Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 2 (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, 1719-1740, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863Miles, Henry Downes
History
Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 2 (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, 1719-1740, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863
Miles, Henry Downes
Boxing
away; while in his first battle he went in boldly, opposing strength
to strength; hence he was defeated, the length and weight of Sutton
overpowering him. In the character of a second, from his experience
and practice as a scientific pugilist, Tom Belcher, if not superior,
was not excelled by any boxer. The result of this contest completely
deceived the knowing ones, as the odds were greatly in favour of
Sutton previous to the fight; and Oliver, the conqueror of Painter,
backed the Black freely on the ground, so sure was the event
considered.
Painter called, the morning after the battle, upon Sutton and left him a
_douceur_. The sporting people of Norfolk, it appears, were highly
gratified at the manner in which the battle between Painter and Sutton
was conducted. Belcher, Harmer, Richmond, Owen, Oliver, etc., exhibited
at the Norwich Theatre in the evening, after the battle, and their
efforts to amuse were respectably attended.
We have noticed Painter’s athletic capabilities; he, about this time,
proved winner in several foot races. In a trial of strength in a field
belonging to the White Hart, Commercial Road, Stepney, March 21, 1817,
Painter undertook, for a wager of 10 guineas, a dozen of wine, and a
good dinner for twelve, to throw half a hundred-weight against a
gentleman of the name of Donovan, of immense Herculean proportions, and
renowned for his prodigious strength. Mr. Donovan called on Painter to
“set” a throw, which he did (with his coat on). The distance, though
unfortunately not recorded, was so great that Mr. Donovan, after every
preparation, could not touch it by eighteen inches and a half.
“Painter,” adds the report, “has, as yet, beaten every competitor in
this feat, from England, Scotland, and Ireland.” A fine athletic young
man, called “Spring,” was matched by Scroggins to run the distance of
five miles against Painter, for 10 guineas. It was a hasty bet on the
part of the latter, and undertaken without training. The race was
decided on the 7th of November, 1817, from the four mile stone on the
Essex road. Painter merely jogged on before Spring at starting, when the
latter took the lead, and kept it for nearly two miles and a half, the
distance of running out, Painter keeping close at his elbow, compelling
Spring, as it were, to use his best speed. Painter now shot by him like
an arrow, touched the handkerchief first, and returned to run the two
miles and a half in. Spring was so dead beat, and out of wind, at the
corner of White Post Lane, three miles and a half, that he could proceed
no farther. Painter continued to run in gallant style, at the rate of
ten miles an hour, and arrived at the place of starting at the
expiration of thirty-five minutes and a half. This great feat for “a big
one” like Painter, was loudly cheered on his touching the winning post.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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