61.—Cooper, it appeared, could not get away; but he now drew back, and with his right arm met Massa right in the middle of his canister as he was furiously coming in, and the Black was floored. “That’s the way to win it, Cooper!”
62.—The fumes of the wine were slowly evaporating, and the film removing from Cooper’s eyes. In fact, he appeared to recollect himself, and mentally to exclaim, “Cooper’s himself again!” The last nobber seemed rather to have spoilt the Black’s distance, and he now hit short. Cooper again canistered him, and the ogles of Massa rolled with astonishment. It was a small touch of electricity, and the Black was not proof against the shock. In closing, both down.
63 to 65.—Cooper’s quality now began to peep out a little; and Massa appeared not quite so lively, from the severe hits he had received in these rounds. The Black did not relish this change in his fortune; and he indicated to his seconds something like “enough!” Both down.
66.—The Black made a miss, and napped a facer; he missed again and again, and his nob paid for it. The campaign had now changed, and “Cooper for £100,” was the cry.
67.—Massa was hit down.
68.—Cooper began now to recover the use of his arms, and he exerted them to some purpose. The Black was met at every point, and finally sent down.
69 and last.—The Black still showed fight; but got such a bodier, besides punishment upon his upper works, that when time was called he did not answer the sound, and victory was declared in favour of Cooper. Massa tried to leave his second’s knee, but dropped exhausted. The Black did not show much punishment, except one of his eyes, which was rather damaged; but Cooper was heavily damaged about the head. It occupied an hour and five minutes.
Remarks.—The Black was certainly a troublesome customer, and weighed above a stone heavier than his opponent. Indeed, the event was doubtful for a long time; but, in all probability, had the combat taken place in the ring, and with the advantages of training, Cooper would have made a short reckoning of it. It should be recollected, Massa came prepared, and Cooper was taken by surprise from the table, late in the evening, and primed with wine. Massa put on his clothes, received the four guineas, and walked home. The Black hit well with his right, and it was thought this turn up might have led to a regular match, Massa being rather fancied by some of the amateurs present, who urged that if he was sent out to nurse, his victualling office put into commission, with the advantages of patronage, and the improved effects resulting from training, he might then be capable of making a good stand against any one of his weight. The previous fame acquired by Cooper suffered considerably by this hasty combat.
The Black, although defeated, gained a few friends; and a purse of £50 was offered to be given to Cooper and Kendrick to have a ring fight; but the former, much to the surprise of the sporting world, declined it, observing, “It would be of no use to him; it being his wish and intention to fight a boxer of some note, defeating Kendrick would not add to his reputation.” This answer was not well received, it being thought by the amateurs, that the £50 would be like a gift to George Cooper. At Shelton’s benefit at the Fives Court, on Tuesday, June 22, 1819, the set-to between Cooper and the Gas Man, claimed universal attention. It was fine science against confidence and boring, or, in other words, sparring versus fighting. Cooper stopped almost every hit, and gave Gas some severe nobbers in return. His attitude and mode of setting-to were pronounced beautiful. The man of Gas gave in in consequence of “hurting his hand.”
From the superior abilities displayed by Cooper in this glove bout, the minds of the amateurs were made up decidedly in his favour. It was however, afterwards asserted that the Gas Man “gammoned it.”