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
37.—Langan fought this round better than any of the spectators could
anticipate. He planted a couple of hits; it is true they were not
effective, but it showed the fight was not out of him. The Irish
Champion fought under the black flag, “death or victory,” and went
down, out-fought at all points.
38.—Belcher brought his man to the scratch, nay, almost carried
him,[8] when, singular to relate, gamecock like, all his energies
appeared to return, and he commenced milling like a hero. Spring
planted four blows without any return, and Langan went down.
39.—Langan was again down.
40.—The hero of the black fogle showed fight till he went down quite
exhausted.
41.—A short round, but it was surprising to witness the strength
exhibited by Langan in the struggle for the throw. Both down, when
Spring patted him on the back.
42.—Langan was undermost in this round, but Spring really had his
work to do to place his opponent in that situation.
43.—Langan again undermost, and Spring fell heavily upon him.
44.—Spring planted a facer, but met with a return. In struggling for
the throw, Langan took hold of the drawers of Spring, when Cribb and
Painter called out “Let go his drawers.” Langan immediately
relinquished his hold. The Irish Champion was thrown.
45.—Langan hit Spring on the side of his head, and fought well in an
exchange of blows. Spring, however, obtained the throw.
46.—It was astonishing, after getting the worst of it in the
previous rounds, to witness the resolute manner in which Langan
contested this round. He was still dangerous in the exchanges, and,
in struggling, both fell upon the stage. Langan undermost.
47.—Langan, on being placed at the scratch, was ready for the
attack. In a short time, after struggling, both went down. (The John
Bull fighter roared out—“I’m sorry for you, Tom Belcher; you will
certainly be ‘lagged’ if you don’t take your man away.” “Well done,
Josh,” replied Belcher, “that comes well from you; but we shall win
it; Spring can’t hurt a mouse now.”) Langan took a little brandy and
water.
48.—Spring exhibited weakness, but threw Langan.
49.—Langan still made a fight of it, to the surprise of all. In an
exchange of blows, however exhausted the brave boy from Paddy’s land
appeared to be, Spring used his harlequin step to prevent accidents.
In struggling for the throw, both down.
50.—Langan again showed himself ready at the scratch. “My dear boy,”
said Belcher, “it’s all your own if you will but fight first.”
Langan put in a body blow, and also countered with his opponent, but
had the worst of it, and went down.
51.—Seeing is believing; but to the reader who has perused the whole
of the above rounds, it must almost appear like romance to state,
that Langan held Spring for a short time against the rails to get
the throw, till they both went down, and Spring fell on him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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