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
Round 1.—Oliver appeared in good condition. He fought in striped
silk stockings; and the symmetry of his form was not only attractive
to the amateur, but the lovers of anatomy had before them a capital
subject in the action and development of his muscles. Painter was
also in tip-top trim, and though he had been reduced in training
nearly two stone, he was effective for every purpose. On the men
placing themselves in fighting attitudes, caution was the order of
the day. After eyeing each other for about a minute, Oliver made an
offer to hit, when Painter got away; Oliver in turn now got away
from a hit made by Painter. Oliver hit short. Painter endeavoured to
put in a tremendous hit, which was stopped in first rate style by
his opponent. Painter got away from another hit. Oliver stopped a
heavy hit, and gave a loud “ahem.” The combatants seemed tired of
holding up their arms, and stood still and looked at each other, and
after a pause Painter put in a tremendous hit on Oliver’s neck.
Painter ran in to follow up his success, but Oliver stopped him with
the accuracy of a Randall. Some heavy hits were exchanged, and in
closing Painter endeavoured to fib Oliver, when the latter in the
first style of the pugilistic art, broke away from him. (Applause.)
Both were piping a little, and Oliver gave Painter a slight tap on
the body. Each in turn stopped scientifically. Painter put in two
hits, and after severe exchanges the men again broke away. Oliver
hit Painter on the nose, when the combatants fought into another
close, and Painter again attempted the weaving system, when Oliver
used Tom Owen’s stop for a short period, till Painter got away in
gallant style. Each man now made himself up for tremendous hitting,
and the stopping was admirable on both sides. Painter put in another
severe hit on Oliver’s cheek. The men closed, and in a struggle for
the throw, Oliver got Painter down. Rather better than ten minutes
had elapsed.
2.—First blood was now decided, as it was seen trickling from
Painter’s nose. Oliver endeavoured to plant a nobber, which Painter
stopped, and laughed at him. This second round was longer than the
first, but the caution and mode of fighting was exactly the same.
Oliver got a hit on the nose; he also broke away from a close in
great style, and gave Painter so severe a blow on his right cheek,
that red ink was the result. Oliver put down his hands, and both
seemed exhausted from the length of the round. In closing, Painter
weaved down Oliver at the ropes. The applause was loud. Twenty-four
minutes had now elapsed.
3.—Oliver appeared rather to more advantage; he nearly closed
Painter’s right eye, and to prevent being fibbed held his hand at
the ropes, and ultimately got him down.
4.—This was a sharp set-to. Hard exchanges; both down very much
distressed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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