Uncle Ben lost no time in presenting “My Nevvy” to the Corinthian patrons of his “crib;” and as Jem was certainly clever with the mufflers, stood five feet ten in his shoes, with good arms, no lack of confidence, and great youthful activity and dash, he was looked upon as a likely aspirant, at no distant day, for the championship of England, recently vacated by the accomplished Tom Spring, after his two fights with Langan.
The friends of Uncle Ben, however, were too prudent to risk Jem’s opening prospects by matching him with a first-class professional. At this period there was an immense immigration of heavy “Patlanders,” chiefly viâ Liverpool, of whom Pierce Egan was the literary Mæcenas, and Jack Langan the M.C. Among them was one styled “Big O’Neal,” who must not be confounded with the “Streatham Youth,” Ned, whose name, for some time, Pierce insisted on printing with the national prefix “O’,” though he expunged it from the fifth volume of “Boxiana,” and on his presentation cup.
Articles were drawn for the modest figure of £25 a-side, witnessed by Langan and Uncle Ben, and the day and place fixed for the 26th of July, 1824, within fifty miles of London. At the appointed time the men met at Chertsey Bridge, near Staines. O’Neal, attended by Langan and Peter Crawley, first threw his hat into the ring, and “My Nevvy” soon followed suit, esquired by Tom Owen and Uncle Ben—so that all six, principals and seconds, were emphatically “big ’uns.” The Irishman was the favourite, at six to four, his fame having “gone before him.” The colours, a green bandanna for O’Neal, and a chocolate with light blue spot for Burn, having been tied to the stakes, the men lost no time in peeling, and stood up at a few minutes past one for
THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—On stripping, it was any odds in favour of O’Neal; it was a horse to a hen by comparison; indeed, some said that it was a shame for Ben Burn to have matched his nephew against a man of such superior weight. “The young one can foight a bit, I know, and we’ll soon tell’ee all aboot it,” replied Ben. Burn went to work with considerable judgment, held up his hands well, shifting round cleverly, and milling on the retreat, Cribb’s favourite mode. Burn put in two nobbers, and got well away; when O’Neal, like novices in general, kept following his opponent all over the ring, napping punishment at every step, till the Young One was bored upon the corner of the ropes, when he dropped. (Loud shouting for Burn; and “My Uncle quite proud of his nephew.”)
2.—O’Neal wiped his peeper; in fact, he had received a nasty one between his ogles, that had placed them on the winking establishment. Burn was a little too fast. He stepped in to draw his man, when Pat met him with a smart jobber on his nose, which convinced the North Country Sprig that he must avoid O’Neal’s clumsy fist as much as possible, or his fine science might be of little service to him. O’Neal made a hit, but Burn returned the blow with interest. The Sprig kept the ring well, and Pat was compelled to run all over the ground to make a blow. Burn went down from a slight hit.
3.—The mug of O’Neal was altered a little; the claret was streaming down from his temple, and his right eye was damaged. Burn fought in great style; he made a number of good hits without any return. The Irishman was bothered: he got a lick every now and then, and he looked about him, as much as to say, “Where the devil did that polt come from?” Burn finished the round by going down.
4–10.—In all these rounds, except the last, Burn had the “best of it;” and it was evident, if his strength stayed with him, he could not lose the battle, but he was getting weak. Burn was hit cleanly down. (“That’s the way,” said Langan. “Do that again, and I can make money by you, if it is only to floor oxen for the butchers.”)
11–15.—The nob of O’Neal was sadly disfigured, and he was almost a blinker. He gave every chance away, instead of fighting his opponent. (“Long Bowls,” said the Sage of the East, who was close to the ring, “will never do for a novice, especially when he has got weight on his side. O’Neal ought to be placed close to his man, and told to hit out, and never leave off till he has put the gilt on his antagonist.”) Burn, after bestowing all the pepper he was able to on O’Neal’s face, went down weak.
16–20.—The gameness of O’Neal could not be questioned; and although so bad a fighter, he was backed as a favourite on account of his strength. He got Burn down, and fell heavily upon him.