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
6.—Vipond toed his mark, but in such a manner that any odds might be
had against him. The only surprise was that he came at all, for he
had had enough to satisfy an out-and-outer, without the slightest
chance of winning. Langan, in commencing this round, nobbed him two
or three times, and then let go a good one at the mark, but as the
hit was going in, Vipond struck Langan’s wrist downwards, which
caused the blow to fall below the waistband. This the seconds
thought to take some advantage of, by saying the blow was below the
line prescribed by the laws of fighting, and a complete stand-still
took place, until the umpires declared they saw nothing unfair, and
desired the fight to proceed.
7.—The time-keepers called time, but Vipond seemed to hang fire. The
moment he got on his legs, Reynolds sent Langan to him, and Matthew
went to grass.
8.—Matthew, to tell the truth, did not like the suit; and we must
say he had no reason. When his second lifted him up to take him to
the scratch, he declared he had been struck foul in the sixth round,
and disregarding the direction of the umpires, declined fighting any
more. Time was called, but Matthew slipped under the ropes and left
the ring. Victory was then proclaimed for Langan in a shout that
rent the skies.
REMARKS.—This fight excited more interest in Lancashire and the
surrounding counties, than anything of the kind that has happened in
the recollection of the oldest man. It was a kind of duel between
England and Ireland—the English free in backing Vipond, the Irish
almost offended if any doubt was expressed against Paddy. Langan
stood five feet ten inches; Matthew, five feet eleven inches and
three-quarters, about ten pounds the heavier, and a most powerful
man. It was, as long as it lasted, a lively fight; but Vipond
certainly had no chance of winning. The Irishman was (a wonder for
that nation) cool and deliberate. Independent of that, he was quick
on his legs, hit hard, and used both hands. As a proof of the
inequality of the men, Pat had not the slightest visible mark of
injury about him when the contest ended. At the time the row ensued,
and Vipond had left the ring, a man called Rough Robin, about
fifteen stone, entered the ropes, and challenged Pat for any money.
Langan offered to fight that instant for £5, or anything else; but
simple as Robin looked, he had good sense enough to take a second
thought, and said he would train first. At the conclusion, Langan
was exultingly carried by the boys of Shillelah on their shoulders
to his carriage, and left the ground. The following certificate of
the umpires was considered sufficient to satisfy all parties as to
any doubt which they might have at the time respecting the alleged
foul blow:—
“CERTIFICATE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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