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
It was two to one all round the ring before the combatants made their
appearance, and at one o’clock, almost at the same moment, Oliver and
Hickman threw their hats into the ropes. Oliver was attended by Harmer
and Josh. Hudson; the Gas Man was waited upon by Spring and Shelton.
This trio sported white hats. The colours, yellow for Oliver and blue
for the Gas, were then tied to the stakes. On Oliver entering the ring
he went up to the Gas-light Man smiling, shook hands with him, and asked
him how he did, which was returned in a most friendly manner by Hickman.
On tossing up for the side to avoid the rays of the sun, Hickman said,
“It’s a woman; I told you I should win it.” He appeared in striped silk
stockings; and, on stripping, patted himself with confidence, as much as
to infer, “Behold my good condition.” Some little difficulty occurred in
selecting umpires.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Considerable caution was observed; each dodged the other a
little while, made offers to hit, and got away. The Gas endeavoured
to plant a blow, but it fell short, from the retreating system
adopted by Oliver. The Gas again endeavoured to make a hit, which
alighted on Oliver’s right arm; the latter, by way of derision,
patted it and laughed. Oliver was now at the ropes, and some
exchanges took place; but in a close Oliver broke away, and a small
pause ensued. Hickman at length went to work, and his execution was
so tremendous in a close that the face of Oliver was changed to a
state of stupor, and both went down. Oliver was picked up instantly,
but he was quite abroad; he looked wildly, his left ear bleeding;
and the cry was, “It’s all up, he cannot come again.” Indeed it was
the general opinion that Oliver would not be able again to appear at
the scatch. However, the Gas did not come off without a sharp taste
of the powers of the Old One.
2.—Oliver was bad; in fact, he was “shaken.” His heart was as good
as ever, but his energy was reduced: he got away from a hit. The Gas
now put in so tremendous a facer that it was heard all over the
ring, and Oliver was bleeding at the mouth. In closing, Oliver tried
to fib his opponent, but it was useless; the Gas held him as tight
as if he had been in a vice till they both went down. Oliver was so
punished and exhausted that several persons cried out, “It’s of no
use, take the Old ’un away.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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