THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—Hudson appeared in the highest condition—good humour, manliness, and confidence seemed smiling on his brow. Martin looked equally well, and there was a steady composure about him, as if victory was his sole intention. It was generally expected that a slashing fight would be the result, from the well-known bull-dog qualities of Hudson; but, upon the combatants placing themselves in attitudes, a minute elapsed in manœuvring, both anxious to obtain the first advantage. At length Martin let fly, hit Hudson’s left shoulder, and also got away. The latter endeavoured to plant a severe right-handed blow, which Martin stopped cleverly. Sparring was again resorted to, and caution used on both sides. Some trifling exchanges took place, when Hudson put in a tremendous hit under Martin’s left ogle, that not only measured it for a suit of mourning, but the claret instantly followed. This conduct rather surprised Martin, but he endeavoured to return with his left hand. More sparring. The combatants now made counter hits on the mouth, but the blow from Hudson seemed most effective. Martin tried to make one of his severe right-handed hits, which was stopped, when Hudson, in return, put in so severe a facer, that Martin went staggering away two yards towards the ropes, and it was expected he must have gone down. The blood was now seen trickling from his nose. Some more cautious manœuvring occurred, when the men fought their way into a close, and both went down, Martin undermost. Loud shouting, “Bravo, Hudson—£100 on Josh.”—Six and seven to four were currently offered. This round occupied upwards of seven minutes and a half.
2.—The appearance of Martin was much against him; in fact, he looked rather exhausted. The blow he had received on his eye was on the same that Randall and Turner had so severely peppered. Martin got away from a well-directed facer meant by Hudson, and, in return, put in a severe blow on the ribs of his opponent. Some little sparring, but fighting was the order of this round. Martin soon received a severe “snorter” that produced the “pink” instantly; but after this blow he had it all his own way. With his right hand he planted a blow just above the temple of Hudson, which looked red, and also put in a sharp hit under the left ear of his opponent. Josh seemed rather staggered, but he returned manfully to the charge, and some exchanges took place in a partial close, till they got out of it, when Martin made himself up, and a tremendous hit, which he put in upon the point of Hudson’s left shoulder, operated so powerfully that, he turned pale, and staggered towards the ropes in a confused state, and Randall bid Martin follow up his success. The accident was not known at this period, and Hudson was too good to fall. Martin now approached him, and, with a slight left-handed blow on Hudson’s head the latter went down.—“Well done, Martin; that’s the time of day to win.” During the time Hudson sat on his second’s knee he communicated to them that his shoulder was dislocated; and on “Time” being called victory of course was declared in favour of Martin. The fight was over in nine minutes.
Remarks.—There is scarcely room for observation, in consequence of the shortness of the contest, but the general opinion of the ring was that Hudson would ultimately have proved the conqueror. Fortunately, a medical man was upon the spot, and Hudson’s shoulder was set in less than five minutes afterwards. The accident he thought little about; but he shed tears on losing the victory. Hudson walked about the ring afterwards, and appeared at the Castle Tavern in the evening with his arm in a sling.
Martin, it seems, determined to keep the game alive, made no hesitation in entering the ring against the “iron-hitting Cabbage,” as the latter was termed. This battle was for one hundred guineas a-side, and took place on Tuesday, March 28, 1820, at Farnham Royal, near Dawney Common, contiguous to Stoke House, near Stowe, Buckinghamshire, twenty-four miles from London. Maidenhead Thicket, in Berkshire, a distance of twenty-nine miles from the Metropolis, was the spot fixed upon for the day’s play, and the length of road made it necessary for the amateurs to start as soon as daylight peeped. The “toddlers” were quite out of it, as nothing but good “prads” could attempt a distance of sixty miles. The stage-coaches made out well upon the occasion; and, notwithstanding the numerous vehicles of this sort upon this great road, many amateurs were disappointed. There was considerable attraction about the contest, and a greater sprinkling of Corinthians than usual adorned the ring with their presence. Cabbage had derived great notoriety from being the champion of the light weights in Bristol, and also for being one of the most determined boxers on the list. A large company mustered at an early hour in the town of Maidenhead; but one of the beaks, it seems, got hold of the scent, and a warrant was issued against Cabbage. This circumstance alarmed the milling coves; it was soon communicated to the motley throng that “it wouldn’t do;” so Gibbons brushed off with the stakes, and formed the ring at Farnham Royal, in a field of private property, without delay; and thither he was followed by horse and foot in rapid confusion.
At thirty-seven minutes past one o’clock Martin appeared and threw his hat in the ring, followed by Oliver and Randall as his seconds; Cabbage soon appeared, attended by Cribb and Clarke. Randall tied the blue colours to the stakes, and Cribb covered them with the yellow-man belonging to Cabbage. It was seven to four current betting in favour of the latter—in many places two to one.
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The condition of Cabbage was tiptop; he was as fine as a star, and his frame compact and firm as an oak. Not so Martin, he did not look well, was not fit to fight, and had also had a recent attack of rheumatism. Some trifling sparring, when Martin made a hit, which was well stopped by Cabbage. The Master of the Rolls appeared clever compared with the rough customer before him, availed himself of the science he possessed, and put in two nobbers, but not heavily, when Cabbage rushed in, and both went down. Two to one on Martin.
2.—Both combatants made offers, but retreated sparring. The right hand of Martin again nobbed his opponent, and Cabbage in return attempted to be busy. Both down, but Martin undermost.
3.—Although Cabbage was decidedly the favourite, it was evident he was no fighter, but showed amazing strength and resolution. Martin got away from him, and attempted to put in a severe bodier, and also one on the head; but the rushing qualities of the latter bored Martin to the ropes, where, after a severe struggle, both went down.