Star.
London, England, 1805-12-09 00:00:00

PUGILISM.

BELCHER AND THE CHICKEN.-

Of all the pugiliftic contests that have taken place
fince the firft difplay of boxing in this country to the
prefent day, there never was one which excited fo
deep an intereft among the amateurs, as that fought
between Belcher and the Chicken on Friday latt.—
Never was there an inftance, when (porting ran fo
high, and when the combatants had fo much at flake,
and certainly never was there an opportunity which
feemed to offer fo fair an occafion.

Both the combatants had attained, by expetience,
the highelt pitch of excellence in the fcience of pugi-
lifm. They had fucceeded in beating every bruifer
of celebrity, that had been from time to time brought
againit them from various parts of the country—and
each was thought, by his friends, to be invincible.
The Chicken was believed to be the molt powerful
man, and, in a long c-nteft, able to endure excel Eve
fatigue; his blows were almolt fatal, on whatever
part of his antagonift they were placed, but more
particularly his favourite hit on the neck—as for his
bottom, it was undoubted.

A roped ring, of twenty feet, within one of forty,
was formed on Friday morning, at Blythe White
Water, near Mr. hiellifh's feat, at tile village of
Blythe, Nottinghamthire, and (time time after twelve
the combatants entered, with their feconds, Bill Ward
and Gibbons for the Chicken, and Bob Watfon and
Ditic Weale for Belcher, After (tripping, the com-
batants depofited a (take of twenty guineas each on
their own account, and the Belcher handkerchief
was placed with another pattern of a blue ground,
worn by the Chicken, and called by that name. It
was truly a (porting fight, and current betting was.
five to four on the Chicken. A good deal of money
was depending who &It drew blood.
THE FIGHr.
sit

fparring ; lkleher made fcveral feints, and
at length put in a revere blow on the Chicken's eye, over his
guard. which drew blood cropionny ; the Chicken married the
blow nightly ; they eluted. and the Chicken threw his man.
ad. Belcher again made ikveral feints, and the Chiclan, what,
face was covered 'with blood, gnarled cautinuity. and made a hit ;
Belcher put in twoblows on the Chicken's hotly and they clokti.
They difengaged thetafelves; the Chicken aimed a well-directed
hit, which Belcher (topped dexterouny ; they rallied, and the
Chicken hit two good Wows, and threw his man.--Twenty to
twelve on the Chicken. • .
311. A hard round, rather in favour of the Chicken ; they doled
and Belcher was thrown aeon the ropes.
4th. Chicken hit twice at his man, but the blows fell them and
ilekher rallied, with fome fueceis, but was again thrown.
sth. The Chicken went in and rallied ; but the round termi•
mated In favour of Belcher, whn.threw him.
6th. Belaer difidayed a good deal of his acenftomed (ciente,
' end appeared to meet his map cautiouny. He rallied, and feveral
blows were exchanged ; they doled and fell, Belcher underrnolt.
yth. This round was much in favour of Belcher. The Chicken
made a hit, which &Idler Bopped dezttcuay, and with his right
band hit the Chicken a hard blow in the face. A Wily followed,
in which Belcher had the advantage; they doled, and the Chicken
got his opponent's bead under his left arm, and hit bins feveral
blows under with his right; both fell,
Bth. Belcher went in, and rallied courageotily, and dlfplayed
the &ill of pogillfm to perfPlion ; be Bruck kverat blows with
his right hand, and hit Gnaw& of the Chicken with his left. He
bad counderable advantage during the round, and ultiMatedy threw
.his man over the rope out of the ring. Bets level.

9ch. Both on their mettle, and apparently frtOt ; Belcher hit
the Chicken a hard blow in the face. which cut him fevcrely g
other blows were exchanged, and they ;doled and fell.
vth. Somewhat in favour of the Chicken, without any blows
of confequence. Belcher appeared to be growing weak.
alt. The Chicken over-reached himfelf In niakin7, a hit, and ;
the combatants elated. Belcher difengaged hfmfelf by a twilt,and
hit his man, who threvi him.
tuft. The Chicken went In and rallied furiourly, and it was
evident that Belcher had fallen off ;n ftrength; be had materially
the worst of the rally. The Chicken doted, and threw him ou the
rope, and bad a Wr opponritity of ending the fight, for Belcher
lay balanced on his back, and bad the Chicken given him one of
his death like brows, he muff have killed him. Hi pi; himfelf in
au attitude forgiving a blow when he ;coked round tilt ring, and
exclainted—.." Jem, I won't take advantage of thee."— Loud (bouts

from the fpedtatcrs.
13th. Chicken went in,and raried without ceremony. Belcher's
blows were grown feeble; they doted, and Belcher gave the
Chicken a very fevere and clean croft-buttock.
totS. Tedious (parting, Belcher thy, and bleeding in the head
and body with twobloWsglven in the former round. The Chicken
Mowed him to the ropes, when be gave him a hard blow under
die Blind eye, through hfs guard, and throe hint car/.
15th. This round left no hopes for Licher ; it alfo decided many
beta refpeeting the fiat knock-down blow. The Chicken went in
very gay, and gave his opponent two hits; they elofed, and the
Chicken hit Belcher a blow underneath, on the lower rib, which,
to tide the (porting phrafe, Anoikst him tszdker, and he felL Tbe
Umpire. fee the fat istaetion of the frrting nten, declared this to be
a knock-down biol.-.
16th. Belcher hit the Chicken a well-dindled but feeble Vow
in the face While fparrir.g ; the Chicken fmilcd, rallied his man,
and got him again on the rope, as in the tath round. He azted
with the fame manfinefs as before, and walked away without hit-
ting him. This rotind decided the fight, although Belcher fought
one more. In the rally he was Raft thrown on one of the ft 'hes
to which the rope won fattened, and it was fuppftfed he had broke",
the lower rib, the Chicken having hit him in the fame place thort-
ly before. Ten to one.
17th. Belcher ftunmoned all his efforts to put lb a blow, the
Chicken followed hies to the rope again, and threw him. Heider
could not move his left arm drum his fide. He, however, flood.
up to fight ih the 18th round, but finding himfelf totally difabled,
he reigned the conk*, after fighting 35 minutes. The Chicken
immediately leaped over the rope out of the ring, and entered it
again in the fame manner, di/playing his agility by a lomerfet.

The contell, if not fo obilinate as might have been
expeded, was truly a reientific one, and thofe who
101 l their money on the late Champion, have not the
ilightett rearon to attach blame to him. It, howe-
ver, was evident, that the difadvantage of the lofs of
an eye was greattr than was fuppofed. He did not
foppore the Chicken to be fo wonderful a man ; bnt
at the latter end of the fight his firength failed him,
and he was unable to flop the furious blows with
which he was Mailed. The Chicken had many re-
vere blows, but they did not appear to make the
fliglttcft impreffion on him, and he arrived near town
on Saturday evening. He appeared' in full confi-
dence of viaory during the conteft, and fought cir-
cumrptelly and eafy. After the contell, Belcher
was put into a polt-chaire, and driven to the houfe of
a Surgeon, where be was bled ; and it was afcertain-
cd that the rib which was fuppofed to have been
broken, was not broken.
The number of fpeEtators was unprecedented, not-
withftanding the fcene of adion was isz miles from
town.

There were alto prefent many Noblemen and gen.
tlemen of dill inaion from town and country. Amonel
the principal lofers are Meas. MELLISH, FLITCHES
READ, &C. Etc.
Gully appeared in the ring after the battle was
over, and offered to fight any man ; as did alto the
younger Belcher, and give a (lone. They, however,
were not taken. A fubfcription was let on foot by
Jackfon, at the dole of the coma, in favour of
Belcher, which was liberally fupplied.
The charattezillics of Belcher and the Chicken are

there a Belches has always been reputed as a quick,
Rraight, and hard hitter, a defperate and refolute
rather, and of an invincible fpirit. The Chicken is
known as a thy, fure, fighter ; a :mind, but quick hit-
ter; and moreover, what is techinally termed agluttonj
that is to fay, he can ftomach as much beating as
can well be given him in the ordinary duration of a
battle. He is a flouter and more athletic man than
Belcher, and was never bit off his legs. Belcher
always beat his men in infinitely lefs time than the
Chicken, who, as we have mentioned, is thy, wary,
and circumfprlt.