the
champion was fairly hit down.
4.—Young Blacky, full of gaiety, pointed his
finger at the veteran, by way of derision, and
kept moving with great agility that he might not
be smashed by the superior science he had to
contend against. Some blows were exchanged,
and, in closing, this game sprig fibbed Caleb
severely, and brought him again down undermost.
5.—The youth of the Black encouraged him to
proceed, and he hit out rather in a scientific
style, as if he had taken lessons. Caleb seemed
not able to stop him, and the veteran’s sight
appeared somewhat defective, as he generally hit
short. In closing, as before, the Black fibbed
away, and Caleb went down undermost.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account