“Ned, upon quitting Glasgow, went to Newcastle (1816). At this place Turner was challenged by one Blacket, a slater, well known for the pugilistic feats he had performed in this part of the country. A finer proportioned young man was not to be seen than Blacket. He was symmetry itself, of prodigious strength, and not deficient in bottom. He was in height six feet and one inch, weighing rather more than fourteen stone. The battle was fought on the race-course, in the presence of thousands of spectators. In the course of forty-five minutes Blacket received so much severe punishment, without being able to return any milling upon Turner, that he swore in the utmost rage, ‘he would not fight any more, as Turner was not a fair fighter, and that he did nothing but make hits, and then jump away!’ Turner was much applauded for the skill he displayed in conquering a man so much above his weight, and a liberal subscription entered into by the amateurs as a reward for his bravery.
“Soon after Turner had returned to the metropolis, in a turn up with Youler (Davenport’s Jew), a ruffianing sort of fighter, in St. George’s Fields, in the course of thirty-five minutes he so completely satisfied this boring Israelite, that he retired from the conflict with terrible body punishment.
“At the Cottage of Content, in Lock’s Fields, Turner was one evening set upon by five watermen, who, it seems, had made up their minds to give our hero a milling. The manly conduct of the sculler gentry, however, was soon placed to its proper account. Turner disposed of the first four with as much nonchalance as if they had been sacks, and the fifth, who, it appears, had some pretensions to boxing, and who endeavoured to make something like a regular stand against Ned, paid dearly for his temerity, by leaving off under numerous marks of severe punishment.
“These conquests, although they display every trait of courage and science, yet, in the opinion of the amateurs, amount to little until a boxer makes his debût in the London ring. In fact, a pugilist is not recognized till he has made this appearance, when, if successful, he becomes a leading star of the fancy—friends flow fast in upon him, and backers are never wanting to support his pretensions. The fame of Turner had now made progress in the milling circles, especially in the neighbourhood of Bermondsey, where the capabilities of Turner were best known and appreciated. Curtis, a boxer also well known in the same quarter, it seems, felt envy at the growing reputation of Ned, and repeatedly challenged the latter before he agreed to meet him in combat. Curtis was of importance to the admirers of pugilism from the laurels he had acquired in the ring. Tom Roe, West Country Dick, and Lazarus, the Jew, had all been defeated by him. As a game boxer his character was firmly established; in short, of the ‘light weights,’ a better bit of stuff was not thought to exist upon the list. A match was at length made between Turner and Curtis for 100 guineas; but the betting was current seven to four, and, in many instances, two to one upon the latter. Indeed, so sanguine were the partizans of Curtis, that they roundly asserted Turner could not stand half an hour before him. In a twenty feet ring, at Moulsey Hurst, on Tuesday, October 22, 1816, the above heroes met. The morning proving wet, the spectators were not so numerous as usual. At half past one o’clock Curtis entered the ring, attended by Oliver, who came on purpose from Carlisle to second his friend, assisted by Clark. Curtis threw up his hat. Turner soon followed, attended by Tom Owen and Jacobs.”
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The combatants, upon setting-to, exhibited great caution, and each appeared anxious to obtain the first advantage. Turner at length got an opening, and with much dexterity planted a severe hit in Curtis’s face, without receiving a return. The former made another successful hit, when they fought their way up to the ropes, and Curtis was sent down. The three and two to one betters seemed rather astonished at the novice (as Turner had been termed) commencing in such a milling style. It augured much mischief, and the safety of the thing was not now looked upon as quite so certain.
2.—The lead was again on the side of Turner. He nobbed Curtis with evident superiority, when the latter slipped and fell down. (The odds began to shake, even at this early period of the battle.)
3.—Some good blows were exchanged, but materially to the advantage of Turner. The claret was seen trickling down the face of Curtis, who was ultimately thrown.
4.—Turner commenced offensive operations with a severe blow from the right. He appeared a troublesome customer for Curtis to get at, and some long sparring occurred. A good round, but Curtis was thrown.
5.—Curtis could not make any impression upon his adversary, when he retreated to the ropes, where he received severe fibbing punishment; but he succeeded in throwing Turner.