This promising debut inspirited Martin to issue a challenge at eleven stone, but two years elapsed before he got suited with a customer in “Paddington Johnson,” for 50 guineas a side. The battle came off at Coventry Farm, the Hale, Middlesex, on Tuesday, September 15, 1818. Johnson was well known to the ring, from his conquests over Roe, Harry Lancaster, and Purcell, also as a right-handed hitter, and an acknowledged game man. Martin was better known for theory than in practice, and more as a sparrer than a pugilist. In consequence Johnson was the favourite, six to four. The latter first showed, and threw his hat in the ring, and Martin soon followed the example in a very modest unassuming manner. Johnson was seconded by the veteran Joe Ward and Paddington Jones; Martin was waited upon by Ben Burn and Spring. The Baker, it seems, disdained the ordinary mode of milling in drawers, and appeared in a loose fashionable pair of white trowsers. This change was generally considered an improvement. Five minutes to one o’clock the men set-to.
JACK MARTIN (The “Master of the Rolls”).
From a Drawing by A. Wyvill, 1824.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On stripping, Johnson appeared the rounder and bigger man. His face was full of colour, and he looked well; but the judges of training thought him too bulky; however, he was considered generally to be in excellent condition. Martin, on the contrary, looked pale; but in other respects his canvass was as sleek and as smooth as a thorough-bred greyhound. Upon the combatants taking their attitudes, Johnson exhibited the highest confidence, and made a sort of springing run to mill his opponent in his usual rushing style; but the leariness of Martin stopped him by a slight muzzler. The latter almost instantly surprised Johnson with another header, that not only operated on his vision, but tapped the claret. Johnson endeavoured to feel for the alimentary reservoir of the baker, when a close took place, and Johnson tried to fib his crusty foe without effect. In struggling, Martin appeared the stronger man, as Johnson was undermost on the ground. The “dead men” smiled at this favourable commencement of their hero, but the six to four blades did not half like it.
2.—Martin seemed perfectly prepared for his enemy, with the skill and caution of an experienced tactician. He planted his hits upon the nob of Johnson with as much sang froid as if he had been aiming at a sack of flour. The “Paddington boy,” rather enraged at this sort of treatment, tried again to rush into doughey’s victualling office, but the latter got away, and in return mugged him so severely, that Johnson went half round in a singular style, and in a struggle Johnson was again undermost. The odds were now completely turned, and the Baker was the favourite; in some parts of the ring two to one.
3.—The handywork of Martin upon his opponent’s title-page was now apparent; one of his peepers was already in mourning, and the other had been taken measure of for black drapery, added to the claret trickling down his face. The rushing of Johnson was also stayed, and some long sparring occurred before any work was attempted; the latter, however, tried to body the Baker, but the science of Martin prevented any serious effect; and in return he gave him one, two, severely. In closing, Johnson also napt upon the fibbing system, and, in struggling to obtain the throw, he was compelled to yield to the superior strength of the “Master of the Rolls.” The batch lads were roaring with delight, and “Bravo!” was echoed through the fraternity at the talent displayed by Martin.
4.—This round decided the fight; the execution done by Martin positively made the odds the monument to a bodkin. On setting-to, the Baker gave his opponent three staggering facers. Johnson turned round from the force of the last hit, but his game never deserted him, and he returned to the attack like a trump. Johnson’s right hand told slightly on Martin’s side, but as to anything like punishment he could not administer any. It was a long round, occupying five minutes, without any closing, during which time, notwithstanding Martin hit frequently short, he planted twelve facers with ease and dexterity. Martin followed Johnson so closely up, that he was at length hit down on his knees, and measured his length on the grass quite exhausted. The “dead men” were all upon the qui vive, and, in the pride of the moment, offered to the hitherto confident Westminster and Paddington costermongers, a peck loaf to a halfpenny roll; but the donkey proprietors shied it.
5.—Johnson’s nob now exhibited a Fuseli aspect—it was so changed, as to call forth the observation of “an old friend with a new face.” Martin went to work with both hands so quickly, that his opponent’s sensitive plant rolled about like a humming-top, and he fell out of the ring. (Great shouting, and any odds offered.)
6.—Johnson was quite abroad, gasping for breath. He could not get at Martin; but was compelled to act as receiver-general till he could no longer stand to take it.