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
So anxious were the friends of Painter for a second trial of skill with
Spring, that they put down a deposit the same week, and on the 14th of
April increased it to £40, to fight on August 7th, 1818, for 100 guineas
a-side, it being specially named in the articles that the ring should
have only _eight_ stakes.
Spring was now doomed to receive a slight check to his ambition in his
second contest with Painter, on the 7th of August, 1818, at Russia Farm,
when our hero lost the battle. This unexpected defeat weighed severely
on Spring’s mind. (See the life of NED PAINTER, _post_.)
In consequence of the friends of Shelton forfeiting to Spring, a match
was proposed between Oliver and Spring; but the bad state of Oliver’s
hand prevented it. The backers of Spring, it appears, were determined to
give him an opportunity of reinstating himself, and he was matched
against Carter, who had, for two years, challenged all England as
champion. The stakes were £50 a-side, and a £50 purse to be given by the
Pugilistic Club. The odds were high in favour of Carter, and the backers
of Spring asked two to one. The above battle was decided on the 4th of
May, 1819, at Crawley Down, immediately after Randall and Martin had
left the ring. Carter was seconded by Oliver and Donnelly; and Spring
was attended by Cribb and Shelton. Generally speaking, it was thought a
hollow thing; and Carter was estimated so extravagantly that three to
one was betted upon the combatants setting-to.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Carter entered the ring with great self-importance, smiling
contemptuously upon his opponent, and indicating by his gestures
that he had a mere nothing to contend with. Both the combatants
appeared in good condition, particularly Spring. Upon shaking hands,
Carter did not, as heretofore, let fly with his left hand, and both
men sparred for an opening. Spring, at length, planted a hit on
Carter’s right shoulder. All eyes were fixed upon the _soi-disant_
Champion, to see him go to work, almost expecting him to annihilate
his opponent. A long pause occurred, and the men appeared more like
statues than living pugilists in actual combat. Spring broke from
his position, and planted another hit upon Carter’s shoulder. The
latter endeavoured to make a blow with his left, which was well
stopped by Spring, who also fought his way into a close; Carter got
him on the ropes, where a terrible struggle occurred for the throw,
and, amidst much hissing and hooting, Carter got Spring down.
2.—Long sparring, when Spring put in a facer. The intent of Carter
seemed upon hugging more than hitting, and at the ropes, he
endeavoured to throw Spring. The latter, however, proved the
stronger, and Carter was undermost. Loud shouting, and “Well done,
Spring!”
3.—Spring made a hit, when Carter got away. The former followed to
the ropes, and felt for his nob, till the hugging system commenced,
and both went down. (Hissing.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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