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
2.—The last blow might be said almost to have made the fight
Painter’s own. Spring was evidently confused from its great
severity, and the claret running down in streams, Painter lost no
time, but endeavoured to improve his success, and immediately went
to work. Some slight hits were exchanged, and in struggling for the
throw, Painter went down undermost.
3.—Spring showed that he did not mean to let Painter have it all his
own way, and gave the latter a heavy nobber. Exchanges, and both
down.
4.—A short but sharp round. In throwing Spring proved that he was
the stronger man.
5.—Two nobbing counter hits, that made both men go back a little. In
closing, Painter got his opponent’s nob under his left arm, and
endeavoured to fib him, but Spring, with much dexterity, stopped
Painter’s hand, and ultimately threw the latter heavily. (Bravo,
Spring!)
6.—This was a most manly round. Reciprocal hitting occurred. The
punishment was heavy, but Spring had rather the best of it, and got
Painter down.
7 and 8.—The combatants were both rather winded, and became cautious
of getting into work. Slight exchanges till both were down.
9.—This was nothing else but a fighting round. Hit for hit occurred,
till at the close of a rally Spring received a terrible blow upon
his ear, that brought the claret freely. Spring reeled from its
severity, and Painter was the favourite at seven to four. Spring
went down to avoid a close.
10.—Spring came staggering to the scratch, evidently suffering from
the last hit. He, however, went to work in the most gallant style,
and in a rally gave Painter “pepper;” but the latter got away
scientifically. In a close, Painter was thrown.
11 to 13.—Spring had the worst of these rounds, nevertheless he
displayed great game.
14.—In this round the turn was on the side of Spring; he had not
only the best of the hitting, but knocked Painter off his legs. (“Do
that again, Spring, and you’ll win it.”)
15 to 22.—Painter decidedly took the lead in all these rounds. A
tremendous rally occurred, when Painter finished the round by
fibbing Spring down.
23 to 30.—It was almost a certainty that Spring must lose the
battle; he was getting worse every round, but his game was of the
first quality.
31.—This round, it was thought, would have finished the contest.
Spring received a tremendous hit on his jaw, and went down
exhausted. “It was all up,” was the cry, any odds upon Painter, and
even that Spring did not again come to the scratch.
32 to 42 and last.—Spring was satisfied that he could not win, yet,
like a brave man, he was determined to continue the battle while a
chance remained. He came up for ten rounds, but could not plant
effectively. He was hit on the ear in the last round, and fell dead
to time. He did not give in; that is, he did not say No. It was over
in one hour and four minutes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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