BOXING AND ATHLETICS 



It is now very many years ago since, as the Times drily 

 remarked, all England was determined that the peace 

 should be broken, and in April, 1860, Sayers stood np for 

 the honour of England against the Benicia boy, Heenan- 

 The records of that fight have been handed down to us by 

 a writer in the Times, and it would be '' gilding refined 

 gold and painting the lily " to try and add a word to the 

 graphic account which was written by the correspondent 

 who represented that paper. Both combatants are dead, 

 the former having laid down his arms after his gallant 

 contest, and the latter having succumbed to Tom Kmg, the 

 now world-known and much respected ex-chami3ion, whose 

 great proclivity now is to be Champion of England in 

 growing roses. 



I am not going to weep over the fallen fortunes of the 

 Ring, and nothing should induce me to go to a fight in 

 the present day, even should such an occurrence take place ; 

 because the pugiHsts are under no control, and, conse- 

 quently, one would have a right to expect unmitigated 

 ruffianism and brutality. 



In the olden days the Pugilistic Club consisted of noble- 

 men and gentlemen of high position ; and if a prize-fighter 

 behaved in a dishonest or cowardly manner, they withdrew 

 their support, and he was much in the same position as a 

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