Pugilistica: The History of British Boxing, Volume 3 (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

And now the doughty champions hove in sight from a hovel where they had been ensconced. The American Ajax had for his armour-bearer Ben Caunt, and for his page King Dick, who certainly, in this instance, carried in his little noddle the larger portion of the scientific knowledge of the trio. The Slasher loomed large, enveloped in a long white frieze coat, his head surmounted by an Indian fur cap, with a ferocious wild-cat mask as a vizor, which he wore upon his forehead over his own hard, grinning physiognomy. Ben Terry and Harry Broome were his henchmen. On stripping it was evident that Freeman had increased in bulk by a stone and a half—​18 stone 12 lbs. being the result told by the weighing-chair that morning. His confidence, too, seemed to have increased in a corresponding degree. The Slasher, on stripping, looked thinner, and certainly paler than when he last peeled in Cambridgeshire; but he had lost none of that careless, “dare-devil” expression for which his countenance is remarkable. A Scotch sportsman, and backer of M’Ginty, having accepted the onerous and difficult position of referee, the first battle was brought to the arbitrament of attack and defence.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.—​At thirteen minutes after twelve precisely the men were conducted to the scratch, shook hands, and threw themselves into position, the towering height and great bulk of Freeman presenting the same fearful odds we have before described. The Slasher dodged round his man, waiting for an opening, but he found the Giant ready to hit with him, and he had already felt the weight of his feelers with sufficient force to have the prudence of keeping at a distance. The Slasher tried his left and right, but was out of distance. The Giant followed him in his pirouettes, and at last, getting closer, hit out left and right; the former passed over the Slasher’s head, but the latter caught him slightly on the nut, and the Slasher went down.

2.—​The Slasher again cautious and à la distance. Freeman followed his dodging manœuvres, and at last rushed in to hit, but the Slasher in getting away fell without being struck, and got up laughing.

3.—​The Slasher got near to his man and let out with his left at the nob, but did not get home. Trifling exchanges with the left, the Slasher retreating, Freeman at him left and right, just reaching him, when the Slasher tumbled down. No mischief done.

4.—​After renewed dodging the Slasher made himself up for mischief, feinted once or twice, and then hit out with his left. This brought the men to a rally, in which favours were exchanged, and the Slasher catching it on the nozzle showed first blood. After some wild fighting, in which hits were exchanged, the Slasher was down.

5.—​Slasher cautious and getting away from the Giant; he at last steadied himself, and counter-hits with the left were exchanged. The Giant followed up his man to the corner, but missed both left and right, and Slasher got down.

6.—​Counter-hits with the left, but no sting in them. The Giant hit out well with his right, but the Slasher dodged and got away. The Slasher was short with his left and right, and again got away. He returned to the charge, and caught Freeman slightly on the body with his left. Freeman returned the compliment on the temple, but it was more of a shove than a blow. Slasher hit short with his left, ducked, and got away laughing. The Giant steadied himself, waited for the attack, stopped the Slasher’s left, and caught him a stinger on the left ear with his right. The Slasher scrambled down in a sort of rally.

7.—​The Slasher planted his right on the Giant’s shoulder, and got away; the Giant after him, and after exchanging left and right out of distance, the Slasher got down.

8.—​Pretty exchanges left and right, and flesh marks left. The Slasher tried at the body with his left, stooped, and got away. The Giant pursued him, hitting wildly left and right. He at last caught the Tipton in his arms and chopped him on his head several times with his right, but without administering any serious punishment. The Slasher slipped down to avoid further hitting.