Richmond’s first public set-to in London was with a whip-maker of the name of Green, in the fields near White Conduit House. Phips Medley seconded Richmond, who got the whip-hand of Green in such good style, that in ten minutes he cried—enough!
BILL RICHMOND.
From a Portrait by Hillman, 1812.
Thus far Pierce Egan, whose apocrypha we will now quit.
After the battle between Pearce (the Game Chicken) and Joe Berks, on Wimbledon Common, Jan. 23rd, 1804 (see life of Pearce, ante, p. 170), George Maddox having disposed of Seabrook in three rounds (see the account of this cross in life of Maddox, ante, p. 208), our sable hero expressed to his master (Lord Camelford) his opinion that he could polish off “the veteran.” A stake, amount not mentioned, was immediately posted. “Old George, nothing loth, declared his readiness. But the new black turned out a ‘duffer,’ George hitting him down the third time with a crack under the left eye, which so completely queered his ogle that he gave out.”[[146]]
On Tuesday, May 21, 1805, Tom Cribb, having beaten the ponderous Israelite “Ikey Pig,” the tribes were in desolation and mourning. At this juncture a Jew known as fighting Youssop (Joseph), came forward, like another Maccabeus, to do battle in honour of his peoplesh, but not with the same success, and “See the conquering hero comes,” was not sung that night by the Israelitish virgins of Rosemary Lane or Duke’s Plashe. Here is the report: “The ring being cleared, one Youssop, a Jew, who turned out to be more ready than able, stepped forward to redeem the valorous character of his fraternity, when a match was proposed for him in Bill Richmond, the American black, for which a purse of ten guineas was soon collected. The Jew accepted his opponent; they stripped, shook hands, and set-to without loss of time.
“The battle was well contested, neither man flinching from his work, or falling without a knock-down. For the first and second rounds Youssop showed off his dexterity, and this superiority he particularly displayed in the third round, when he stopped Richmond neatly and followed him up till he drove him nearly out of the ring. He did not, however, seem to mark or hurt his man. In the fourth round Richmond improved, and following up his opponent in turn gave him several desperate blows in the face, sadly to the disfigurement of the Mosaic countenance. Youssop gave way altogether, and at the close of the sixth round declared, like Ikey Pig, ‘He’d have no more of it.’ Richmond accordingly was proclaimed the conqueror, and pocketed the stakes.”
This battle raised Richmond’s credit as a pugilist, and he soon received a challenge from “Jack Holmes,” the coachman,[[147]] who on the 30th of January, in the preceding year, had been conquered by Tom Blake (Tom Tough), see ante, p. 235. Here is the report:—
“Mr. Fletcher Reid, the firm supporter of pugilism, backed Richmond for 50 guineas, Mr. Peter Ward patronised old Jack Holmes. They met at Cricklewood Green, a short distance from Kilburn Wells, where a twenty-one foot ring had been roped out, on Monday, July 8th [1805]. Paddington Jones seconded the black, and Tom Blake picked up his old antagonist the coachman. About twelve o’clock the men stripped and began the set-to.”
THE FIGHT.