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
REMARKS.—Dan displayed improvement both in science and in temper,
which, added to superior strength, enabled him to beat down the
guard of Cooper with ease and effect. He was also in better
condition than when he fought Hall. It was urged that Cooper was
half beaten before he entered the ring, from the prejudices which
existed against him. The sum originally offered to the combatants
was a purse of £120, and the loser to have £20; but, on the morning
of fighting, after Cooper had been kept waiting in a chaise on the
ground for upwards of an hour, he was told that the funds would not
admit of more than £60 being given to the winner, and nothing to the
loser. Upon this statement, Cooper declared he would not fight; but
the reply was, “You are on the ground, man, and must fight. The
multitude must not be disappointed.” Under these disadvantages
Cooper met his adversary, in the bold attempt to wrest the laurel
from the brow of the champion, and that, too, upon his native soil.
It is not meant to be asserted that Cooper could have won the
battle. An impartial opinion has been given by his own countrymen to
the contrary, they admitting that Cooper, with all his superior
boxing skill, could not compete with Dan, who had long ranked A1 in
the sparring and boxing circles of the Irish metropolis.
It was for some time a generally expressed opinion that the recognised
Irish champion would not cross the channel and show himself in this
country. However, in February, 1819, it was whispered that “The ‘big’
hero, the pride of Hibernia, known as the Irish Champion, had slipped
across the Water, and shown himself in England.”
Dan left full of spirits—the Pigeon-House soon lost sight of—Dublin Bay
and its surrounding beauties no longer visible—the Hill o’ Howth
(Paddy’s landmark) nearly extinct—and behold our hero “half seas over”
towards Liverpool, before he had time to reflect upon the hasty step he
had taken. However, there was now no retreating: a few “more glasses”
made everything pleasant, reflection no longer intruded, and, after some
forty winks, the light-house of the Mersey broke upon Dan’s ogles, and
the quay of Liverpool gave him a safe deliverance from the briny deep.
It was at this sea-port that Carter crossed his path, picked him up as a
brother performer, which gave birth to his adventures in England; for it
seems Dan’s original intention was not to visit the metropolis, but, as
soon as his pecuniary affairs were settled, to return to Dublin.
Dan’s fame had gone before him: there was not an out-and-outer upon the
Coal Quay in Dublin (and the mere appearance of some of these rough
heroes is enough to appal Old Nick), who had not repented of his
temerity in attacking Donnelly. It was also asserted that he had floored
with ease every opponent in Ireland.
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