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
5.—Oliver seemed at a loss how to cope, with any sort of success,
against his scientific antagonist, and resorted to his game
qualities of going in to smash this hitting and getting away boxer,
if possible. Oliver was no stranger that Carter always preferred
giving to taking punishment, and drew an inference that his opponent
had some fears in this respect, and that to insure victory the fight
must be taken out of him by close and determined attacks. Oliver, in
consequence, felt severely in this round for Carter’s body, but the
latter returned desperately on his opponent’s head. They were again
struggling at the ropes, and both went down.
6.—Some heavy blows were exchanged in a rally, and Carter was
floored at the ropes.
7.—Oliver was bleeding in all directions, and, in closing, went
down.
8 to 20.—The description of these rounds would be superfluous. The
gameness of Oliver, his manliness of boxing, and his determination
to succeed, if possible, perfectly satisfied the most sanguine of
his partizans, and at intervals he met with partial success; but, in
justice to Carter it must be stated, that the advantages were
decisively upon his side: he hit and got away with his usual _sang
froid_; his right hand was also conspicuously effective, and,
whenever it appeared expedient to finish the round, he closed at
pleasure upon his adversary with the most eminent superiority.
Oliver gained nothing in fighting for length; and when going in he
was opposed with the most determined opposition. In truth, the
spectators were convinced in the above rounds that the science, the
strength, and smiling confidence of victory were on the side of
Carter; and that his adversary had not only been most dreadfully
punished, but quite abroad as to his usual system of tactics,
throwing away a number of blows by repeatedly hitting short; while,
on the contrary, the Lancashire hero did not exhibit any very
prominent marks of severe milling, and was quite in possession of
himself.
21.—In this round Oliver showed himself off in a conspicuous manner,
and put in so tremendous a hit in the wind of Carter, that he
measured his length on the ground instantaneously. It appeared, from
its severity, a complete finisher. The friends of Oliver thought
Carter would not be able to come to time, if at all; and the
Lancastrians looked rather blue as to its ultimate effects. (The
betting, notwithstanding, varied but little.)
22.—The expected change did not take place; although Carter appeared
at the scratch very much distressed, and almost gaping for breath he
contrived to get himself down in the best manner he was able. No
blows passed in this round.
23.—Much the same as the preceding, but in struggling Oliver was
thrown.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account