Bareknuckle Boxing Resources: NEW EDITION

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Thanks for this, Senya!

 

Does this author like boxing or despises it? From London's Times, October 24, 1789.


BOXING.

Johnson and Perrins.

The practice of this barbarous custom, we ever have and shall decry, as an offence against society--brutal in its nature--murderous in its consequences--an encouragement to proffigacy--a scandalous waste of time--and the most unprofitable method of circulating mney--because it takes a number of industrious men from their labour--teaches them a profligate course of life, by the sums of money their receive on these occasions, which they generally squander away from their families, who in case of accident are thrown on the parish, and a burthen to the public--and at least, the bruises they receive, disables them for a time pursuing any avocations useful to society.

The plan for conducting the battle was excellent in itself, and calculated to give every spectator a perfect sight of the contest. At eleven o'clock, the door of an inclosure was opened, near the Church-yard, surrounded by a palling, and capable of holding some thousand persons. In the midst was a raised stage of about the same size as the space allotted for Humphreys and Mendoza at Stilton. It was covered with turf, and elevated from the ground about four feet.

The number of persons who were admitted amounted to about 500, so that every man was most conveniently accommodated. In a little time, however, the " rastic bumpkins" broke down the pallisadoes of the inclosure, and took possession.

The cause of this victory was obvious to every spectator used to such conflicts. Perrins, infinitely superior in size and strength, but less used to the tricks of boxing than Johnson, found it impossible to stand out against so cunning an adversary. Even his size, perhaps, might have been against him, as too cumbrous to form a clean and dexterous pugilist ; and his knowledge of the art was very inconsiderable indeed, for he constantly laid his body open by the aukwardness of his guard, and neither stopped nor struck with the method and style of an expert boxer.

In the first set-to, therefore, there was nothing, at least on his side, that was very picturesque in the eye of an amateur. He crossed his arms close to his body, which appeared to lay him open to an immediate blow. His adversary, however, gave ground immediately as he advanced, and he for some little time followed Johnson, who shifted from him all round the stage, to no purpose. Johnson, however, gave the first blow, and the Birmingham hero fell.

The two or three first rounds were apparently in Johnson's favour, who puzzled his antagonist by dancing about, and occasionally throwing in an unexpected blow. Perrins, however, followed him with much resolution, appeared to hold his manoeuvres in contempt, and at last put in a blow or two that turned the contest much in his favour. Johnson was considerably beaten about the ribs, and one of his eyes so cut, that in a short time it was quite closed ; he continued, nevertheless, to fight with great care and cunning, and struck his adversary a severe blow on the face that laid his nose entirely open ; this was soon followed by a second under his left eye, and Perrins was at last so worried by Johnson's rapid retreats and unexpected encounters, that he had evidently the worst of the battle every future round ; and the odds, which were at one time in his favour, turned at last to ten to one on Johnson.

Perrins, in the end, was entirely exhausted, and fought several of the last rounds with very little power to strike. He chopped at Johnson's face sideways once or twice with some success and effect ; and shortly afterwards attempted the same at his stomach. But this effort hurt Johnson but little, while it considerably weakened himself. He aimed several blows, and immediately fell from weakness ; when Johnson dropping at the same time, struck him in the face as he was on his knee, and at last hit him whenever he tried, till a severe and successful blow at the centre of his face, which was already cut to pieces, obliged Perrins to yield the battle.

This success was wholly owing to the artifice of Johnson's style of fighting, and the ignorance of the science in his adversary ; the one constantly careful of his attitude, ever on the shift, and repeatedly falling without a blow, and the other advancing with a guard hazardous to himself, incessantly laying himself open, and obliged to exhaust his strength and power by unnecessary advances, and blows spent in the air. Perrins at first thought that Johnson's retreats arose from fear, and treated them with derision and contempt ; but the event proved that they were the effect only of superior judgement. To have acted otherwise against a man so much more powerful had lost him the battle ; for there was one blow which Perrins appeared often to meditate, that must have decided the contest, if it had not been dexterously evaded. He drew his arm back to a great length, and appeared about to strike it at his antagonist's stomach with his utmost force ; but Johnson immediately receded from its reach, and as often as it was aimed, avoided its effects.

All this was judicious ; for there is not a doubt but Perrins possessed capabilities of gaining the combat. Though his guard was bad, and his size aukward (being a stout, corpulent man,) the force of his blows must have overpowered Johnson, if they had been followed up. If he had struck at the same time, as his arms were longer than Johnson's, he must have reached his adversary without any feat of being hit himself. If he had stood still, when Johnson was running round the stage, he would not have exhausted his strength and wind, as he would have obliged his adversary to approach him, in order to fight, instead of retreating. If he had not attempted his long blow, unless in following up, it would have taken effect, since the intent of a boxer is seen, when he draws his arm back, unless his adversary should be confused by some previous stroke, and consequently guarded against. Such are the causes to which the victory was owing ; and while we give the palm to Johnson, for his skill and knowledge of what was necessary to succeed in the contest, we must not deny Perrins the praise of having acted with spirit ; and while he shewed his want of skill, of having, at least, evinced much bottom.

Johnson's Umpire was Col. Tarleton, and Perrins had a friend from Birmingham.

 

Boxers of the old and new school compared.
----
To the Editor of the Sporting Magazine.
sir,
In some of the late Numbers of your much admired publication, I observe a comparison made between our present breed of race horses and those as far back as Eclipse, Childers, &c. I beg, Mr. Editor, I may be allowed the same privilege with regard to the human species. As the present is the age for milling, and I am an admirer of that manly science, I frequently drop into argument relative to the improvement that has been made within the last thirty years in that noble exercise; I, myself, contend that the present race of pugilists (and treading back for the last ten years), are by no means degenerated, but improved in the scientific requisites of boxing. On the other hand, my competitors, with knock-down arguments, as strenuously contend in favour of the pugilistic capabilities of the old school, particularising some of the renowned heroes of that day, whom they wish to infer, if compared with the present race, would carry the palm. Now, Mr. Editor, with due deference, I wish that some amateur of the fancy, who has witnessed the merits of both the modern and old school, and feels himself competent to form a sound judgement, would demonstrate to me, through the medium of your Magazine, on which side the balance preponderates ; I have selected a few out of each school, and arranged them as near as I am able, in order that a fair inference may be drawn between a number of prime lads (out of the many) of the present and latter days, against the same number of tough bits of oak of the old school ; and as somefew of the latter are now living, and several of the former are exit, or for ever floored, it is my wish, by making the comparison, not to give the least offence to either side, or their respective friends. My motive, Mr. Editor, is to receive a well-digested opinion, merely to put the question at rest, and have pitted them as under.
An Old Subscriber.
Staffordshire, Jan. 23, 1817.
----
New Old.
Gribb ......v. Big Ben.
Pearse......v. Johnson.
Jem Belcher v. Jackson.
Gully ......v. Tring.
Carter......v. Ryan.
Gregson ....v. George, the brewer.
Oliver......v. Bill Ward.
Tom Belcher v. Mendoza.
Power ......v. Humphries.
Scroggins...v. Hooper.
Painter.....v. Wood.
Dutch Sam ..v. Watson.

 

Boxers of the old and new school compared.
----
To the Editor of the Sporting Magazine.
sir,
In the last Number of your Magazine, there appeared a comparison of the boxers of the old and new schools ; and it being a science to which I am somewhat attached, I shall feel some pleasure in reconciling the comparisons. I have seen most of these men in their day, and after weighing their several qualifications, and their peculiar methods of fighting, I trust I shall not be accused of partiality, if I give a decided preference to the old school ; but, perhaps, a few substantial reasons will induce many of your readers to concur in my opinion.
In the first place, I must give preference to Big Ben against Cribb, as Ben was a most tremendous hitter, and dealt out his blows with death-like punishment, whereas Cribb, to say the best of him, is rather slow, and never won any of his battles but with the greatest difficulty. In style of fighting, and bearing in mind the antagonists each had to contend with, the superiority certainly rested with Ben.
The merits of Johnson and Pearce are well balanced, but I must still give the palm to the old school:--If the Chicken was cunning and a fatal hitter, so was Johnson ;--if he never gave a chance away, no more did Johnson ;--and if he was a correct judge of his antagonist's powers, so was Johnson, even to a proverb. With respect to the heroes they defeated, here also I must finally prefer Johnson.
In coming to Belcher and Jackson, I really would rather decline comparison, but candour compels me to offer my opinion, and although it will not appear popular, I must award the palm to Belcher, for in point of quickness, hitting, stopping, and returning, he was a complete master of the science ; and at one period of his life was pronounced by the ablest judges, to be invincible. Mr. J.'s character, as a pugilist, cannot be deteriorated by this preference ; on the contrary, it will rather be exalted by being compared with this phenomenon.
Tring and Gully are so evenly matched, that I really am at a loss how to award the preference ; and probably what I am going to hazard may not meet with approbation, but whatever capability each possessed, I will (but not till after mature consideration), decide for Tring.
Ryan was undoubtedly superior to Carter ; he was the hardest hitter of his time, and if he could have preserved his temper, he would have coped with the best of them. Carter is certainly an active scientific fighter, but when compared with Ryan his excellence will not bear him out.
Gregson and George the brewer, is the best comparison in the whole list, for we may err with safety on either side ; indeed it would be injustice to offer any opinion on their merits, when their capabilities are so exactly similar.
Bill Ward and Oliver require little consideration, for I shall, without hesitation, give the palm to Ward. Oliver is a bold manly fighter, but Ward was a pugilist of the first stamp, and the various battles he was engaged in, demonstrate the correctness of this preference.
Again I tread on delicate ground, but I will give my opinion unbiassed, and boldly maintain, that Mendoza was superior to Tom Belcher. Their abilities are unquestionably of the first rate, and their attitudes gracefully correct ; in fact, these elegant pugilists have completely mastered the whole science of boxing, and their modes of fighting are the admiration of the followers of this manly exercise.
It is hardly candid to offer an opinion of Powers, as he died before he had attained his prime ; but we must take things as they are, and use no force, as the phlegmatic Dutchman says, and on that score I must decide for Humphreys. But let this be said in defence of Powers, that he died at the premature age of twenty-three, and before his judgement could have arrived at its proper maturity.
Scroggins and Hooper scarcely need a question ; the latter was the best bit of stuff nature ever formed. Scroggins is a severe hitter, but when compared with Hooper, all his cunning will not avail him, and he must shrink before the comparison. I by no means wish to detract from Scroggins's merits as a boxer, but Hooper was such a man, that I greatly suspect " we shall never look upon his like again."
I must likewise give the preference to Wood against Painter.
In conclusion, we have come to two as good little men as ever stripped in a ring, Dutch Sam and Watson. Sam's attack was ferocious in the extreme, and his blows were dreadfully severe. Watson was likewise an excellent fighter, and deficient in no one requisite to form a good boxer; but whatever were their various merits, I must (but not without a little hesitation) decide for Sam.
These comparisons, I trust, will be found just ; and if the reader should suspect me of some partiality for the old school, let him not too hastily condemn me, for they are the result of study and long practice ; and, perhaps, when he comes to consider them minutely, and try them at the bar of experience, he will be induced to agree with my determination.--I remain, Sir, your's, &c.
J. L.
Feb. 18, 1817.

 

Wow! These are great finds.:good

 

Two books on bare-knuckle champions are to be published soon (according to Amazon site).

Another biography of Jem Mace (there's one by Graham Gordon available for some time already):

Gypsy Jem Mace: Being the True History of the Last Bare-knuckle Heavyweight Champion of the World
by Jeremy Poolman
Publisher: Andre Deutsch Ltd (4 Aug 2008)


and a bio of Tom Cribb:

Tom Cribb: The Life of the Black Diamond
by Jon Hurley
Publisher: Tempus Publishing Ltd (Oct 2008)

 

awesome, can't wait

 

Gypsy Jem Mace in now banging about the UK's Waterstones chains.

You're always guaranteed a good read with such subjects because they have not really been touched on, much less trampled on like the more popular subjects.

 

what an unbelievable thread damn

 

Pugilistica, volume III - pages 516-518
fight between Tom King and John Heenan.

THE FIGHT.

ROUND 1.—As the men advanced towards the centre of the ring the first glance seemed to show how great were the physical advantages of Heenan, who looked quite the stone heavier man he really was—King being comparatively a fair-skinned stripling; but a closer inspection revealed a faded appearance. He looked clumsier altogether than when he fought Sayers. King, on the contrary, was as well as ever he could be, and there was a bloom and healthfulness about him, which spoke not only of steady training, but of an un-vitiated constitution. He had not altogether the cut of a professional pugilist, but would rather be described as a fine, fresh, good-looking young countryman. The men threw themselves into attitude, and opened the round with a little sparring, but there was a hurried, not to say nervous, manner about each of them, which indicated that the scientific display would not be very prolonged. Heenan led off once or twice, but was not close enough. King was equally out of distance in trying to return. At last they got nearer, and exchanged good counter-hits. A couple more heavy hits were given, and King was drawing back to take up fresh ground, when Heenan plunged desperately at him, and got his left arm round his neck ; the impetus of his rush carrying them both to the ropes. Here Heenan sought to fix his man in the dangerous manner he had practised with Sayers, but King's strength enabled him to wrench himself up, and, locked together, they wrestled back to the centre of the ring. Here Heenan hung upon his man, squeezing him tightly, and trying to force him down. King, whose arms were at liberty, hit him heavily about the body left and right, until he fell, dragging Heenan with him, but the Yankee was uppermost. (The referee here entered the ring and cautioned Heenan as to his " hugging " system, which was certainly an unsightly mode of attack.)

2.—Both men were somewhat flushed about the head from the previous round, and King appeared a little distressed from the severe struggle. He was urged to be first with his man, and led off directly he came to the scratch. He got well home on Heenan's head; the latter countered, but without much precision, and some wild but heavy exchanges took place with both hands, King dealing the Yankee a severe blow on the mouth. Tom was pressing his man, when Heenan made a dash at him, and showing great superiority in strength, after a few seconds of squeezing, threw him heavily, a very dangerous fall, coming with all his weight upon him. (First blood was here given to King ; Heenan's lips being cut and bleeding.)

3.—King seemed anxious to keep away from his man and spar ; there was no doubt that he was already considerably shaken by the severe falls he had received. Heenan appeared more anxious to seize a favourable chance to grasp his man than to hit him. After a moment's pause they got together, and lashed out heavily with the left, each getting home. This led to some more exchanges, desperately heavy, it is true, but made in a wild style, and not like two finished boxers. Heenan again plunged in, King meeting him heavily as he came, but he grappled Tom, and again brought Mm down with shattering force across the lower rope, which was pressed to the ground. Luckily the ground was not hard. (Unpleasant as was Heenan's style of fighting, he was considered to be getting the best of the battle, as King evidently could not resist his rush and clinching throw.)

4.—King's left eye was marked with a mouse, but otherwise he did not show much signs of punishment. The rounds were all short ones, Heenan forcing his way in upon King, a few slashing exchanges ; then King was once more caught in the hug, and thrown a desperate fall. (Great disapprobation of Heenan's style of fighting—if fighting it could be called. His hugging and squeezing was far worse than even in Sayers s fight.)

5.—King was as ready at the call of "time" as his antagonist, yet evidently felt the falls he was receiving, and sparred a bit for wind. Heenan was distressed also, and glad of a pause. They worked round a bit until they got near, when King, with the swiftness of lightning, dealt the Yankee a terrific hit in the middle of the head with his right, almost knocking him off his legs, and drawing streams of claret from a cut on his mouth. It was nearly a floorer, and on Heenan trying a return, King cross-countered very heavily on the side of the head. Heenan was for a moment at a standstill, and King led off again, but was out of distance, and the Yankee again " clinching"—we must borrow an Americanism which expresses more than our word "closing"—succeeded in once more putting on the "hug" and throwing King heavily; though he pitched over him so far as to strike the ground with his own head.

6.—The fighting had been wild enough before, but in this round there was no attempt at precision or steadiness. The men punched—or punched at—one another wildly, King getting the best of what hitting did tell, till Heenan closed, and, getting his regular grip, flung King a burster.

7.—The men went to work directly they faced each other, and in a slogging rally some really terrific hitting was given and taken. They broke away, but only for a few seconds, when they got together with more tremendous exchanges, yet still to the advantage of King, who showed what little science was exhibited, and hit straightest. By a desperate snorter with his right, during this rally, he drew a fresh burst of crimson. Heenan closed in the hitting, hugged his man viciously, and then threw him one of the heaviest cross-buttocks seen for many a day. It was a crusher, and King lay for a few seconds until his seconds picked him up and bore him to his corner.

8.—King, to the delight of his friends, came up promptly ; although he was piping a little, he seemed marvellously little hurt by these continuous throws. Heenan was ready to fight to improve his supposed advantage, and the men exchanged stinging counters directly they faced each other, and heavy exchanges followed. Heenan dashed in as usual to seize his man, but on this occasion he was foiled, for King caught him in his arms ; and, after a moment's struggle, threw the Yankee heavily and fell on him. (This was a fair, unmistakable back fall, and the cheering for King was tremendous.)

9.—Heenan looked vexed as he came up; he had plainly made up his mind to recover his wrestling superiority, and tried for an opening. King was with him, and met him left and right; then, getting away again, planted on him with tremendous effect as he came in, catching his man well in the middle of the head; and now and then, in each of the rounds, giving a home hit on the body. Heenan at last got in, squeezed his man savagely, and again threw him a shattering fall.

10.—The wildest and fastest of fighting still continued, in fact, the rally more resembled a " turn-up" of two angry navvies than the tactics of skilled boxers. The exchanges were of the severest description, although most of the blows seemed given at random. Heenan was wholly bent on throwing, and once more hugged King and threw him.

11.—Heenan showed that the pace was telling on him, and it was doubtful whether he was not taking almost as much out of himself by his desperate struggles to throw King, as he was out of King by the falls. He persevered in his wrestling game, however, for hardly an attempt was made at a blow in this round before he grappled with King, and brought him over.

12.—Tom was a little more on his guard this time, and led off; Heenan returned, and a few seconds of very hard fighting took place, both men being hit severely about the head till they closed, when King again succeeded in turning the tables, and threw Heenan heavily.

13.—Although this round began with some countering which looked very heavy, yet Heenan's blows did not, as a rule, tell very much ; and when his seconds sent him up King looked clean, and comparatively free from punishment. Heenan again gave his man the hug, and threw him. After this round Heenan's left hand became gradually of less service to him.

14.—Heenan feinted with his left, and threw in a smasher on the head with his right. King stuck to him, but after some stinging exchanges, in which he had the best, he was thrown—one of the most tremendous cross-buttocks ever seen—and so stunned and shaken was King, that but for the tact and presence of mind of Jerry Noon, it is doubtful if he could have come to time.

 

15.—In spite of the very heavy falls being nearly always in his favour, Heenan was now almost as much distressed as King, and the punishment given was certainly much against him. After a little sparring, heavy counters were exchanged, and then three or four smashing hits left and right, without a semblance of stopping or avoiding. Heenan drew back a little, and then lunging tremendously with his right, nailed King with such terrific force that he staggered and went down. (This was first knock-down blow in favour of Heenan, and was one of the few clean hits he delivered or even attempted to deliver during the fight.)

16.—Although slower than before in answering the call of " time," King came resolutely up, and did not seem greatly shaken by the knock-down blow. Indeed, Heenan appeared worse from the effects of the last round than did his opponent, as King had planted so heavily on his left eye that it was badly cut and nearly closed. In some more heavy punching—pure slogging give-and-take, without any show of science—Heenan's eye was quite shut up, and he showed some decided signs of weakness. King dashed in, and, after an exhausting struggle, forced him down.

17.—In this round Heenan again got the fall; but it was for the last time. He was evidently falling off; and when once his superiority in strength or wrestling power was gone he seemed useless and almost helpless as a boxer. King hit him tremendously about the side of the head and on the eyes, and it appeared as if Heenan would soon be blind. However, as just said, he clutched King desperately, and threw him one of the hardest falls in the fight. But it was his last effort, and while he became visibly weaker every minute, King, strange to say, seemed little the worse.

18.—There was at first some fear that the ring would be broken in; for the intense excitement among the outer crowd had induced a rush, which broke through the lukewarm resistance of the constables, and brought the mass up to the ropes. Luckily, however, nothing came of it. Heenan, thinking he had shaken King more than was really the case, and probably feeling that he was growing exhausted himself, rushed furiously at his man to improve his advantage. King, however, who had quickly recovered himself, met him with a couple of smashing hits left and right, stopping the Yankee's rush, and while he was yet on the stagger King closed, and, giving him the crook, pitched him over, and fell on him with stunning force.

19.—Heenan came up rather hurriedly when time was called, but it was at once seen that he was almost beaten, and was quite groggy. He tried his rush, but it was no longer dangerous, and King stepped back twice, measured his distance, planted on him without a return, and, by a second straight hit, sent him down. In the 20th round King managed to back-heel Heenan. The same description applies to the next two rounds, excepting that in each of them Heenan grew shakier and wilder, and King's superiority more marked. At the commencement of the 23rd round it was proposed to throw up the sponge, but Heenan would not hear of it, and staggered at his man with the semblance of his former rush. He staggered after receiving a blow, and was thrown by King without a chance of resisting. His backers, seeing that it was hopeless, and that it was only exposing the sinking boxer to punishment, insisted on his surrender, and the sponge was thrown up in token of defeat, after a desperate, but slashing, hugging, and unscientific battle of thirty-five minutes, and twenty-four rounds.

REMARKS.—We may well spare any lengthened comment upon a contest the leading characteristics of which were "clinching," rushing:, squeezing, and attempts at strangulating hugs on the one side, and wild, desperate sledge-hammer defensive hitting on the other. Heenan proved beyond doubt or cavil that he did not deserve to rank in the first or even second rank of artistic boxers, and that sheer brute strength, seconded by weight, stature, and a certain amount of mere animal courage were his only qualifications. He seemed to have little idea of sparring for an opening, or as a means of defence; while the use of the skilful feints, well-timed delivery, or accurate measurement of distance, of getting close and then getting away, as practised by professional boxers, he ignored or despised. It was not the fault of Tom King that the fight was so bad. His form and style were far the better of the two, for he did not trust to mere wrestling and hauling his man about, and would have made a better show of tactics with a better man. Those flatterers who told Heenan that he could stand a comparison with King's former opponent, Jem Mace, must have been grossly ignorant or wilfully deceived themselves. Few who saw this contest but felt, that it was solely the accident which so early in the battle disabled the gallant Tom Sayers's right arm, had prevented the signal defeat of Heenan on the memorable day at Farnborough. King showed but few marks of severe hitting after the fight, nor was he so seriously exhausted by the falls as might have been expected, considering the weight and stature of both men. On the other band, Heenan was seriously disfigured, indeed, utterly prostrate, and nearly blinded at the close of the encounter. Altogether, while an honest and game fight, it was an unsatisfactory one ; the sole point settled being the entire absence, on the part of Heenan, of those scientific attainments and steady attributes indispensable to the successful practitioner in the Prize Ring. The immense stake, £2,000, so glaringly disproportionate to the merits of the battle, was duly paid over to King. For the circumstance of the appearance of the once formidable Tom Sayers at the ring-side, as second to his former antagonist, John Heenan, the reader is referred to pages 435 and 436 of the present volume.


Again, and for the last time, Tom King announced his retirement from professional pugilism ; we shall not, therefore, follow him into private life farther than to say, that he has carried with him the respect he earned by his public career, and that the last we heard of him was that he had earned the peaceful distinction of a prizeman, as a successful cultivator of flowers at horticultural shows, held in the neighbourhood of his suburban dwelling. And here we legitimately close the task we voluntarily imposed on ourself, of committing to the press the history of ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF BRITISH BOXING.

 

Famous Fights Past & Present:

Sam Hurst vs Tom Paddock
page1
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Tom King vs John C. Heenan
page1
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An acount of King Heenan

Publication: Brooklyn Eagle; Date: Dec 26, 1863; Section: None; Page: 2

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