Black Period Revised: George Millsom "The Baker" Part II

Continuing from
William Stevens "The Nailer" Part II

When I initially created this, I took the statement that George Meggs was the Hero of England to mean that he was once again champion, I now believe this to be an error, however since Milsom would defeat Meggs afterwards, this error was fortunately not as major as it may have been.

In the meantime William Darts would fight the acclaimed Death, though Boxiana and Pugilistica both state that by this point Death was past his best.

From Pancratia
On March 25, 1770, a battle was fought between Bill Darts and Stephen Oliver ; although the latter displayed great skill and excellent bottom, he was obliged to yield to the superior strength of Darts, who at this time was considered the hardest hitter through the whole range of pugilists. Though the real name of the unsuccessful candidate for pugilistic fame in the battle just related, is Oliver, he is more generally known by the nick-name of Death, said to have been given him through the paleness of his visage, during his pugilistic contests ; he formerly had won several battles, and was one of Brousrhton's greatest favorites. He was well made, very light, never exceeding 12 stone ; not possessing much strength, he was fully compensated by his astonishing agility; Oliver has fought more battles than any man in England, and though frequently over matched, often conquered, but his sparring, notwithstanding it was thought excellent some years back, is now equalled by any pupil of Mendoza's or Humphries's; this indisputably shews the moderns have improved in science.​

This is sometimes listed as a Championship fight, with Darts becoming the Champion once again. In light of the previous finds, however, I do not think this is true.

Later this same year George Meggs and George Millsom would, seemingly once again, do battle.

Middlesex Journal May 8th 1770
Maggs and Milsom have agreed to fight for one hundred pounds at Frome, on Monday next the 14th instant​

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Thursday 24 May 1770
On Monday last the much talked-of buising-match between George Maggs, of Pensford, and George Milsom, of Kingswood, was decided on Leigh down near Bristol, within four minutes, in favour of the latter.- Very large sums were depending on the issue of this battle, and many of Magg's friends were so sanguine in his behalf, that bets of two to one against Milsom were laid to a considerable amount.
​

I have speculated before if these later bouts were confused and turned into the bouts in 1762, however I believe the 1763 advertisement suggests against this. There really is a lot of ambiguity with so little information, much of which isn't very reliable.

Another bout from this time featured Tom Juchau's brother, this one too was rather brutal.

Reading Mercury - Monday 11 June 1770
Thursday noon a brusing match was fought in Moor-fields, between a Butcher, and one Disher, brother to the noted fighter Disher, which lasted 75 minutes, when Disher was carried off with no appearance of life, and the Butcher was so much brused that it is though he cannot recover.​

This continues with
Epilogue