43.—Scroggins again nobbed his opponent, and, to add to the severity of the punishment, Church received a severe body blow before he found his way to the grass.
44.—Scroggins hit his adversary cleanly down, and it was apprehended that he would not be able to come again; indeed, his backer wished him to desist from the contest. The seconds of Scroggins took the hint, and threw up their hats in the air as the token of victory. The outer ring immediately gave way, but Church insisted upon fighting longer, and the
45th round commenced during this confusion. The spirit of Church was good, but his strength could not keep pace with his wishes. Scroggins was awake that victory was certain, and sent his adversary down in quick time.
46.—Church was now going very fast, and was sent down upon setting-to.
47.—The mortification of surrender urged Church to continue the battle while he was able to stand upon his legs; but it was all up, and he was only receiving unnecessary punishment, being sent down every round.
48.—Church went down completely exhausted.
49.—Notwithstanding the reduced state of Church, he made a couple of hits, but it was only to be sent down.
50 and last.—On coming to the scratch he was floored, sans ceremonie, and not able to meet his man any more. He was led out of the ring dreadfully beaten.
Remarks.—A gamer man never entered the ring than Church; he proved himself a complete taker, but as to the winning consequences of giving he had much to learn. Scroggins was completely at home; cautious of himself, his judgment was excellent in perceiving when his antagonist was exhausted, and going in promptly to finish him off. He, however, gave a chance away, by running head foremost at his opponent’s body, a proceeding which at the present day would have lost him the battle. Scroggins, however, did not win this fight without considerable punishment about the nob, one of his eyes being nearly closed, and his face much beaten. He never exhibited anything like such marks before. Church sprained his ankle severely in the third round; and had not this accident occurred, he might have stood up much better, perhaps with more chance of ultimate success. His confidence never deserted him throughout the battle; and he talked to his second between every round of his capabilities to continue the contest. After the great success of Scroggins in the two first rounds, when he in fact reduced winning almost to a certainty, many of the fancy expressed some little astonishment that fifty-eight minutes should elapse before Scroggins was able to send his man out of the ring. Mr. Jackson collected £20 to reward the bravery of Church.
The friends of Tom Hall (known as the Isle of Wight Hall), were extremely anxious to match him with Scroggins for 200 guineas a-side; but, after four meetings upon the subject, the last of which was held at the Mansion House Coffee House, February, 1817, the partizans of Hall offered to pay half the deposit between Scroggins and Turner, in order to induce the former to relinquish that match. Hall also proposed to add ten pounds which had been forfeited to him in a previous instance, to the battle-money; but the offers were declined. Scroggins had no objection to fight Hall, provided he weighed no more than eleven stone. However, it was the general opinion among the best judges of pugilism that Hall was too heavy for our hero.