Upon Richmond’s being declared the conqueror, he leaped over the ropes, which were nearly five feet in height, with the agility of a tumbler. He received little hurt, except a blow on the temple, and a slight touch on the mouth. On the contrary, Davis was so dreadfully punished that he was supported off the ground. The battle continued twenty minutes. Richmond remained on the ground during the sports of the day, without inconvenience from this conflict.
It was scarcely imagined, from the advanced age of Richmond, that he would ever fight any more prize battles; and upon a battle being announced between the man of colour and the navigator, Tom Shelton, great surprise was manifested by the amateurs at the vast disparagement between them; the latter pugilist being little more than half the age of Richmond, and possessing all the advantages of youth, strength, and science. It, however, created so great an interest in the sporting circles, that on Tuesday, the 1st of August, 1815, upwards of ten thousand persons assembled on Moulsey Hurst to witness the trial of skill. Oliver and Painter seconded the veteran nigger, and Cribb and Clarke waited upon Shelton. It appears this battle originated in a quarrel between the combatants; and so strongly did it operate on the feelings of Shelton, that he positively refused to comply with the usual custom of shaking hands with his opponent previous to their setting-to. But upon the champion’s declaring he would instantly quit the ring if he did not, Shelton laid hold of Richmond’s hand, and the fight commenced, the odds being six and seven to four on the man of colour.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Shelton, from his eagerness to be at work, missed his adversary in making a blow, and Richmond also hit short; but the man of colour soon planted a severe blow with his left hand, when Shelton, with great readiness, damaged one of Richmond’s peepers so sharply that the claret was seen trickling down his face. Shelton, full of resolution, fought his way into a rally, which was well contested, and the navigator was thought to have the best of it. Richmond went down from a hit. (The betting immediately changed, and even was the order of the day.)
2.—Richmond, anxious to return the favour he had received, planted a hit so clean and dexterously upon Shelton’s mouth, that the claret followed, like drawing the cork of a bottle. Shelton positively appeared electrified, and went down like a log. (Two to one offered upon the man of colour.)
3.—The right eye of Richmond was terribly puffed. Shelton had the best of the rally, and his aged opponent went down.
4.—The veteran was all alive, Shelton showed good science, but seemed determined that nothing less than downright milling should go on; he made a good right-handed blow. Richmond missed a desperately aimed hit at his adversary’s ear, which was attributed to the bad state of his own eye, and in closing, got down in an easy style.
5.—The navigator got into work successfully, and felt for Richmond’s head and body not very delicately; but the man of colour again touched him on the sore place of his mouth. The advantage of this round was evidently with Shelton, and he sent his opponent down. (The odds now rapidly changed, and two to one was loudly offered upon the navigator.)
6.—Richmond found that no time was to be lost, and to win in anything like his usual style the fight must soon be taken out of his adversary. He, with much judgment, planted a tremendous blow with his right hand upon Shelton’s nob, who instantly went down.
7.—Both combatants on their mettle, and reciprocal punishment. The man of colour went down. It was altogether a good round, and a sharp rally took place.