Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
First Fight of SPRING and LANGAN, on Worcester Race-Course, January 24th, 1824. See page 25.
PUGILISTICA
THE HISTORY
OF
BRITISH BOXING
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
PREFACE TO VOLUME II.
The favour with which the first volume of Pugilistica has beenreceived gives the author encouraging hope that the present instalmentof his history will prove yet more interesting and acceptable.
The two periods comprised in these pages embrace the lives ofseveral of the most skilful and courageous boxers who have illustratedthe art of attack and defence. In the first, we have the battles ofSpring (Thos. Winter), John Langan, Ned Painter, Oliver, Neat ofBristol, Thomas Hickman, Dan Donnelly, and Carter, with minorstars in an Appendix. In the second, Jem Ward, Peter Crawley,Tom Cannon, Josh. Hudson, Ned Neale, Ned Baldwin, Young DutchSam, Alec Reid, Tom Gaynor, Bishop Sharpe, Brown of Bridgnorth,and Sampson of Birmingham. Dick Curtis, Barney Aaron, HarryJones, and light-weights forming the Appendix.
The third and concluding volume, commencing with Bendigo(William Thompson), will include the Decline and Fall of the P.R.,with occasional flickerings of its olden fire, till its final expiry in thedoings of Tom Sayers, John Camel Hee