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
Jack Thomas, a thirteen stone man, well known in the Borough, was beaten
by Hickman in a short, fierce battle. He also accommodated a fellow of
the name of Jack Andrews, for £1 a-side, in the Borough, who talked of
what great things he had done in the boxing line, and what great things
he could still perform; but in the course of seventeen minutes he was so
punished as to be glad to resign the contest. Hickman had not the
slightest mark upon his face in this encounter.
Seven millwrights belonging to Sir John Rennie’s factory, it is said,
were all beaten by Hickman, in a turn-up near the John’s Head, Holland
Street. The latter, on leaving the above house, was attacked by this
party, and compelled to fight in his own defence. These millwrights
afterwards summoned Hickman before the magistrates at Horsemonger Lane;
but, on an explanation taking place, Hickman had also the best of the
round again before his worship, the first assault being proved.
Hickman was a well made, compact man, by no means so heavy in appearance
as he proved to be on going to scale, namely, eleven stone eleven
pounds. His height was five feet nine and a half inches. His nob was a
fighting one, and his eyes small, being protected by prominent orbital
bones. His frame, when stripped, was firm and round, displaying great
muscular strength. Hickman was not a showy, but an effective, decisive
hitter; perhaps the term of a smashing boxer would be more appropriate.
He was, however, a much better fighter than he appeared from his
peculiar style of attack.
We believe it was owing to Tom Shelton (who first discovered this
milling diamond in the rough) that Hickman exhibited in the prize ring.
His out-and-out qualities were whispered to a few of the judges on the
sly, and a patron was at length found for him. It was then determined
that he should be tried with a promising pugilist; and a match was made
between Hickman and young Peter Crawley, for £50 a-side. This came off
on Tuesday, March 16, 1819, at Moulsey Hurst.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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