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
“Everything being thus arranged, the combatants began to strip. Odds
were laid five to four in favour of Mendoza, and readily accepted by
Humphries’s friends, who considered that although perhaps it might be
impossible for him to beat the Jew by carrying on the fight regularly
and in a scientific style, yet, by his impetuous exertions at the
commencement, would be able to overcome his antagonist, and bear away
the palm.”
THE FIGHT.
ROUND 1.—The onset of Humphries was bold and
astonishingly vigorous, but was repelled by
Mendoza with equal force; they mutually closed,
struggled, and both fell.
2.—The same vigorous spirit was manifested on
both sides, but Humphries struck the most blows,
though apparently without overpowering Mendoza.
3.—This round was fought with much caution on
both sides, each being equally careful of giving
or receiving a blow; what passed, however, were
in Mendoza’s favour, and it terminated by his
giving Humphries a knock-down blow.
4.—They engaged, but only for a few moments.
5.—Humphries aimed a severe blow at Mendoza’s
stomach, which he dexterously stopped, and
struck him in the face; this blow, however,
Humphries returned, but at the same time fell.
“A number of rounds after this took place, but
in every one of them Mendoza evidently had the
advantage, and odds had risen forty to five, and
ten to one in his favour; Humphries continually
fell, sometimes in consequence of blows, but
more frequently from a policy often used in
boxing, which perhaps may be considered fair;
several times he sunk without a blow, which
conduct, although contrary to the articles of
agreement, was passed unnoticed, as his general
manners placed him above the suspicion of
cowardice. For although he had undoubtedly the
worst throughout the battle, he fought with
great resolution, and even when his friends,
perceiving him conquered, and one eye perfectly
closed, persuaded him to yield, he solicited to
fight a little longer. Notwithstanding all this
display of excellent bottom, he was again
obliged to acknowledge the ascendancy of the
Israelite.
“Mendoza was very much cut about the left side
of his head, his left eye and ear being much
mutilated, and he had received a severe cut
in the ribs on the right side by a projectile
left-handed blow of his antagonist.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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