Round 1.—Condition was not wanting on either side, and every spectator was perfectly satisfied that both men had paid the necessary attention to training. The frame of Cooper was fine and manly, but it did not exhibit that muscle and strength which characterised the body of the White-headed One. The knowing ones, the old ring-goers, booked it as a certainty that Bob would be little more than a mere chopping-block for the display of Cooper’s great milling talents, and the John Bull Fighter, the Nonpareil, Tom Belcher, and Tom Shelton, looked upon the event as a certainty. Under such flattering circumstances, and backed liberally at odds, George Cooper entered the ring, equally confident in his own mind that victory was within his grasp. Bob, on the contrary, had but few friends, excepting his late opponent Ned Neale, who observed, “Bob will turn out a better man than is expected, and I have no doubt he will win the fight.” However, this opinion had no weight, as it was thought Ned was paying himself a compliment. The attitude of Cooper was elegant, and Bob seemed perfectly aware that he was opposed to no commoner, by the caution he displayed. The White-headed One hopped away from a feint of Cooper’s, but at length he tried the bustling system, and planted a single hit on his opponent’s cheek. (Applause, and “Well done, Bob!”) Cooper, however, returned a swinging right-handed hit on Bob’s ribs. Bob did not seem to mind it, but rushed in, and gave Cooper a facer; the latter returned on the body. Exchange of blows, and Bob as good as George; the former also made a good stop. (“Bravo, Bob!”) Cooper napped another facer. George, on the alert, put in a severe ribber, and also produced the claret from Bob’s right eye. (“Mind, Pierce,” cried Josh, “this decides first blood.”) The White-nobbed One displayed more science than was anticipated against such a skilful fighter as Cooper. He took the lead gaily, bored Cooper to the ropes, who acted on the defensive till he napped a rum one on the side of his head, when George went down. (Uproarious applause for Bob, symptoms of uneasiness among the friends of Cooper, and the majority of the spectators exclaiming, “Why, Bob will win!”)
2.—This slice of luck put Bob on terms with himself, when he observed George’s face displayed some of his handiwork. Cooper planted a ribber with his right, but Bob said it was “no go” with his left. The fighting was excellent on both sides; Cooper found out he had indeed a troublesome customer, one not to be disposed of as a matter of course. Bob had sense enough to see that out-fighting was dangerous to him, therefore he resolutely went in, hit George’s sensitive plant, and in struggling for the throw Cooper went down and was undermost. (“Hallo, where’s the six to four now?”)
3.—This round was decidedly in favour of Bob. He found out that the bustle of a young one is very tiresome and dangerous to an “old cock,” and he went in sans cérémonie. Bob took the lead, planting blows right and left, and also by a well-planted hit on the nose of George the claret flowed freely, and he was also sent down completely out of the ropes.
4.—Bob’s rush was stopped by a facer, but he was not dismayed, and in endeavouring to get in at his opponent he fell.
5.—The spectators were now satisfied that the capabilities of Bob had been treated too lightly, and that more danger was in him than had been anticipated. Cooper again planted his favourite hit on the ribs of his opponent, but injured the knuckles of his right hand. The science of Cooper was delightful, and although bored by Bob, he stopped several blows. The White-headed One, however, would not be denied, and the result was Cooper went down weak. Bob was now the favourite, and five and six to four was offered on him.
6.—George had the best of this round. He administered the pepper-box in style, and Bob put up his hand. Counter-hits, and severe ones; Bob, in closing, had the advantage, and Cooper went down.
7.—Short. Bob rushed in, caught hold of Cooper, and both went down.
8.—The White-headed One had made up his mind to adopt the bustling system, and rushed in to work, but he met with a precious stopper, very near his middle piece. Bob recovered himself, and was resolved to “try it on” once more; but Cooper, on the alert, put in a cracker on the jaws, and Bob went down on his hands and knees. The friends of Cooper recovered their spirits, and George was once more the favourite.
9.—This round amounted to nothing; it was almost over before it began; a struggle at the ropes, and both down.
10.—Fighting on both sides, till Cooper took the lead, punishing his opponent with his left hand, until Bob went down across the ropes, and fell out of the ring.