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
Round 1.—Cannon came up as if determined to lose no time in going to
work. The position of Ward was firm; he seemed armed at all points
for defence. Cannon advanced towards his man, broke ground, and hit
right and left. Ward stopped him, retreated, and smiled. Cannon
followed him, when Ward let fly with his right, and caught Cannon
over the eye, and drew first blood. Cannon still busy, came in, but
was stopped with a left-handed hit in the throat, and a ruby tinge
was again visible. A sharp rally followed, Ward retreating,
stopping, and nobbing his man as he came in. At length they closed
and, after a short struggle, went down together. (Cheers for Ward,
who decidedly had the best of the round.)
2.—Cannon came up on the bustling system, and tried for an opening.
Ward stopped him right and left, and, stepping backward a pace,
jobbed him as he approached, with his right hand, over the left eye.
Cannon, not dismayed, took this compliment kindly, and returned
slightly on Jem’s cheek. A sharp rally followed, in which Cannon
bustled to his man, and got to a close. Ward twisted his leg between
the legs of Cannon, and threw him heavily, adding his own weight to
the severity of the fall.
3.—On coming to the scratch, Ward let fly with his left; it was
cleverly stopped by Cannon. Cannon then bored in, and Ward retired
fighting. As he retreated he succeeded in putting in two facers, but
was at length bored down at the rails, and Cannon fell over him.
Ward had a lucky escape from his head coming in contact with the
board which skirted the stage, in this round. Had this accident
happened, in all probability his fate would have been decided. The
chance of such injuries forms one of the strongest objections to
stage-fighting.
4.—On coming up it was seen that Ward had not received a blow which
left a mark. He smiled, and stood to his guard, while Cannon, all
energy, rushed to the attack. Cannon made a right-handed hit, but
Ward was awake, stopped it, and drew back. Cannon immediately rushed
in, and after a short struggle both fell, Ward under.
5.—Cannon again endeavoured to take the lead, but Ward was too
quick, and delivered several facers. Cannon, not discouraged,
continued his assault in gallant style, and finally Ward, in
endeavouring to escape a right-handed blow, slipped down on his
hands. This was claimed by Spring as the first knock-down blow, but
we did not view it in that light.
6.—Cannon renewed the bustling system, but fought wildly, and was
evidently exhausting himself by his own exertions. He missed several
well-intentioned blows, and as he followed his man he was met with a
nozzler. A sharp rally followed, in which Ward received a severe
blow on the side of the occiput, and finally slipped down close to
the posts.
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