Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 1 (of 3) / Containing Lives of the Most Celebrated Pugilists; Full Reports of Their Battles from Contemporary Newspapers, With Authentic Portraits, Personal Anecdotes, and Sketches of the Principal Patrons of the Prize Ring, Forming a Complete History of the Ring from Fig and Broughton, 1719-40, to the Last Championship Battle Between King and Heenan, in December 1863

by Henry Downes Miles

Some ridiculous “turns-up” follow (“Boxiana,” pp. 458–460), which we shall omit, to come to Power’s best fight, that with Joel King, for 50 guineas a-side, July 16, 1811, at Moulsey Hurst. The report is from “Pancratia,” pp. 360, et seq. “At twelve o’clock the combatants appeared. King, who was a new candidate for pugilistic honours, was accompanied by Richmond and Hall; Power attended by Bob Clarke and Paddington Jones. Odds, five to four on Power.”

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.—King attempted to plant a forcible right-hander; Power stopped him, and hit one two, left and right, well planted on the head and body. King fell. (First knock-down bets decided.)

2.—King did not appear intimidated; he again made play, and planted a good right-handed hit on his opponent’s throat; his left-hand fell short. Power with great quickness threw in a severe left-handed facer, and brought him down.

3.—A good rally, several blows well exchanged. Power scientifically planted one with the left hand. King returned with the right. They closed and both fell. (Two to one in favour of Power.)

4.—Power hit left and right, and King returned very forcibly in the throat. They closed, and Power threw his opponent again. (Betting two points more in favour of King than at setting to.)

5.—King planted a left-handed hit, but out of distance. He followed quickly with his right, which Power cleverly avoided. They closed, and Power threw King a cross-buttock.

6.—Both made play, King with his right, Power with the left, at the same instant; the former told on the head. Some good trying hits followed, and, upon the whole, the round was in favour of King: notwithstanding Power again threw him a cross-buttock. In doing this, with too much eagerness Power received a hurt on the right shoulder against a stake, which, if it did not disable him, proved a severe hindrance.

7.—In this round Power changed his mode of fighting, endeavouring to avert the punishing right-handed blows of his adversary, and getting away to hit.

8.—Power put in a good blow on the mouth, got away, repeated it, and gave an excellent specimen of science by repeating his blows, and avoiding his adversary’s, until King fell, bleeding copiously.