Chapter I: Tom Sayers (champion).――1849-1860 (3)

Round 1.――On baring their forequarters to the piercing
breeze, a perceptible shiver ran through the carcases
of the combatants. Sayers looked in perfect condition;
every muscle was perceptible, and we doubt whether
there was an ounce of superfluous flesh about him.
There was a smile of confidence on his lips and bright
sparkle in his eye that betokened extraordinary health
and spirits. His attitude was artistic and firm, yet
light. Of course he stood on the defensive, and eyed
his heavier opponent. There did not appear to be that
disparity of size that really existed; for Jones
stooped rather on throwing himself on guard, and thus
reduced his height almost to a level with that of the
gallant Tom, who was upright as a dart. Aaron’s
condition did not seem to us so first-rate as the first
glance at him had led us to suppose. His muscles,
though large, were too well covered, while his back and
chest also displayed much superfluous meat, and we
should say that his weight could not have been less
than 12st. 4lbs. He, like Sayers, looked confident, but
was far more serious in his demeanour. They both
commenced the round with the utmost caution, sparring,
and attempting to draw one another into something like
an opening; but for a long time neither would throw a
chance away. At length Jones dashed out left and right;
but the blows passed over Tom’s shoulders, and Tom with
quickness tapped Aaron on the face, but without force.
Sayers now let go his left, but Jones retreated. Tom
persevered, and was cleverly stopped. In a third
attempt, after more dodging, he got heavily on Aaron’s
mouth and stepped back without a return. Jones now
assumed the offensive, but was stopped, and Tom, after
another dodge or two, planted his left heavily on the
mark, and then the same hand on the side of Aaron’s
nut, but not heavily. Jones returned heavily on the
right peeper, and shortly after made a second call at
the same establishment. More stopping and dodging,
until Sayers paid another visit to Aaron’s kisser,
Jones missing his return. Each now stopped a lead; but
immediately afterwards Jones popped in his left on the
snuff-box, a heavy hit without a return. Tom grinned a
ghastly grin; but the crack evidently made him see
stars. Jones attempted to repeat the dose; but Tom got
well away, and, as he retreated, popped his left on the
neck. More excellent stopping on both sides, and, after
a few harmless exchanges, Tom tried a double with his
left and got on the throat, but the blow lacked steam.
Jones returned with quickness over the left peeper,
inflicting a cut and drawing the claret. (“First blood”
for Jones.) Tom, although staggered, was undaunted, and
went at his man with determination. He once more got on
the bread-basket heavily. Good counter-hits followed,
in which Jones again reached Tom’s damaged peeper,
drawing more of the essential, and Tom delivered a
straight one on the snout, removing a small portion of
the bark. Tom then got on the left eye, and, after some
sharp punching at close quarters, both fell. This round
lasted exactly half an hour.

2.――Tom came up much flushed, and the crimson
distilling from his damaged eye. After a little
dodging, he tried his double, but did not get it home.
He tried a second time, but was stopped, and Jones
returned on the left eye. This led to very heavy
counters, each on the larboard goggle. Jones now
feinted, and popped his left on the nose. They got hold
of one another, swung round, broke away, and Sayers
then popped his left again on the left eye. Severe
exchanges followed at close quarters, and both in the
end were down.

3.――Sayers quickly led off with his left, and was
stopped. He then tried his double, but was short. In a
third essay he got home on Aaron’s nose, but not
heavily. Twice again did he pop in gentle taps, but he
now napped another rattler on the left eye. Severe
exchanges followed, Aaron again turning on the stream
from Tom’s left brow, and Tom tapping his opponent’s
snuff-box. More exchanges in favour of Jones; and in
the end both fell in a scrambling struggle, Jones
under.

4.――Tom’s left brow and the left side of his canister
were much swollen, but he was still confident, and led
off, Jones countering him well on the mouth. Heavy
exchanges followed, Tom on the nose, and Jones on the
left cheek, and both again slipped down, the ground
being anything but level.

5.――Tom let fly his left, but was neatly stopped; Jones
returned on the side of the brain pan, and got down.

6.――Sayers came up, looking very serious, and it
subsequently turned out that he was suffering from
severe cramp in the stomach and lower extremities. He
went in, feinted, and got well home on Jones’s left
eye. This led to sharp exchanges and a close, when both
were down, Jones being underneath. Aaron had now a bump
on his left peeper, which was apparently closing.

7.――Aaron lost no time in sending out his left, which
fell on Tom’s chest. Heavy counter-hits followed, Jones
on the nose, and Tom on the mouth. More exchanges in
favour of Sayers, who again got on Aaron’s damaged
optic, and the latter got down.

8.――Sayers went to his man, and tried his double, the
second blow dropping on Aaron’s sneezer, and Tom then
got cleverly away from the return. Exchanges ensued,
Tom on the mark, and Aaron on the mazzard; Aaron then
got home his right heavily on the left side of Tom’s
knowledge-box, then his left on the left eye, and in
the close Sayers was down.

9.――Aaron led off, but was well stopped, and this led
to some sharp exchanges, Jones on the bad peeper, and
Tom on the left brow. Sayers tried another double, and
once more visited Aaron’s nose, but not heavily. More
mutual stopping, and Jones, at length, in getting away,
slipped and fell. One hour had now elapsed.

10.――Tom planted his left on the beak, and received a
little one in return on the forehead. Jones now let fly
his left and right, but was cleverly stopped. In a
second essay he got home on the left cheek. Heavy
exchanges followed, Tom getting on both peepers, and
Jones on the side of Tom’s cranium with both daddles,
and Tom fell.

11.――Aaron had now a mark on each peeper, the left fast
closing. Tom’s left, too, appeared almost shut up.
Jones tried to take the lead, but missed; Sayers
likewise missed his return. Exchanges followed in
favour of Jones, who, in the end, closed, and in the
struggle both fell, Jones uppermost.

12.――No time lost; both quickly at it, and some sharp
exchanges took place in favour of Jones, who got
heavily on Tom’s nose. Tom made his left on the body
heavily, and they then pegged away wildly at close
quarters until Jones got down.

13.――Aaron dashed in and pegged away left and right,
but without precision, and ultimately bored his man
down.

14.――Jones feinted and popped his left on the left eye,
without a return. Tom then let go his left, but was
short, and Jones, in dashing at him in return, slipped
and fell.

15.――Aaron led off, left and right, but Tom got away.
He came again, and tried to plant his left, but was
short. He then tried his double, but Jones got away.
Both now sparred and dodged, but nothing came of it. At
last Jones dashed in, and heavy exchanges took place in
favour of Jones, who, however, in the end, fell.

16.――Both at once went to work, and heavy exchanges
took place, each napping it on the left ogle, and both
fell through the ropes.

17.――Tom’s forehead and left eye much disfigured. Jones
let fly his left and right on the sides of the nob very
heavily, and both again fell through the ropes.

18.――Tom came up slowly, and was nailed on the damaged
peeper. In return he caught Aaron on the brow, but not
heavily. Jones then made his left and right on the side
of the head and left eye, and Tom retaliated on the
nose a little one. A close followed, and in the end
both were down, Jones under.

19.――Tom dodged and got home on Aaron’s smeller with
his left, and Aaron then made both hands on the left
side of Tom’s wig-block. A close and sharp struggle,
when both fell, Tom under.

20.――Jones dashed in and let go both hands on the head.
Tom returned on the left brow, and both fell backwards.

21.――Aaron again dashed in. He missed his right,
closed, and both fell, Jones under.

22.――Tom now led off, but missed, and Jones caught him
heavily with his right on the frontispiece, and knocked
him down. (“First knock-down for Jones.”)

23.――Tom, on coming up, showed the effect of the last
blow on his forehead. He attempted to lead off, but was
very short. He tried again with a like result; and
Jones, in letting go both hands in return, overreached
himself and fell.

24.――Aaron rattled in, planted his left and right on
the scent-box and left ear, the latter very heavy, and
bored Tom down.

25.――Tom came up bleeding from a severe cut on the left
lug, and his gnomon much out of straight. He tried to
lead off, but Jones caught him on the right brow, but
not very heavily. Tom then got home on the body, and
tremendous counter-hits followed, in favour of Jones,
who, in the end, slipped and fell, Tom catching him,
just as he reached the ground, on the side of the head.

26.――Jones went in left and right, closed, and both
were down. Sayers was now very weak, and the Jonesites
were in ecstasies.

27.――Aaron led off, getting well on the side of Tom’s
nut with his right. Tom missed his return, and Jones
then planted his left and right on the top of the
skull; closed at the ropes, where Tom managed to throw
him but not heavily.

28.――Jones led off, and got well on Tom’s nose with his
left, and Tom returned on the side of the head. After a
little dodging, Jones popped his left on Tom’s left
peeper, and his right on the jaw, again flooring Tom
and falling on him.

29.――Tom, who was excessively weak, came up slow, but
determined; he tried his left at the body, but was
short. Jones then let fly his left in return, but was
countered on the mouth. He then planted his left and
right on Tom’s damaged listener, and in the end fell.

30.――Aaron, after a few dodges, once more popped a
little ’un on Tom’s ear. Tom thereupon dashed in, but
got a little one on the nose, and another on the side
of the head, and Jones, in getting away, fell,
laughing.

31.――Jones attempted to lead off, but Tom got away.
Jones followed him up, caught him again on the side of
the nob, closed, and both rolled over together.

32.――Jones dashed in, planted both hands on the
brain-pan, closed, and forced Tom down.

33.――Jones again rushed in, but inflicted no damage,
and again bored Tom down.

34.――Jones still forced the fighting, and caught Tom,
who seemed very tired, on the side of the head, and, in
the end, both slipped down.

35.――Sayers was forced down, after getting a gentle
reminder on the side of his damaged figure-head.

36.――Tom, a little refreshed, sparred about for wind,
until Jones went in, and heavy exchanges took place, in
favour of Jones, when both fell backwards.

37.――Tom, recovering a little, tried his double, but
Jones got away, and, as Tom came, he nailed him on the
left brow. Tom then made his left on the mark, but
again napped it heavily on the left eye. Aaron now got
on the nose with his left――a heavy spank――and, in
getting back, he staggered and fell.

38.――Jones dodged, and planted his left on the mouth
heavily, and his right on the side of the head. Tom
returned slightly on the nose, and, after slight
exchanges, both fell.

39.――Very slight exchanges, and Sayers slipped down.

40.――After a little sparring they got close, and
exchanges took place, each getting it on the mouth.
Sayers then tried his left at the mark, but Jones got
away. Tom followed him up, and was caught by Aaron,
left and right, on the side of his head and fell.

41.――Tom came up, shook himself, and rattled in, but he
got it on the top of his cranium. Jones, in stepping
back, fell. Two hours had now expired.

42.――Jones, steady, let go his left on the side of
Tom’s head, and then both mauleys on the same spot. Tom
followed him up, but got it again on the brow. He,
however, got home on Jones’s body, and, in retreating
slipped and fell.

43.――Long sparring for wind, until Jones once more made
play on the left side of Tom’s occiput, and then on his
snout. Tom returned on the latter organ, but not
heavily. He now tried his favourite double, but did not
get home. In a second attempt he got heavily on Aaron’s
proboscis, and got away. Exchanges followed, in which
Tom again delivered heavily on the nose with his left,
and in the end Jones dropped.

44.――Tom was now evidently recovering from his
exhaustion. He came up steadier, and sparred shiftily
until Jones commenced the attack, when he stopped him
neatly. Heavy counter-hits followed on the jaw, after
which Sayers tried the double once again, but was
stopped. More good counter-hits, Tom getting well on
Aaron’s left eye, and receiving on the mouth. Aaron’s
left eye all but closed.

45.――More sparring, until Jones let fly his left, but
Sayers got away. Exchanges followed, Tom on the
whistler, and Jones on the nose, but not heavily. More
sharp counter-hitting, Tom once more getting on the
left eye severely. Jones returned, but not effectively,
with both hands on the side of the head, and in getting
away from the return he fell.

46.――Jones succeeded in planting a spanking hit from
the left on the left eye, and then another with the
same hand on the left cheek. In a third attempt he was
stopped. Heavy counter-hits followed, and in the end
Jones fell, Sayers falling over him.

47.――Aaron feinted with his left, and got well on Tom’s
nose; a very straight hit. Tom, in return, tried his
double, but was short. After some more ineffectual
attempts they got to it, and tremendous exchanges took
place, each getting it on the nose and left eye, and in
the end Jones got down. Two hours, fifteen minutes.

48.――Tom tried to lead off, but was stopped, and Jones
planted his left on the cheek. Tom now stopped two of
Jones’s hits, after which heavy exchanges took place,
Tom getting well on to the left eye, and Jones on the
nose. More sharp exchanges, left and right, each
getting pepper in earnest, and the favours mutually
divided. A break away, and to it again, ding-dong, and
Tom drew the crimson from Aaron’s left peeper, which
was now effectually closed. In the end Jones fell. It
was now anybody’s battle; Tom had quite recovered his
wind, and was nearly as strong as his heavier opponent.

49.――Both much punished. Sayers sparred until Jones
tried to lead off, when he got away. Jones followed him
up, but was short in his deliveries. In the end they
closed, and as they were falling Tom popped his right
sharply on Aaron’s back.

50.――Jones, after sparring, led off, and got home on
the nose, but not heavily; Tom returned on the right
peeper, and some pretty exchanges, left and right, took
place, followed by a break away, and Jones then stopped
Tom’s left; Tom, in return, stopped Aaron, and planted
his left on the mark, and then on the left eye, and
Jones got down.

51.――Jones led off, but was stopped. He persevered, and
a good give-and-take rally followed, Jones getting on
the left eye, and Tom on the left cheek heavily. Tom
next got on the mouth, drawing the Burgundy, and then
on the nose and left cheek. Another sharp rally
followed, after a break away, and in the end both down.

52.――Sayers visibly improving while Jones fell off.
Jones was short in his lead, and Tom returned on the
smelling-bottle, and got away. Jones followed and
dashed out his left, but Tom ducked his head. Tom then
got home on the mouth and nose, and drew more of the
ruby from the latter ornament. Jones succeeded in
returning a little ’un on the left eye, and Sayers
slipped down.

53.――Jones, who was bleeding from the left eye and
month, led off, but was well stopped. He then missed
his left, but in the end heavy exchanges, left and
right, took place, Jones on the side of the nut and the
neck, and in getting back he fell.

54.――Tom now essayed a lead, but was stopped. A second
attempt reached Aaron’s body, but not heavily, and
Jones returned on the nose. Tom tried his double, but
missed, and Jones popped a little one on the mouth, and
then his left on the left eye, and fell in the corner.

55.――Tom dodged about until he got within distance, and
then got home heavily on the mark. Jones returned on
the jaw with his right, but not heavily. After some
more sparring, Jones dashed in, when Tom met him very
sharply on the right cheek-bone with his left, and
Aaron fell all of a heap. He was carried to his corner,
where it was with the utmost difficulty he could be got
round at the call of “Time.”

56.――Jones came up all abroad, and Tom popped in
another spank on the same spot, whereupon Jones again
fell. It was thought to be all over; but, by dint of
shaking him up, Aaron was again enabled to respond to
the call.

57.――Tom rushed at his man to administer the _coup de
grace_, but, going in without precision, he contrived
to run against Aaron’s left, which was swung wildly
out, the blow, which alighted on Tom’s nose, regularly
staggered him. He quickly recovered himself, and went
in again, but Jones fell weak.

After this, the battle continued to the 62nd round,
Jones getting gradually blind, and Sayers becoming very
tired. At length in the 62nd round, after slight
exchanges, the men, who were much exhausted, stood
still, looking at each other for some time, their
seconds covering them with rugs. Upon this the referee
and umpires called on them to go in and finish. Both
went to the scratch, but on Sayers approaching Jones,
the latter retreated to his corner, and Tom, in
obedience to the orders of his seconds, declined going
to fight him there. It was getting dark, and it was
clear that Jones and his friends were determined not to
throw a chance away. The referee once more called on
Jones to go to the scratch, which he did, but with
precisely the same result; and the referee, seeing that
Tom was not strong enough to go with prudence to finish
on his adversary’s ground, and that Jones was unwilling
to try the question at the scratch in his then
exhausted state, ordered the men to shake hands,
leaving the motion as to further hostilities to a
future day. Both were severely punished; each had a
peeper closed; Jones’s right was fast following his
left, and his right hand was injured; so that a second
meeting the same week was not to be thought of. The
fight lasted exactly three hours. The men and their
friends now hastened to regain the vessel, and it was
dark long ere the last of the company were safely on
board. Of course there were many laughable accidents in
the mud through which all had to wade; but luckily,
nothing occurred of a serious nature to mar the
pleasures of the day, which, although in some measure
clouded by the fact that the battle was not finished,
still left sufficient impression on the minds of the
spectators to cause them to remember this brilliant
passage of arms, which formed so hopeful an opening to
the pugilistic year 1857. The vessel conveyed the
company with all due speed to a convenient place for
debarkation, whence they obtained a passage by railway
to the Metropolis, which was reached in safety by nine
o’clock. Numerous complaints were made by the
disappointed ones who went to the Great Northern
Railway, at the manner in which they were deceived; and
the only consolation is that we are sorry for those
whom we should have been glad to welcome at the
ring-side, but who have themselves alone to blame for
not finding out the final fixture as many others had
done; while as to others of a certain class, who are
always more free than welcome, we can with truth say
their room was better than their company, and we
rejoice, with others who were present, that they were
so completely sold. Some unlucky wights got a sort of
hint as to the fixture, and arrived within a few miles
of the spot at a late hour in the afternoon, and were
landed, but unluckily for them, on the wrong island,
and here the poor fellows had to remain all night, and
sleep under a haystack. The boats that landed them had
departed, and they could make no one hear; so that,
cold, hungry, and thirsty, they had to weather the
cold, severe night in the best way they could.

The renewed battle, which was for £200 and an additional bet of £100, was fixed for Tuesday, the 10th February, 1857, on the same spot as the previous gallant encounter. On this occasion Sayers was seconded by Jemmy Massey and Bill Hayes, with Jemmy Welsh as bottle-holder; Aaron Jones by Alec Keene and Jack Hicks, Jack Macdonald taking care of the restoratives. 7 to 4 on Sayers.

THE FIGHT.

Round 1.――On toeing the scratch the condition of both
men struck the spectators with admiration. In our
opinion it was perfect on both sides, but the
development of muscle was decidedly in favour of
Sayers, who is better ribbed up, and has his thews and
sinews laid on in the right place. He looked brown,
wiry, and healthy, and, for a middle weight, seemed
wonderfully big. Jones, who is of fairer complexion,
was altogether more delicate in appearance than Sayers,
and, although so much taller, heavier, and longer, did
not loom out so much larger as might be expected. He is
a fine-made, muscular young fellow, but still there is
an appearance about him which at once leads to the
conclusion that his stamina is scarcely fitted for the
wear and tear of gladiatorial encounters. He is about
twenty-six years of age, and in height is over 5 feet
11 inches, while Tom Sayers is thirty-one, and is
little more than 5 feet 8 inches. It was soon seen that
Sayers intended to pursue different tactics to those he
adopted on the previous occasion. He dodged about for a
few seconds, and then let go his left and right with
great quickness, but Jones stopped him neatly, and in
getting back fell.

2.――Tom came up smiling, feinted with his left, and
then tried his favourite double; the first hit was
stopped, but the second caught Aaron on the chin. This
he repeated, and got away without a return. After
trying his double once more without success, he planted
his left very heavily on the mark. Jones at once went
to close quarters, and some quick in-fighting took
place in favour of Sayers, who got well on to Aaron’s
snuffbox with his left, drawing “first blood.” Jones
got on the left side of Tom’s head, but not heavily,
and at length both fell.

3.――Both quick to the call of “Time,” and Sayers at
once went to work with his left, Jones countering him
heavily, each getting it on the forehead. Tom then
popped his left on the mark, and Aaron returned, but
not heavily, on the nose. Tom now again planted the
left on the mark, and was stopped in a second effort.
Heavy exchanges next took place, Tom once more drawing
the cork from a cut on Aaron’s sniffer, and receiving
on the left ear. After a few dodges, Tom again
approached, and made a heavy call on Aaron’s
bread-basket, then planted a stinger between the eyes,
and got away laughing. He attempted to repeat the dose,
but was stopped. Another effort was more successful,
and he dropped on the mark, staggering Jones, who,
however, recovered himself, and popped his left on the
chest, then on the left cheek, but not heavily.
Sparring until Tom got within distance and shot out his
left heavily on the proboscis, without a return, Jones
being a little wild. Tom now essayed his double, but
Jones got away, and returned on the mouth. Tom
persevered, and napped a little ’un on the left eye for
his pains; still, he would be at work, and got well on
Aaron’s left peeper, drawing the ruby. Heavy exchanges
followed, Jones getting on Tom’s left brow, and Tom
turning on the home-brewed from Aaron’s nasal organ.
After two or three slight exchanges in favour of
Sayers, he again put the double on, reaching the left
cheek and bread-basket. Next he popped another hot one
on the victualling department, receiving a slight
return on the forehead. After a break away he stole in,
and bang went his left on Aaron’s damaged eye, drawing
more of the ruby. A merry little rally followed in
favour of Sayers, who at last broke away, and sparred
as if blown from his fast fighting. Jones approached to
take advantage of this, when Tom propped him on the
brow, and then on the forehead. Jones returned with
both hands, but not heavily, on the brow and body, and
another bustling rally came off, Tom getting home on
the left ogle and throat heavily, and Aaron on the
larboard cheek. Another break away, and Tom, on getting
himself together, resumed the double, got on the mark
very heavily, and then popped his right on the left
side of Aaron’s nob; he got away laughing, and as Jones
tried to follow him up he warned him off by a pop on
the left eye. A heavy rally at last took place, in
which Jones got sharply on the left ear, and Sayers on
the left eye, and this protracted and well-fought round
was concluded by Tom slipping down.

4.――Sayers, on coming up, showed a mark on his
forehead, and another on his left ear, while Aaron’s
left eye and nose were much out of the perpendicular.
Tom lost no time in going to work, and planted his one,
two, the left on Aaron’s right eye, and the right on
the left jaw, knocking Aaron off his pins. (“First
knock-down” for Sayers.) Jones seemed all abroad, and
it was with the greatest difficulty that he was got
round to the call of “Time.”

5.――Sayers at once went in left and right, but he was
too anxious to finish his handiwork, and the blows
lacked precision. He reached the side of Aaron’s nob,
and Jones returned slightly on the same spot, and after
mild exchanges, both fell. This gave Jones time to get
round, and by the commencement of the next round he had
shaken off the nasty one he had got in the fourth.

6.――Tom tried his double, but missed, and Jones rushed
in to close, when Tom caught him round the neck and
punched him heavily on the left peeper and nozzle,
drawing more of the ruby, In the end both fell, Sayers
under.

7.――Aaron came up with his left eye all but closed. Tom
let go his left, but Jones returned on the nose. Tom
tried again and got on the ribs; Jones returned merrily
left and right, but did little damage, and Tom fell in
his corner.

8.――Jones dashed in and pegged away with both mauleys
on the left side or Tom’s knowledge-box; Tom returned
on the left brow and closed, when both fell, Tom under.

9.――Jones again dashed in, and some sharp in-fighting
took place, followed by a close, in which both fell,
Jones, this time, being underneath.

10.――Tom’s dial seemed flushed, but his eyes were still
uninjured. Jones rattled in to close, some quick
fibbing took place, followed by a long struggle for the
fall, which Sayers got and fell on his man. In drawing
his legs away, he brought one foot in smart contact
with Aaron’s leg, which was claimed as a foul kick, but
disallowed by the referee, being evidently accidental.

11.――Jones again took the initiative, and let go both
hands on Tom’s forehead, and then his left on the nose.
Tom returned on the left eye, and then a squasher on
the mark. Exchanges, and Sayers fell, evidently
fatigued by his fast fighting.

12.――Jones persevered in his forcing system, and got on
the left side of Tom’s cranium, Tom returning very
heavily on the nose. Jones again went in, and planted
his left under the left optic, closed, and both fell,
Tom under.

13.――Jones rushed at Tom, and pegged away at him in his
corner. It was a rambling, scrambling round, and both
fell, no mischief being done.

14.――Jones again led off, but Tom propped him well on
the left eye, and Aaron fell on his face.

15.――Good exchanges on the left cheek, after which
Jones got well on Tom’s throat, closed, and both were
down.

16.――Jones dashed at Tom, popped in his left and right
on the frontispiece and nose, and bored Tom through the
ropes.

17.――Jones again opened the ball, got on to Tom’s left
ear, closed, and both were down.

18.――Aaron led off on Tom’s nose; Tom returned on the
left eye, very heavily, and Aaron fell.

19.――Tom resumed the initiative, and reached Aaron’s
nose――by his favourite double. Jones returned, but not
heavily, on the forehead; after which Tom
cross-countered him prettily on the left peeper, and
this led to exchanges in favour of Jones, when Sayers
fell.

20.――Both quick to work; good exchanges, and in the end
Jones floored Tom by a heavy right-hander on the jaw.
(Loud cheers for Jones.)

21.――Jones, elated, rushed in, but Tom steadied him by
a straight ’un on the left cheek, and Jones dropped.

22.――Aaron missed both hands, and after some sparring
Tom caught him heavily on the left ogle, and Jones
dropped. Sayers also fell.

23.――Tom, who seemed getting fresh wind, rattled in,
and planted his double on the nose and mouth. Jones
rushed at him, and in the scramble Sayers was bored
over.

24.――Tom popped a left-hander on the “grubbery,”
received a little one on the nose, and fell.

25.――Heavy exchanges, Sayers on the left eye, and Aaron
on the nose. Jones slipped down.

26.――Jones led off with both hands, but not heavily,
and Tom returned severely on the nose and left eye,
which was now quite closed. Jones fell.

27.――Jones rushed to close quarters, and after a brief
struggle fell.

28.――Tom feinted, and popped his left twice on Aaron’s
damaged peeper. Jones returned on the mouth, and Tom
fell.

29.――Jones went to work, catching Tom over the right
eye, and Sayers in getting back fell.

30.――Both went to work with good will, and, after sharp
exchanges in favour of Sayers, Jones got down.

31.――Aaron tried to lead off, but was well stopped, and
Tom returned on the mark. He next popped his left on
the left cheek, and in getting away slipped down, just
escaping a heavy upper-cut.

32.――Tom feinted, and then got well on to Aaron’s nose
with his left, and retreated, Aaron pursuing him. At
length they got close, and Tom sent in a stiffener on
the scent-box, receiving a right-hander on the left
ear, which opened a cut received in their former fight,
and both fell.

33.――Tom again seemed tired, and sparred for wind.
Jones came to him, when Tom let go his left on the jaw,
closed, and both fell.

34.――Tom slowest to time. He tried his left, but was
stopped; Aaron closed, and Tom fibbed him on the left
eye as they fell.

35.――After a little dodging, they got close, and heavy
counters were exchanged. They now closed, and, as they
fell, Tom again put a little one on Aaron’s left eye.

36.――A close and a struggle, when both fell, Jones
under.

37.――Sayers led off, but was stopped, and, after a wild
scramble, Tom fell. One hour and five minutes had now
elapsed.

38.――Jones dashed in, but Tom steadied him by a
left-hander on the left cheek, and Aaron got down.

39.――Jones, still first, let go left and right on the
mouth and left cheek. Sayers returned on the blind eye,
and got down.

40.――Jones let fly his left, but missed. Slight
exchanges to a close, and both down.

41.――Jones, on the forcing system, planted his left on
the jaw and then on the left ear, and as he was
pursuing his man he fell on his face.

42.――Jones missed his left. Tom returned open-handed on
the back, and Jones dropped.

43.――Jones dashed to a close at the ropes, where they
pegged away smartly but ineffectually until they fell.

44.――Tom got home on the left jaw. Aaron missed both
hands, and fell.

45.――Jones went to work, but without precision, and as
Sayers retreated, Jones fell on his face. It was clear
that Tom was carefully nursing himself, while Jones,
feeling that both his ogles were going, was forcing the
fighting, in order to tire out his opponent before he
became blind.

46.――Jones rattled in and caught Tom on the left cheek,
but not heavily. Tom returned on the left peeper,
drawing more claret, and Jones dropped.

47.――Aaron, in his anxiety, missed both mauleys, and
Tom caught him a heavy right-hander on the proboscis,
whereupon Jones dropped.

48.――Jones went to his man, who nailed him on the left
ogle, and, as Jones persevered, he caught him heavily
on the throat, and Jones fell.

49.――Tom tried to lead off, but was short, and Jones
returned heavily on the ribs with his right. He then
attempted to close, but, on Sayers catching hold of
him, he fell.

50.――Tom tried his double, but Jones stopped him, and
in getting away slipped down.

51.――Slight exchanges; Jones on the mouth and Sayers on
the nose, and Jones down.

52.――Jones led off and was neatly stopped. Tom missed
his return, and Jones fell forward.

53.――Tom led off and got on Aaron’s blind eye. Jones
returned very slightly on the nose, and fell.

54.――Tom planted his left heavily on the mark, which
led to mutual exchanges, and Jones fell.

55.――Tom feinted and popped both hands slightly on
Aaron’s good eye, which began to tell tales. Jones
returned on the left ear, but it was too long a shot to
do damage, and Sayers fell.

56.――Aaron opened the ball, and planted his left and
right on the nose and ear twice in succession. He then
rushed in, when Tom stopped him by a straight one on
the blind eye, and Jones down.

57.――Jones again went to work, but Tom was too quick on
his pins, and got out of harm’s way. Sayers missed his
return, and Jones fell.

58.――Tom, still on the nursing system, kept himself
quiet, waiting for the attack. Jones went in, but Tom
stepped back; slight exchanges ensued, and Jones down.

59.――Jones let go his left; Tom ducked his nut, and the
blow went over, when Jones fell. A claim of foul, as
Jones fell without a blow. The referee said, “Fight
on.”

60.――Jones popped his left on the chest; Tom returned
on the left cheek, and Jones fell. One hour and a half
had now elapsed.

61.――Jones, still first to begin, got on Tom’s nose and
fell, Tom falling over him.

62.――Jones planted his left very slightly on the ride
of Tom’s nob; Tom just touched him on the smeller in
return, and Jones down again.

63.――Jones rushed in, caught Tom on the chin, and Tom
fell. The blow was not very heavy.

64.――Jones missed both hands, got a little one on the
side of his nut, and fell.

65.――Jones got home, left and right, heavily on the
ribs; Tom retaliated on the mark, and Jones down.

66.――Jones let go his left, but Tom avoided the force
of the blow by stepping back. He returned on the neck,
and Jones got down.

67-71.――In all these rounds Jones led off, but did no
mischief, from Tom’s quickness on his pins, and in each
Jones was down.

72.――Tom still waiting and resting himself; Jones came
in and planted his right on the ribs. Tom returned on
the right ogle, but not heavily, and Jones down, his
right eye going fast. Sayers, though much tired, had
both eyes well open, and his face presented no very
serious marks of punishment.

73.――Heavy exchanges, and Jones fell on his face.

74.――Jones tried to lead off, but was stopped.
Counter-hits, Sayers on the nose, and Jones on the
cheek, and Jones fell.

75.――Heavy exchanges, in favour of Sayers, and Jones
down.

76.――Jones, who saw he must do it quickly or not at
all, dashed in recklessly, but was stopped. Tom popped
a little one on the nose, and Jones down.

77.――Jones was again stopped, and Tom got well on his
good eye, and Jones fell.

78.――Sayers stopped Aaron’s rush, and again got on to
his good peeper. Jones instantly fell on his knees.

79.――Aaron delivered his left on the nose, and, in
trying to repeat it fell on his face. Another claim
that he had fallen without a blow not allowed.

80.――Heavy exchanges, Tom getting again on Aaron’s good
peeper, which was now all but shut up, and Jones down.

81.――Jones led off, but wofully out of distance, and
fell forward.

82.――Exchanges in favour of Sayers, and Jones down
weak.

83.――Tom, who saw his time had arrived, went in,
planted his favourite double on Aaron’s good peeper,
and Jones fell.

84.――After a little fiddling, Tom crept close again,
dashed out his left on the good eye, and then on the
cheek, and Jones down.

85 and last.――Jones made a last effort, was easily
stopped, and, as he turned round Tom caught him with
his right a terrific half-arm hit on the right eye, and
knocked him off his pins. It was evidently a finisher.
Poor Aaron’s nob fell forward, and it was at once
apparent that his remaining daylight was closed; and
his seconds, seeing this, of course threw up the
sponge, Tom being proclaimed the winner, after a
gallant battle of exactly _two hours_. Sayers at once
went to shake hands with his brave antagonist, and then
repaired on board the vessel, whither he was soon
followed by Jones, whose damaged peeper was at once
looked to by a medical friend. The poor fellow was very
severely punished, but he did not seem to feel this so
acutely as he did the bitter disappointment of having
to play second fiddle to one so much smaller than
himself. The expedition quickly got under way, and all
reached the Metropolis by nine o’clock. As soon as
Sayers was dressed he went round among his
fellow-passengers, and made a collection for his fallen
antagonist, which reached the sum of £8. Beyond
fatigue, and a few trifling bruises on his forehead and
nose, he was unscathed, and he certainly could scarcely
be said to have a black eye.

REMARKS.――We have little doubt that many of our readers
will have anticipated the remarks that we feel called
upon to make respecting the two game encounters between
these men. On the first occasion it was obvious that
Sayers felt he had a great undertaking before him, and
he was therefore naturally cautious in the outset not
to throw a chance away which might at once put the
victory beyond his reach. Jones was known to be a very
heavy hitter with his right, as was proved by the
severe punishment he dealt out to Tom Paddock in both
their mills. Sayers accordingly “played ’possum,” and
in the first few rounds allowed him to take the
initiative, in order that he might measure his powers
carefully before he exposed himself to danger. Tom
proved himself extremely quick on his pins, and by his
agility he to a certain extent neutralised the effect
of Jones’s severe lunges. True, he got hit occasionally
with effect, as witness the cut over his left eye, and
also on his left ear. Jones, to his surprise, found
before him a man clearly his superior at out-fighting,
and one, too, as he soon discovered, but little his
inferior in bodily strength. For the first hour and a
half, it will be recollected, he had apparently the
advantage, Sayers suffering severely from cramp, and
having to depend principally upon his legs to keep him
out of harm’s way; but after this he gradually
recovered, and Jones, as was the case in his fights
with Paddock, after the said hour and a half, gradually
fell off, and became languid in his exertions. Tom, of
course, improved the occasion, and showed such
superiority in hitting that many thought he would have
won with the greatest certainty had not darkness come
on. We must confess that, although we did not say so at
the time, we entertained a similar opinion, and we at
the same time thought that the darkness was in other
respects an unfortunate circumstance for Sayers,
believing, as we did, that Jones, profiting by
experience, would at the next meeting have resorted to
a different system of milling, and, by at once going to
close quarters, have reduced his adversary to such a
state in a few rounds as to render victory certain. It
seemed to us that this would have been his game in the
first fight, instead of trusting to long shots, at
which he found Sayers as good as himself, and we, in
common with others, were fully prepared to see him
adopt the system. There is no harm now in making known
our opinion that Aaron’s performance on the first
occasion disappointed us not a little. We all along
thought Sayers had overmatched himself, and it was not
until the conclusion of the first round that we changed
our mind. Many shared our belief that the man who could
maul the game and resolute Paddock as Jones had done
must prove too much for an antagonist so inferior in
size and weight as Sayers, and many blamed the latter
for his presumption. Among this latter class we do not
number ourselves, for it is our practice never to blame
a man for soaring at high game when he really feels
confidence in his own powers. Ambition, when kept
within bounds, is a praiseworthy quality, and Sayers
merely followed the example of other middle weights who
had preceded him, in essaying to raise himself to a
higher level when he could not find an antagonist
worthy of his fist in his own sphere. How fully he was
justified in his confident aspirations the result has
proved. On Tuesday last, as may be gathered from our
account of the fight, Jones fought even less
“judgmatically” than at the first merry meeting.
Instead of forcing the fighting at once, as he had
expressed his intention of doing, he allowed Sayers to
open the ball, and in the very onset to inflict such
punishment upon him as to shake the confidence of his
friends very materially; and not only did he allow his
adversary to take extraordinary liberties with him, but
he seemed to have lost his precision in returning, and
for some time made not the slightest impression upon
Tom’s wig-block. The exceedingly clever performance of
Sayers in the third round, and the apparent impunity
with which he got home upon all parts of Aaron’s dial,
took his own friends by surprise, and the fear
expressed was that he was fighting too fast for a long
day, and that the strength and length of his opponent
must tell with fearful effect when he became tired. He
was cautioned as to this, but requested to be allowed
to fight his own way, as he knew what suited him best.
The blow on Aaron’s jaw in the fourth round was very
severe, and nearly decided the event, and this we are
induced to believe had some effect in stopping his
rushes later in the fight, when, had he been capable of
continuing the offensive with effect, the result might
have been very serious to Tom, who for a long period
was exceedingly fatigued, and had to nurse himself in
the most careful manner in order to bring himself
through. The improvement he (Sayers) displayed in every
way, since his last match, was extraordinary. His
system of leading off is almost perfect, and his
quickness on his legs would have delighted the late Mr.
John Jackson, whose opinion on the subject of this
qualification is well known. He had little recourse to
stopping, trusting to his activity to keep him out of
harm’s way, and the success with which his manœuvring
was attended was proved by the fact that he had
scarcely a black eye, and, beyond exhaustion, had
nothing to complain of. In addition to his quickness in
defence, he seems also to have acquired greater
facility in pursuing the offensive, and the weight with
which many of his blows fell upon his opponent proved
that his hitting was as effective as that of most 12
stone men. As usual, he stood up in the gamest, most
resolute manner, and faced his adversary throughout
with the utmost good humour, but, at the same time,
with determination. By many it was expected he would
have adopted the dropping system, as he had done with
Poulson; but we were delighted to perceive that on
neither occasion did such a notion enter his head; and
indeed we are told that even with the bold Nottingham
man he would not have had recourse to it, had he not
been terribly out of condition, and altogether in such
a state as to be incapable otherwise of resisting the
onslaughts of so powerful an opponent. We understand
that Tom has now an intention of looking still higher
in the scale for an opponent worthy of his powers, and
both Tom Paddock and the Tipton Slasher are talked of
as his next antagonists, but that he will first rest on
his oars a while to recover from his recent fatigue.
How far this may be true we know not, but we presume
time will show. Of this, however, we are confident,
that whoever the Middle Weight Champion may next pick
out, that worthy must look to his laurels, and leave no
stone unturned to get himself fit for the fray; for big
as he may be, he will have a hard day’s work before
him. Of Aaron Jones we must say that his exhibition on
each day disappointed us, and fell far short of what we
expected after his extraordinary encounters with
Paddock. True it is that he never once flinched from
punishment, and when severely hit persevered in the
most manly way to turn the scale in his favour. Not a
word can now be said against his character for gameness
and gluttony, for both which qualities he had already
earned for himself sufficient fame in his passages with
Paddock to remove any stigma that his meetings with
Orme might have cast upon him. Most gamely did he
persevere while Sayers was fatigued to force the
milling and to wear out his antagonist; but, owing to
the great quickness and judgment of Tom, his efforts
recoiled upon himself; and, being unable to effect any
punishment, he did but reduce himself below the level
of the gallant Tom, and thus fall a prey to his
opponent’s superior judgment and tactics.

Sayers’s triumphant _coups d’essai_ with two good “big ’uns” gave him an open “perspective view” of the goal of his ambition――the Championship――an honour never yet achieved by a middle-weight. With this view he addressed a challenge to the redoubtable 13 stone Tipton Slasher, who then claimed the belt; the Tipton having received forfeit in 1856 from Harry Broome, who retired, and in the year 1857 from both Tom Paddock and Aaron Jones.

Never since the memorable battle between Caunt and Bendigo, in Sept., 1845, had there been a match which excited such general interest outside the circle of regular supporters of true British boxing. Here was a man, the acknowledged Champion of the Middle-weights, boldly throwing down the gauntlet to the equally acknowledged Champion of England, and daring him to combat for the title and reward to which for so long a time he had laid claim without meeting an adversary of his own weight and inches daring enough to deny his pretensions. Not a semblance of ill feeling was there existing between the men, and we are glad to state that throughout, even up to the very contest itself, they maintained towards one another the most kindly sentiments. The only matter at issue between them was whether a man of 5 feet 8½ inches, and under 11st. in weight, possessed of whatever science he might be, could contest, with any chance of success, against one topping the 6 feet by half an inch, and weighing not less than 14st. 6lb. The Slasher himself laughed at the idea of defeat, and stated to us his firm belief that on entering the ring he would, in addition to his other advantages, be found the cleverer man of the two. He said he had made up his mind not to run all over the ring after his younger and more active opponent, but to take his stand at the scratch, and await the onslaughts of the gallant Sayers. This we (who knew the bold Tom’s capabilities) deemed a sound determination; how far the burly Tiptonian adhered to it on entering the ring will appear in the sequel. Sayers also, to some measure, made us his confidant as to his intentions on the day of battle, and intimated that he believed the Slasher was perfectly worn-out and incapable of anything like prolonged exertion. He had fully made up his mind, he said, to keep him on his pins, and lead him about the ring, by forcing the pace, until he should be so exhausted as to be somewhat nearer his own mark. He, like the Slasher, scorned the idea of defeat, and felt such intense confidence from the very day the match was made, that he invested almost every penny he possessed upon the result of the encounter. The excitement in all quarters increased week by week from the time the match was made, and in every sporting circle the contest was made one of the great themes of discussion. The general feeling at first appeared to be that Sayers had by his victory over Aaron Jones got above himself, and that his overweening confidence would lead him into unexpected difficulties, if, indeed, as was in many quarters anticipated, the match did not end in a forfeit on his part. As the time approached, however, and it was found that both men were in active work, and evidently both meaning mischief, the doubts as to the match going on vanished, the only point remaining for discussion being the foolhardiness of Sayers, and the overweening confidence of his friends in allowing the match to come to an issue for the full stakes. The Sayers party, however, maintained their own opinion, and from first to last contended that the Slasher was stale and out of practice, that he was destitute of scientific acquirements, and so slow that any want of size and weight on the part of his adversary was fully compensated for by these deficiencies. We believe they never refused to take 6 to 4, and finally accepted 5 to 4 against their pet.

The doings of Tom’s gigantic opponent will be found in our fourth Chapter. We have noted the awakening given to the Ring by the announcement of the New Champion Belt, and the Slasher’s defiant challenge. Tom accepted the terms, and Jemmy Massey immediately made the match for the Tipton; the day being fixed for the 16th of June, 1857. So soon as articles were signed, the Slasher, who was then keeping a public-house in Spon Lane, Tipton, gave up his business and betook himself to training at Boxmoor, where he got off some superfluous flesh acquired in his calling as a Boniface; indeed when we saw him one evening at Owen Swift’s he appeared to have been carefully prepared. He was certainly not so hard and thin as we had seen him some years before; but his complexion was fresh and his muscles well developed, and he told us he “drew the balance at 14st.” He expressed entire confidence, and grinned good humouredly at the bare mention of defeat by so small an opponent. The Tipton left London overnight to avoid interruption, and was picked up on the downward voyage at Tilbury.