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
3.—In this round the spectators were astonished at the excellence of
Oliver. Some smart exchanges took place, when the latter not only
damaged Shelton’s right ogle, but hit him severely in the throat,
followed him and ultimately floored him.
4.—The fine fighting of Shelton could not be perceived. Oliver put
in such a tremendous facer that Shelton put down his hands and
retreated. The latter, rather angry, endeavoured to plant a heavy
hit on the tender ear of Oliver, but he stopped him on his elbow,
laughing at him. Shelton received some more facers, and Oliver
ultimately got him down. (“That’s the way, Oliver; go it, my old
Westminster trump, we shall have another jubilee yet in the
dominions of old Caleb.”)
5.—Shelton went down, but it appeared more from the slippery state
of the ground than the hit.
6.—Shelton put in a sharp nobber; but in return his upper works were
peppered, and he was again down. Shelton’s right eye was nearly
gone, and Oliver smiled with confidence.
7.—Shelton threw his opponent, and appeared the stronger man.
8.—This was a well-contested round. Shelton’s face now exhibited the
handy-work of his opponent. He went down, and Oliver fell upon him,
but threw up his arms.
9.—Oliver’s right hand would be nobbing Shelton; but the latter made
a desperate return on Oliver’s already cut mouth that fetched the
claret copiously. Shelton endeavoured to repeat this electrifying
touch, but Oliver stopped him neatly. Shelton then closed, pelting
away, and in struggling made a jump to get his opponent down. Both
fell, Oliver undermost.
10.—Oliver commenced this round by planting two facers, right and
left, and also put in a bodier, without a return. Shelton, however,
gallantly fought his way into a sharp rally, and some severe
exchanges occurred, when the men broke away. In closing again, both
down, but Shelton undermost. (“Bravo!” from all parts of the ring;
“good on both sides.”) More real courage could not be witnessed.
11.—The scene was now rather changed, and some little danger was
apprehended from Shelton’s not only nobbing his opponent, but by a
well gathered hit having floored Oliver like a shot. Randall and
Callas lost not a moment in getting Oliver up; but when placed on
his second’s knee his head lolled on one side, and he appeared lost
to what was going forward. In fact, it seemed as if the game Oliver
could not recover, although Randall kept telling him to look about
and recollect himself, calling out, “Tom! Tom!” Shelton’s friends,
who had previously been as if frozen, now jumped about and began to
bet without hesitation.
12.—Shelton satisfied the spectators that his nob was screwed on the
right way; he immediately went to work with Oliver, and again got
him down. (Ten to one on Shelton.)
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