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
128 to 138 and last.—It appeared Dolly entertained an opinion that
he could not lose it; and even after two hours and a quarter had
passed, he nodded satisfactorily to his friends that his confidence
had not deserted him. There was nothing interesting in the whole of
these rounds to amateurs; and Dolly endeavoured to tire out his
adversary by going down, but without effect, when he at last said he
could fight no more. Two hours and fifty-five minutes had elapsed.
REMARKS.—Abbot is by no means a first-rate fighter, or he ought to
have beat Dolly off-hand. He was all caution, and his strength
enabled him to last the longest. He was very glad when Dolly said
“No.” It was a most fatiguing fight; and, owing to the pitiless,
pelting shower, and the amateurs having to stand up to their knees
in mud, the ring was almost deserted before the fight was ended. It
was only the out-and-outers that remained. To describe the pitiful
appearance of the amateurs would have required the pencil of a
Hogarth—they had not a dry thread about them. Abbot had scarcely a
scratch upon his face; but was much distressed towards the end, and
led out of the ring. Smith was put to bed at the Barge House. Little
betting occurred. Owing to the bad state of the weather, no
collection was made for Smith, but he had a benefit given to him,
under the patronage of some spirited amateurs.
Abbot was defeated by West Country Dick in a turn-up on March 2, 1819.
(See vol. i., pp. 478, 479.)
Abbot fought with a knight of the last, to make up a fourth battle, for
a small purse, on Hounslow Heath, on Tuesday, June 1, 1819; it served
the amateurs to laugh at. Abbot had been sacrificing too freely at the
shrine of Bacchus either to stand upright or to make a hit, and the
“translator of soles” seemed also to have too much respect for his hide
to encounter even his reeling opponent. “Master Waxy” gave in upon his
pins, after jumping about in the most ridiculous postures for twenty
minutes, without having a mark to show.
The sporting world felt great disappointment on Friday, February 18,
1820, in consequence of the severe illness of Spring preventing the
combat which had been fixed for the above day. The ring was formed on
Epsom Downs, and at half past twelve o’clock Ben Burn threw his hat up,
and loudly declared he was ready to fight Spring. (See _ante_, p. 9.)
Richmond also came forward and asked if any gentleman present appeared
on the part of Spring, but no answer was given. The man of colour told
Burn not to be in any hurry, as a fight could be made up in the interim.
A purse of twelve guineas was collected upon the ground, and Abbot
entered the lists with a raw countryman from Streatham, who appeared
anxious for milling honours. Abbot was seconded by the Guardsman and
Hopping Ned; the “yokel” was attended by Richmond and Clark. At two
o’clock the men set to.
THE FIGHT.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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