THE FIGHT.
Round 1.—The appearance of Bendigo, on coming to the scratch, was of the first order, and as fair as a lily, whilst Looney displayed a scorbutic eruption on his back. Both seeming confident of victory put up their fives, caution and “stock-taking” for a few moments being the order of the day. Looney made a half-round right-hander, which told slightly on the ear. He then made three hits at the head and body, which Bendigo stepped away from, and dropped a little left ’un on the chin. Bendigo was not idle, but on the defensive, and succeeded in putting in two left-handers on the canister, and blood, the first, made its appearance from the mouth and under the left eye of Looney. This was a long round; in the close Bendigo was thrown.
2.—Looney, all anxious, made play left and right; one told on the ear, a scramble, both fighting; Bendigo thrown, but fell cat fashion.
3.—Bendigo put the staggers on Looney with a left-handed poke on the head; closed, and both down on their sides.
4.—Both came up smiling. Bendigo made two short hits, had his left intended for the “attic” stopped, but put in a straight one on the breast, and the round finished by both men hammering away right and left in splendid style until Looney was sent down.
5.—Two light body blows were exchanged, and Looney was thrown.
6.—Bendigo got away from two right-handers, received a little one on the left ear, and both down one over the other.
7.—Looney made two short hits with the left; Bendigo stopped his right at the ear; some capital in-fighting took place, in which Looney got his right eye out, and Bendigo slipped down.
8.—This was another good round, but in the end Bendigo got his man on the ropes in such a position as to operate pretty freely on his face, and showers of “claret” were the consequence. Looney fell through the ropes, Bendigo over him.
9.—Looney came up as gay as possible, with two to one against him, and a slashing round ended in favour of Bendigo; Looney down.