The Sun.
London, England, 1829-04-23 00:00:00

THE PRIZE RING.

FIGHT BETWEEN THE BIRMINGHAM PET,
and the COVENTRY BUTCHER, for £5O a-side.
The description of this fight lies in a nut-shell ;
we shall, therefore, proceed without palaver about
the appearance of the road, or the Brummagem
hard and soft toddlers, &c. &c. but come at once to
the ground. The place fixed upon for the mill was
Canwell Gate, eleven miles from Birmingham, and
four from Litchfield, the spot where Sampson de-
feated Hall. The F. P. C. ropes and stakes were
erected upon a dry piece of ground by Oliver and
Fogo, and the men came in bang-up style to the
outer ring, at ten minutes to one o'clock. Perkins
(the Coventry butcher) was first to doff his castor
in the ring; he was attended by Ned Stockman
and Homer. The challenge was soon answered by
Preston (ttie Birmingham Pet), who was looked
after by 'Philip Sampson and Welch Davies. The
work of peeling having been performed, at four
minutes to one both pugilists appeared at the
scratch, 7 to 4 and 2 to 1 on Preston.—Preston
weighed 11 stone 3lbs., and Perkins 12 stone.
Round 1. Nothing could exceed the beautiful
condition of Preston ; he looked the picture of
health, and the smile of confidence beamed upon his
countenance. He came up to his man, shook hands,
arid in the twinkling of an eye was in a delightful
fighting attitude. Perkins looked equally confident,
smiled, and nodded at his friends. He set-to rather
awkwardly, exposing himself at all points, and
twisting his arms round. Preston made play, but
no mischief. Perkins then ran in, and before Pres-
ton could recover himself from the alteration pro-
duced in his position in making the first play, he
was grassed.—Loud shouts for the Coventry Boy.
and the odds immediately changed from 2 to 1 to
5 to 4. This round occupied exactly 40 seconds.
2. Perkins appeared determined not to lose time,
and to act upon the bustling system, and Preston
evinced that he was ready to receive and job him.
The former shot out with his right and left, but
both were neatly stopped by the Pet. The Co-
ventry boy, however, was not to be denied, and
went in, but was received with a flush hit from the
left hand of Preston, which drew first blood. The
latter was nevertheless thrown.
3. By the advice of Sampson, Preston
,dropped
his arms a trifle, thereby not only making his posi-
tion one of the most elegant we ever saw, but ready
at every point for the reception of his antagonist.
At this moment Perkins was twirling his arms about
in so peculiar a manner that we can only compare
them to the wings of a windmill, when in full sail.
At last, when his arms had gone round the certain
number of times, he came within distance, and let
out with both, but the Pet breaking ground, to a
nicety avoided the intended visitation, and in return
jobbed the butcher, and followed him until a close
ensued, which terminated with a fall, Perkins being
the undermost. 2 to 1 on Preston.
• 4. Perkins all alive, bored in, napped pepper, but
continued to throw his man.
.5. This was a most admirable round. Sampson,
in the course of his instructions, recommended his
man (Preston) to make up to the butcher's nob and
wait upon it with a chopper, and we will venture to
assert, that no master ever saw his orders so readily
executed, for the pupil made Phil's favourite dodge,
put the ribbon lad off his guard, slapped out with
terrific force, and lodged his appendage of digits
fairly on the snuff receptacle, producing a current of
claret, which flowed down his index in copious
-streams., This movement seemed to create a de-
gree of alarm and consequent wildness in Perkins,
which had not before displayed itself. He ran in
like a bull-dog, but napped it again, and the Pet
closing, managed to circumvent the neck of his op-
ponent with his left arm, commenced a " chancery
suit," and after having set forth, at same length,
many forcible and convincing arguments as to the
infallibility of his antagonist's case, threw him most
tremendously. The shouts for Preston were here
almost astounding; indeed, we should be induced
to suppose that the greater part of the lookers-on
were blessed with double lungs. The betting
changed to five to one on Preston.
6. When the men came up, the effects of the last
round were strongly developed on the phiz of Per-
kins ; and his second, the " Lively Kid," favoured
the audience with no inconsiderable quantity of chaff,
with the hopes of diverting the attention of his op-
ponent, but it was no go. " All gammon—won't
'fit, my man," said Phil, "he's awake to your tricks,

Ned." The position in the argamenbant ad hominenz
which Sampson had taken, was fully corroborated
by the steadiness of Preston, who was, as one of
the spectators said, " as tool es a cowkumber," and
appeared to pay less attention to what was passing
in the way of discussion, than any man we ever
saw. Indeed, his dazzlers were not to be drawn
from their set upon his man. The teazers Perkins
had received in the last round seemed to have caused
an abatement in his rushing inclination ; but the
Pet, being aware that he had reduced the bulk of
opponent, as far as regarded strength, nearly to his
own, went in, and very quietly put in a rattler with_
his left upon the right eye of his adversary, drove
him to the ropes, again put his nob into Chancery,
and followed up his suit in admirable style. Per-
kins, howel'er, eventually got down, pulling the
Brummagem upon him. Ten to one on Preston.
7. Perkins retreated, the Pet cautiously follow-
ing until he had got him into a corner, when he
placed two severe hits, which told tales. Perkins
slipped, and Preston caught him against the ropes,
putting his head into a dangerous position; but the
brave fellow, in the most generous manner, refused
to hit him, and, throwing his arms up, let Perkins
fall, whilst he himself walked away.—(Loud cries
of " Bravo, bravo, Preston.")
8. Perkins now had recourse to the rushing-in
system, but was met with wonderful precision by a
well-directed blow ou the os-frontis. The Pet then
withdrew, hit him again, and closing, threw Perkins
heavily. 20 to lon Preston.
9. This was a tremendous round, so far as pu-
nishment was concerned. Perkins appeared to have
determined that his head should be turned to the
purpose of a chopping-block--in he went head fore-
most. The Pet met him with one of the severest
blows we ever saw delivered between the " organs
of light," then closed, and fibbed away till he was
tired, and Perkins went down, all but done. A
guinea to a shilling on the Pet.,
10. Perkins, truly game, came up with spirit, and
met with severe punishment, and went down amidst
cries of " Take him away" from all quarters.
11. Same as last.

12. In this round Perkins made a desperate effort,
but it was of no use, nature had already been too
closely Pres-sed, and Preston hit him down with
two heavy conkers. The Pet showed no signs of
distress.

13. Perkins came up a most pitiable object, the
cries of " take him away" becoming louder and
louder; but his game would not yield to the judg-
ment of the spectators, and he was anxious to prove
that he would not give in so long as the remotest
chance existed of a lucky hit giving him an opportu-
nity of coming off the conqueror. tie stood up, but
could not do—" not nothing"—he received a few
additional favours from the Pet, who eventually sent
him down all of a heap; and when time was called,
worn out nature compelled his seconds to acknow-
ledge that he was done.

REMARKS.

The fight lasted fifteen minutes. Better game
was never displayed, but Perkins's qualifications
cannot be put in competition with those of the
victor. 'With a country novice, however, he may
prove a very troublesome customer, as he has a
dangerous right-handed hit, and can throw well,
but we certainly recommend him never again to
fight a scientific pugilist. Of Preston we cannot
speak in terms of too high praise. He fought man-
fully, hit terrifically, stopped beautifully, and scorned
to take the least advantage, although numerous op-
portunities occurred to him of delivering punish-
ment at times which the rules of boxing would
have entitled him to, but which he most nobly re-
fused to embrace. When it is taken into considera-
tion that Preston is not 19 years of age—has never
been beaten, and has now won a fight without the
least mark, and beaten a man a stone heavier than
himself—a man who has always himself been con-
queror, a very game man, and a hard hitter, we may
truly say, that he who beats the Brummagem Pet
must be nothing but an out and outer. We sin-
cerely hope he will take his tutor's (Arthur Mat-
thewson's) advice=-he cannot have a better. If he
will, and take care of " Lushington," and his
naughty " dickey birds," he will become a first-
rater. The Birmingham Pet and the Oxford Pet
would make a capital fight.
Oliver, Fego, and Stockman, take a joint benefit
on Thursday next, at Birmingham.