25.—Both men slower, as well they might be, Paddock giving his adversary a crack on the bridge of the nose that compelled him to snuffle and wink; half-arm hitting, in which Paddock dropped.
26.—Poulson took the initiative; he stepped in, caught Paddock a heavy spank with the right on the left cheek, and slipped from the force of his own blow.
27.—Poulson again rattled in; Tom countered, and Poulson was down in the hitting.
28.—Both seemed of opinion that a turn of the tide must be at hand. No time was lost on either side; Paddock made play, but Poulson was with him, and at close quarters they pegged away, Paddock with his straight left and Poulson with his dangerous right; but Jack was as good as his master—or rather Harry was as good as Tom. Though Poulson was first on the ground he had not the worst of the hitting.
29 to 34.—Alternate leading off, but Paddock best at the attack. Poulson’s eyes were much damaged, though he was still the stronger man on his legs. The left side of Paddock’s face was awfully swelled, and as Jerry Noon said, “Was polished like a newly lasted boot.” At the end of round 33, Poulson fairly sent down Paddock in a close rally, and the seconds of the latter cautioned him to “keep away” from infighting.
35.—Paddock adopted the advice. He measured his distance with his left got it in, but not heavily, on Poulson’s forehead, and jumped back; Poulson followed, but Tom retreated and shifted, hitting out as opportunity offered. Paddock got home on Harry’s right peeper, but could not prevent a visit to his ribs, and a sharp crack on the nose, from which the ruby distilled copiously. Poulson closed, and Paddock got down.
36.—Paddock’s mug, on coming up, was a curious mixture of the comic and the serious. The right side, which was untouched, bore a sort of grin, while the left side, which was swollen to twice its natural size, buried the other half of the laugh in its tumefied recesses. He had, too, a cut on the bridge of his nose, and a blue mouse under his left eye. Poulson’s hardier mug was less battered in appearance, but his left eye was nearly closed, and the remaining window damaged. Paddock got on to Poulson slightly, and after some exchanges, both were down.
37 to 50.—As before; alternate leads, followed by half-arm hitting, and one or the other down. Anybody’s battle.
51.—Poulson’s left eye was now entirely in darkness, but he dashed in. Paddock caught him round the neck with his left arm, but could not screw him up for fibbing. Poulson kept pegging away, although getting the worst of it, and got down through Paddock’s hands.
52.—Paddock let go his left on Poulson’s nose, but Poulson rushed in and pelted away till Tom got down to finish the round.