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
seconded by Tom Jones and Clark; Cribb and Tom Belcher performing that
office for Neat. Cribb tied the yellow colours of his man to the stakes,
and Jones placed the blue handkerchief of Oliver upon them. Lord
Yarmouth, Sir Henry Smith, and a long _et cetera_ of amateurs, were
round the ring. The ceremony of shaking hands took place, and at three
o’clock the fight commenced. Neat five and six to four the favourite.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On setting-to, Neat looked formidable. His attitude was
springy and ready for quick action. His legs, decorated with silk
stockings, not only evinced fine form, but vast strength; and his
arms were equally sinewy. Upon the whole, he had the appearance and
make of what is generally considered a prize pugilist. He had also
excellent symmetry. Both were anxious to commence in good style, and
some sparring occurred. Neat hit short, and Oliver planted the first
blow. Some hits were exchanged, and Oliver put in a body hit and got
away; however, in following his opponent, he received a blow, and,
slipping at the same time, went down. Two minutes and a half had
elapsed.
2.—It was evident that experience was on the side of Oliver; but the
right arm of Neat was truly dangerous. Oliver put in a bodier, and
Neat returned short. The combatants then got into a sharp rally,
which terminated with Oliver fibbing down his opponent. (Great
applause.) The claret was now seen on the mouth and neck of Neat.
3.—Oliver again made a hit on the body, which Neat returned short
with his left hand. Oliver also planted successfully several body
blows, and Neat frequently missed in return. Some good counter hits
occurred. Oliver followed Neat closely up; some exchanges took
place, when Neat turned round and went down from a hit. (Slight
disapprobation.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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