7.—It was useless for Holt to contend; but his game and courageous nature prompted him, if possible, to rise superior to defeat. It was all up: Randall did as he pleased, and Holt was again down. (Any odds.)
8 and last.—Holt was emulous for conquest; the blunt, it seems, he did not value, but the fame of victory was dear to him; nothing else could have induced him again to meet his opponent. Randall worked sharply with both his hands, and with his right planted a tremendous hit on Holt’s nob, that instantly floored him. He was beaten out of time, but was anxious to renew the combat. He observed, “I am ready to fight;” but, in endeavouring to rise from his second’s knee, fell down from exhaustion. Holt’s friends were perfectly satisfied he could not win, and he was instantly carried out of the ring by Parish and Painter, put into a chaise, and proper attention paid to him. The battle lasted twenty-five minutes.
Remarks.—This contest firmly established Randall’s character as a first-rate scientific pugilist. He possesses the mastery of the art in an eminent degree, divests his actions of sameness with the most perfect ease, and promptly changes his mode of fighting as the necessity of the attack requires. In his former battles with Baruk, the Jew, and West Country Dick, his superior fibbing traits proved successful. With Holt a different system was required, and as an out-fighter he completely astonished the ring by the terrible punishing capabilities he exhibited. With his left hand Randall planted uncounted hits on Holt’s face, and several with his right. He threw little time away in sparring; and, like a good artist, his workmanship soon spoke for itself. As a finisher there seemed a great similarity between Randall and the late Dutch Sam, and as a two-handed hitter, the decisive mode of Tom Belcher. It was urged by the partisans of Holt, that he displayed no fight at all in contending against Randall. This complaint, upon a slight examination, will not only soon be removed, but the assertion proved unjust. Randall was the offensive fighter throughout the battle, and his punishment was so rapid and severe, that he never gave Holt an opportunity of showing himself, except on the defensive. The latter, notwithstanding his science, but in very few instances stopped his opponent’s left hand. The true statement of the case is, that “the fight” was hit out of him as early as the third round. In fact, if Holt had not been truly a game man, he could never have stood before Randall for twenty-five minutes, after the heavy milling he received at the onset. In consequence of this opinion being entertained by the few amateurs present, £10 were collected for his bravery.
Four months had scarcely elapsed when Randall again appeared in the prize-ring, in competition with Belasco, the Jew. This match produced one of the most interesting battles upon record. Since the boxing days of the scientific Tom Belcher and the renowned Dutch Sam, the amateurs and patrons of pugilism had not been more animatedly interested respecting the termination of any combat than the one which took place on Tuesday, September 30, 1817, at Shepperton Range, in a twenty-four feet ring, for fifty guineas a-side, between these heroes. The milling reputation of both the combatants was of the first order throughout the circles of the fancy. Randall was considered the best finisher of the light weights; the Jews, in Belasco, hoped to find another Dutch Sam. He was the rising star of their pugilistic hemisphere, and an awkward man to get at—a desperate in-fighter; one that would not be denied, and able to rally his opponent to the end of the chapter. Duke’s Place was all alive in the praise of the capabilities of Belasco, and, notwithstanding the love of monish by the tribes, it is said, in some instances, the odds were sported on the promising young Israelite. But if Petticoat Lane resounded with the strains of the Children of Judah, on the other hand the back settlements of the Holy Land were equally full of spirits upon the occasion, and from the turf cutter to the knight of the hod, all sported all their loose blunt from a sovereign down to a glass of whiskey, in honour of their “darling Jack Randall.” The Corinthians of St. James’ too were highly interested in the event; and the flash side (as they were termed), although they sported five and six to four on Randall, did not view it with anything like the safety of receiving a bank dividend. The men appeared in good condition—Belasco weighing a few pounds more than his opponent, and looking uncommonly fresh. The time having arrived, five minutes before one, the combatants commenced the attack. Randall was seconded by Paddington Jones and Dick Whale; Belasco was waited upon by Little Puss and Aby Swartscher.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Randall, who in all his former battles generally hit first, displayed unusual caution. The same care was manifested in the Jew. It was a complete system of tactics. The spectators were lost in amazement; and their optics were completely tired in watching the feints, viewing the steps, contrasting the manœuvres, stratagems, and snares resorted to by Randall and Belasco to get the best of each other, until nine minutes had elapsed before the first round was terminated, during which only four blows had been exchanged. In closing, Belasco went down.
2.—The same system of generalship occurred, and this round occupied eight minutes and a half. Belasco put in a sharp hit on Randall’s mouth, which brought forth the claret in a twinkling. Here the coolness of the Nonpareil was seen to great advantage; his steadiness was as if no blow had been struck. A rally occurred, in which some sharp hits were exchanged, and Randall received rather an unwelcome touch upon his eye. They separated and rallied again, when, in a close, the Jew went down.
3.—From this mode of fighting a long battle was anticipated. In this round the knowledge of the art was portrayed on both sides. Randall was rather unfortunate in his distances, for although his left hand bodied his opponent repeatedly, it did not touch the mark. It was not a coup de grace. Belasco down. Twenty-four minutes had elapsed.
4.—The conduct of the Jew was much to be admired. He fought like a hero, and followed his opponent with all the confidence of true game. He was, however, floored with the celerity of a shot, from a desperate left-handed hit of Randall. The latter put up his hand to his eye as if it was troublesome.
5.—It was now clearly seen that Randall was the great captain; he out-generalled his opponent with all the accomplishment of the art of war. If Randall was bored at any time to a corner of the ring, he fought his way out with such ease and safety that description falls short in conveying its excellence. It was also curious to observe, that the Jew at one period had got Randall in a position to fib him, when the latter, from his tact and courage, not only extricated himself from this perilous situation, but he returned the compliment upon Belasco with unparalleled adroitness, and fibbed the Jew till he went down. (Two to one upon Randall.)