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
4.—Donnelly exhibited a new feature in the London prize ring. Oliver
again pinked at the body, after the manner he fought with Neat,
which Donnelly stopped with much skill; but his right hand, which
had been hitherto spoken of as “tremendous,” he did not make use of,
although Oliver had already given him several opportunities to have
used it to advantage. Oliver made a good hit on the bread-basket,
when Donnelly’s left hand told on his opponent’s mug, which
staggered him, and he followed him to the ropes. Here some sharp
work ensued, and Donnelly made use of his head instead of his fists
(which were occupied in holding Oliver) in bumping his opponent’s
nob. (Loud shouting, and some disapprobation was expressed at this
mode of butting.)[23]
5.—Oliver put in a sharp body blow, and some good counter-hits were
exchanged. The mouth of Donnelly was clareted, which was the first
blood. The combatants again got in the corner of the ring, when, by
way of a finish to the round, Donnelly cross-buttocked his opponent.
(“Erin-go-bragh,” from his warm-hearted countrymen, and “Go along,
my Danny,” from his John Bull backers.)
6.—Caution on both sides, till Oliver made a chopping right-handed
hit on his opponent’s nob. In close quarters at the ropes, after
some sharp exchanges, it was urged by several persons close to the
ring that Donnelly had hit Oliver down from a blow on the body. On
reference to the umpires, it was not admitted as a “knock-down
blow,” but that Oliver had slipped and fell.
7.—Oliver planted a good facer, and laughed at his opponent. He also
put in a bodier and got away. In short, it might fairly be said, he
had the best of the round, and Donnelly went down bleeding. (“Bravo,
Oliver!” and great applause.)
8.—Nothing of passion appeared on the part of Donnelly, which it had
been urged by his opponents he would exhibit on getting a “nobber or
two;” on the contrary, he was as cool as a cucumber. In struggling,
both down, Oliver bleeding profusely about the face. (We must not
pass over a circumstance which occurred in this round, in
consequence of some altercation between the seconds. On Donnelly’s
being down, it was urged that, perceiving Oliver meant to fall upon
him, he lifted up his legs with intent to kick Oliver, or to divert
him from his purpose. This also excited the various opinions and
expressions of “Foul!” “Fair!”)
9.—In this round Donnelly received great applause. The men fought
into a close, from which Donnelly extricated himself in style, and
returned sharply to work, till he had the best of the hitting, and
Oliver went down exhausted. The spectators were perfectly convinced
that Donnelly was a tremendous hitter with his right hand, when he
thought proper to use it. He gave Oliver so hard a blow upon the
ribs that the impression of his knuckles was strongly imprinted, and
remained visible during the whole of the fight.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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