Round 1.—Burke appeared an active, fine young man, and in good condition. He was anxious to go to work, and soon let fly. Randall also set-to. In closing the Nonpareil got his opponent’s canister under his arm, and served it out as a clown in a fair operates on a salt box; when tired, he threw Burke. (Rare chaffing from the Randallites; two to one.)
2.—Burke was not quite so eager; he found more caution and a little sparring necessary. Randall again felt for his nob, when the claret peeped, and first blood was declared for the Nonpareil. In closing, both down.
3.—This was a short round, Burke falling from a slight hit.
4.—Burke could not protect his nob; in fact, it was in complete chancery, and he had no idea of getting it out. His head was quite altered; in a close, both down. Burke undermost.
5.—More chancery practice on the part of Randall, and played off upon his opponent’s nob, without any return. Randall again got Burke down.
6.—This was a severe milling round. Burke showed Randall that he must not be treated with careless contempt lest he might prove a dangerous customer. Burke again went down in a close, undermost.
7.—Randall stopped well, but did not display himself to so much advantage as in his previous contests; he appeared more bent upon running in, and pulling his opponent down, than decisive hitting. Both down, but Burke undermost.
8.—All fighting: and Burke it was thought had rather the best of it.
9.—Burke, very cautious, tried to make the most of his science, but went down.
10.—This was a sort of scrambling round, catching hold of each other, and Randall had not only the worst of it, but in closing, was down and undermost. The Woolwich boys were all alive, and gave Burke a lift, by singing out, “Burke for ever, and you’ll win it now, if you mind what you’re arter.”