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.—Oliver felt confident that he should prove the conqueror,
and exerted every means in his power to insure victory. He came into
the ring in high condition, weighing about twelve stone eight
pounds; but the chance was completely against him, either at in or
off fighting, excepting the twenty-first round. Oliver tried to beat
Carter after the manner he had vanquished Painter, by determined
in-fighting; but the left hand of Carter always met the head of his
adversary before he got to his length, when Oliver, finding the
great danger of this mode of attack, endeavoured to render it
useless by throwing his head back to avoid the coming blow, at the
same time it gave Carter a full opportunity of striking down with
his right hand, which he never failed to do. It was always in the
power of Carter to close upon his adversary, and bore him to the
ropes whenever he thought proper. In short, there was no comparison
between the combatants respecting scientific fighting; and the
character of Oliver, as a good man, was more valued than his
capabilities as a boxer considered. The high patronage, too, of
Captain Barclay had dazzled the minds of the fancy—individual or
cool judgment was out of the question, and three to one was betted
without why or wherefore. Calculation was completely against such
betting, and it was a sort of overwhelming preference. Too much
prejudice had existed against Carter; and it was sneeringly observed
that he was without game, at best a mere flipper with his left hand,
and whenever he was placed against a good one he would soon be found
out. Comment upon that head is now rendered unnecessary, as facts
are stubborn things. A better or a braver man than his fallen
opponent is not to be found upon the list of boxers; and, although
defeated, he is entitled to the highest consideration of the
sporting world. Carter weighed about thirteen stone seven pounds,
smiled frequently during the fight, and treated the efforts of his
adversary with the most perfect indifference. There was some cry
about a foul blow, but the umpires did not notice it. Carter
returned to Carlisle in the evening, and was seen walking about the
streets with his friends. So much was Carter the object of
pugilistic admiration at this place that, at the White Hart Inn, a
subscription was proposed among several amateurs, that he should
fight the Champion of England for 500 guineas. It was also observed,
as Richmond was walking round the ring during the fight, that Carter
had beat all the blacks. “No; all but one,” was the reply; when
Richmond said he would fight Carter for 200 guineas. Great praise is
due to Painter for the care and attention he paid to Carter during
his training.
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