Boxing and Prize-Fighting

17-19 July 1700   Yesterday there was a trial of skill, performed at his Majesty’s Bear Garden [at Hockley in the Hole], between John Terrewest, of Oundle in Northamptonshire, and Thomas Hesgate, a Barkshire man, the former having challenged the other in vindication of his brother Reuben Terrewest, who had been soyl’d by Hesgate. They fought at back-sword, sword and dagger, sword and buckler, sword and ga[u]ntlet, single falchon, and case of falchons; at all which, Terrewest received only one wound, but Hesgate 5 or 6, so that he lost the day. Whilst they were a fighting, Davis, commonly known by the name of the Champion of the west, got upon the stage, and refused to go off again, challenging Terrewest, to fight him for offering to put him off, and afterwards challenged to fight any man there, whereupon one Gorman, who was lately tryed twice, for killing one of the Turn-keys of Newgate, Jumped upon the Stage, and proffered to take up this bold challenger, and accordingly they both stript, and went to it, and at first bout Gorman wounded the Champion in the throat, and at second bout received a wound himself, in the side, but gave the Champion so great a wound on his forehead, that he swooned away; and many thought he had been killed, however he was so far disabled, that he could not try the third bout. [London Post] Note, there is lately built a pleasant cool gallery for . [Advertisent for a repeat performance in the Post Boy, 5-8 July 1701.]

29 August 1724   The Justices of the Peace for the City of Westminster and County of Middlesex, are about to suppress those publick and scandalous nusances the Bear-Gardens. [Weekly Journal, or The British Gazetteer]

Tuesday 8 September 1724   The sober part of the town express great concern at the scandalous advertisements that are almost every day publish'd, for calling raw tradesmen out of their shops, students from their books, apprentices and hired servants, and even his Majesty's soldiers from their duty, to attend at the rude and savage diversions of the Bear-Garden, where prophaneness reigns triumphantly, vollies of the most dreadful oaths being pour'd out incessantly, and picking of pockets practic'd openly with impunity: The citizens are also under great grief to observe the minds of too many of their young sparks turn'd, and entertain'd with these idle amusements, and the grand question become, Who fights? instead of Who trades? We have for their consolation this to acquaint them, and that too from good authority, that Mr Jones, the famous High-Constable of Holborn, in whose division this nuisance chiefly lies, will speedily be commission'd to take one single bout at STAFF with this terrible Mr Figg [the boxer], he being as well vers'd in the true exercise of that weapon as Mr Figg, or any of his fraternity. (The Daily Journal)

Saturday 16 January 1725   The English Gentleman, who lately wagered with a foreigner at Slaughter's Coffee House in St Martin's Lane, that he would find one of his country-men who should beat an Italian in town, famous for boxing and victories that way (on whose side the foreign Gentlemen made his wager), as soon as the articles were signed, applied himself for a man to the celebrated Mr Fig [Figg the famous boxer], who has procured him a grazier, known far and near for a stout boxer; and he is now entertained at Mr Fig's house for instruction and proper diet 'till the day of battle. We are assured that some thousands of pounds have been laid on this occasion, and that a great body of butchers, who have been witnesses of the grazier's dexterity, have waited on the Gentleman, his patron, with a request, that he would let each of them go a guinea with him; but the Gentleman is so satisfied with his man, that their request was not granted. The combatants have had an interview, when the English Champion took the Italian by the hand, and invited him to one bout for love (as he termed it) before-hand; but he declined it. In a word, the publick daily enter into this affair with so much passion for the event, and gentlemen are so warm on both sides, that it looks like a national concern. (The London Journal)

12 February 1726   Last Saturday one Richard Prinching, a young lad was committed to Newgate for the murther of William Fenwick, another lad at boxing, a barbarous practice, but daily encourag’d by the mob in our streets with impunity; especially in setting poor children to fight it out, when they perceive them at any variance about their play. [Weekly Journal, or The British Gazetteer]

27 August 1730   Saturday, Aug. 22. Yesterday Mr. Sutton the prize-fighter was taken into custody, and carried to the county gaol of Surrey, for desperately wounding several women in the Mint with his sword, and in particular one woman, who has received a dangerous wound in her thigh. Daily Journal — On reading this paragraph, I could not forbear looking over the annals of our society [i.e. other newspapers], and in the Daily Post of the 19th instant found the following Answer to Mr. Felix Mac-Guire, the most noted and successful Champion of the Kingdom of Ireland, who never yet knew the scandal of a defeat. I Edward Sutton, renowned Champion of invincible Kent, to whose arms proud foreigners have resigned the prize, and foes domestick paid submission, doubt not but it will be the fate of this Adamantine Heroe, who has said so much of himself, there is little room left for me to say anything. I was in hopes so many of his wounded countrymen had felt my fury, that it might have restrained the rest, and the catalogue of their mighties had been at an end; but as the mushrooms are said to breed in a shower of rain, and come to maturity in a single night; so every easterly wind, I think blows over some Champion or other, and a swords-man rises in the morning, where no such thing could be found the evening before it. Sure! Ireland is well stock’d! but I will endeavour to lessen the number, by cutting him up for pickle, at the time and place appointed, &c. — Strange! That so great a Hero should at last stoop to draw his puissant sword upon feeble women! [Grub-street Journal]

31 March 1738   Yesterday was a great boxing match between the famous Broughton and one Stephenson, a coachman, for a hundred pounds, which was won by the former. One Mr. Maynar, a barber and perukemaker in Dean-street, Soho, was squeez’d to death as he attempted to get into the Great Booth at Tottenham Court to see the said battle. (Daily Gazetteer)

10 February 1739   Monday was fought at Tottenham-Court Booth, the great boxing-match between Stephenson the coachman, and Taylor the barber; there was a prodigious crowded house of Nobility and Gentry at five shillings a ticket: The odds before they began was six to four on the coachman who had buit one eye; and tho' the coachman at the very beginning of the battle struck the barber just above the eye such a blow, that the wound seem'd as if done with a sword, and the blood gush'd out, and run into that eye, that he could scarce see, yet the Barber flung him several times successively, fought away boldly, and beat him in eleven minutes: Peartree was the coachman's second, and Boswell the barber's. There were vast sums of money lost on this match: A noble Lord took a bett [sic] of 300 guineas to 200, that the barber would beat the coachman. During the battle, part of the benches fell down, and several were hurt, and a poor man had his thigh broke. (Read's Weekly Journal)