(1)
Pierce Egan described Tom Molineaux's
victory over Tom Blake in his book, Sketches of Pugilism
(1823)
First round: The fame
of Molineaux having got rather spread abroad, considerable anxiety
was manifested upon the combatants setting-to - good sparring was
exhibited for a short period on both sides, when Blake showed himself
completely scientific in hitting right and left, and stopping the
return of Molineaux; they closed, but Blake, in slipping from his
antagonist, received a terrible hit upon the back part of his neck,
which was repeated by the Black so severely, as to send Blake down.
Even betting.
Second: Blake soon discovered
that his opponent was not to be disposed of easily, and that his
blows, however well directed, were not strong
enough to knock his adversary down. Molineaux seemed to disregard
the attempts of Blake, and showed himself tolerably conversant in
the science, by beating down his adversary's guard with his left
hand, and by a tremendous blow with his right levelled Blake.
Third: Blake appeared
rather exhausted, which Molineaux perceiving, went in, to improve
upon the circumstance; but Blake hit him on the jaw; when they rallied
and fell, Blake undermost.
Fourth: A truly obstinate
round; but evidently in favour of Molineaux, who broke down Blake's
guard and punished him severely in the face; notwithstanding, Blake
put in several body-blows, but they were not effective, and was
ultimately knocked down. Five to two
on Molineaux.
Fifth: Blake covered
with blood; but with great resolution rallied, when Molineaux held
him round the neck with his left arm, and fibbed him so tremendously,
that Blake fell, completely exhausted.
Sixth: Molineaux had
it all his own way this round, and, without ceremony, went in and
knocked down Blake's guard with his left hand, and with a terrible
blow put in with his right levelled his adversary. All betters,
but no takers, in favour of Molineaux.
Seventh: Blake's game
was not yet extinct, and he rallied with considerable spirit, and
some good blows were exchanged; but who fell from weakness.
Eighth: Molineaux, determined
to finish the contest, went in with uncommon fury; Blake endeavoured
to retreat from the violent efforts of his opponent; but was compelled
to rally, and who put in a good blow upon the cheek of his opponent,
when Molineaux returned with a tremendous hit upon Blake's head,
that completely took all recollection out of him; the effects of
which he did not recover from so as to be ready to time, when Molineaux
was proclaimed the conqueror.
(2)
Pierce
Egan described Tom Cribb's victory over Tom
Molineaux
in his
book, Sketches of Pugilism (1823)
Nineteenth: To distinguish
the combatants by their features would have been utterly impossible,
so dreadfully were both their faces beaten - but their difference
of colour supplied this sort of defect. It was really astonishing
to view the determined manner in which these heroes met - Cribb,
acting upon the defensive, and retreating from the blows of his
antagonist, though endeavouring to put in a hit, was got by Molineaux
against the ropes, which were in height about five feet, and in
three rows. Molineaux with both his hands caught hold of the ropes,
and held Cribb in such a singular way, that he could neither make
a hit or fall down: and while the seconds were discussing the propriety
of separating the combatants, which the umpires thought could not
be done till one of the men were down, about two hundred persons
rushed from the outer to the exterior ring, and it is asserted,
that if one of the Moor's fingers was not broken, it was much injured
by some of them attempting to remove his hand from the ropes: all
this time Molineaux was gaining his wind by laying his head on Cribb's
breast, and refusing to release his victim; when the Champion by
a desperate effort to extricate himself from the rude grasp of the
Moor, was at length run down to one corner of the ring, and Molineaux
having got his head under his arm, fibbed away most unmercifully,
but his strength not being able to the intent, it otherwise must
have proved fatal to Cribb, who fell from exhaustion and the severe
punishment he had received. The bets were now decided that Molineaux
did not fight half an hour; that time having expired during this
round.
Twentieth: Molineaux
made the most of himself, and brought his opponent down by boring
and hitting.
Twenty-first: Cribb
planted two blows upon the head and body of his opponent, which
Molineaux returned by a desperate blow in Cribb's face; when they
closed, and the Champion was thrown. The well-known bottom of Cribb
induced his friends to back him six to four.
Twenty-second: Of no
importance.
Twenty-third: The wind
of both combatants appearing somewhat damaged, they sparred some
time to recruit it, when Cribb put in a blow on the left eye of
Molineaux, which hitherto had escaped milling. The Moor ran in,
gave Cribb a severe hit on the body, and threw him heavily.
Twenty-fourth: Molineaux
began this round with considerable spirit, and some hits were exchanged,
when Cribb was thrown. The betting was tolerably even.
Twenty-fifth: The effects
of the last fall operated in some degree upon the feelings of Cribb,
from its severity; yet the Champion endeavoured to remove this impression
by making play, and striving (as in the former round) to put in
a hit on Molineaux's left eye, but the Moor aware of the intent,
warded it off, and in return, knocked down Cribb.
Twenty-sixth: Both the
combatants trying to recruit their wind and strength by scientific
efforts. The Champion now endeavoured to hit the right eye of Molineaux,
the left having been darkened for some time: but the Moor warded
off the blows of Crib with agility and neatness, although he went
down from a trifling hit.
Twenty-seventh: Weakness
conspicuous on both sides, and after some pulling and hauling, both
fell.
Twenty-eighth: Cribb
received a leveller in consequence of his distance being incorrect.
Twenty-ninth: The Moor
was running in with spirit, but the Champion stopped his career,
by planting a hit upon his right eye, and from the severe effects
of which he went down and his peeper materially damaged. The fate
of the battle might be said to be decided by this round.
Thirtieth: If any thing
could reflect credit upon the skill and bottom of Cribb, it was
never more manifested than in this contest, in viewing what a resolute
and determined hero he had to vanquish. Molineaux, in spite of every
disadvantage, with a courage and ferocity unequalled, rising superior
to exhaustion and fatigue, rallied his adversary with as much resolution
as at the commencement of the fight, his nob defying all the milling
it had received, that punishment appeared to have no decisive effect
upon it, and contending nobly with Cribb right and left, knocking
him away by his hits, and gallantly concluded the round by closing
and throwing the Champion. The Moor was now convinced that if he
did win, he must do it off by hand, as his sight was much impaired.
Thirty-first: The exertion
of this last round operated most forcibly upon Molineaux, and he
appeared much distressed on quitting his second, and was soon levelled
by a blow in the throat, which Cribb very neatly put in.
Thirty-second: Strength
was fast leaving both the combatants - they staggered against each
other like inebriated men, and fell without exchanging a blow.
Thirty-third: To the
astonishment of every spectator, Molineaux rallied with strength
enough to bore his man down; but both their hits were of more show
than effect.
Thirty-fourth: This
was the last round that might be termed fighting, in which Molineaux
had materially the worst of it; but the battle was continued to
the 39th, when Crib evidently appeared the best man, and at its
conclusion, the Moor the first time complained, that 'he could not
fight no more!' but his seconds, who viewed the nicety of the point,
persuaded him to try the chance of another round, to which request
he acquiesced, when he fell from weakness, reflecting additional
credit on the manhood of his brave conqueror, Tom Cribb.
(3)
Ballard, Cribb and the Black
(1810)
Tom Cribb is a British man, he's cast in British mould,
With a heart like a lion, of courage, stout and bold,
A brave black man is Molineaux, from America he came,
And boldly tried to enter with Cribb the lists of fame.
The Black stripped, and appeared of a giant-like strength,
Large in bone, large in muscle, and with arms a cruel length,
With his skin as black as ebony - Cribb's as white as snow,
They shook hands like good fellows, then to it they did go.
