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
27.—Oliver again hit Shelton in the face as he was falling; but
Oliver was in the act of giving and could not help it. It was not an
intentional blow. However, loud cries of “Foul, foul!” “Fair, fair!”
occurred; and on Shelton’s asking the umpires if it was not foul, it
was deemed fair, the hit not being intentional.
28.—This was a most courageous round, and Shelton did all that a
brave man could do to win. The hits on both sides were terrific,
till Shelton retreated from the heavy punishment dealt out to him,
followed by Oliver all over the ring. He caught Shelton, in the act
of falling, under his arm, carrying him a considerable way, then
generously letting him go down easily. (Tumultuous applause for
Oliver.)
29.—Another fine round—all hitting and no flinching. Both down, but
Shelton undermost. When the combatants were on the knees of their
seconds, Shelton said to Oliver, “Let them chaff (meaning the
seconds), but you and I, Tom, will do what is right.” “Certainly,”
replied Oliver.
30.—Shelton still proved himself a dangerous customer; he went up to
Oliver, planting some hard blows, till he was hit away. In
struggling, both down.
31.—It was not long before Shelton was floored.
32.—Shelton put in a good nobber; but Oliver soon returned two
facers, right and left, and Shelton went down on his knee.
33.—Oliver observed to his opponent, “Tom, I have got you now,” and
instantly went to work, till Shelton went down much distressed.
34.—Shelton got wild, and ran after Oliver, till he was stopped by a
flush hit and went down exhausted.
35.—Shelton had now lost his self-possession, but still he was
dangerous, for Oliver received a nobber that moved him from the
ground. Shelton ran all over the ring after Oliver, while the latter
kept getting away, putting in a hit now and then, and laughing till
Shelton ran himself down. (Any odds. “It’s all your own, but be
steady.”)
36.—It was sad to see the state of Shelton; he hit at random and was
as groggy as a Jack tar three sheets in the wind. He received a hit
on his head, and fell.
37.—Notwithstanding the groggy state of Shelton, Oliver would not
give a chance away, but kept at a distance, planting his hits in a
winning manner, till Shelton went down. While the latter was on the
knee of his second, Callas went up to Shelton and asked him if he
would fight any more. Spring was irritated with Callas, and a row
had nearly been the result. (Odds were now out of the question.)
38.—The opponents of Shelton could not but compliment his bravery,
as he came up like a man, although reeling to and fro; he,
nevertheless, made a hit, till he was sent down at the ropes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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