Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago. In those
days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money. Because of this, they
were known as 'prizefighters'. However, boxing was very crude, for these were
no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a
match.#
One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who
was born in 1764. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the
Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules. Though he was
technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting
into a sport, for he brought science to the game. In his day, Mendoza enjoyed
tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.#
Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen
years old. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the
most eminent boxer in England. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil
was quick to learn. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries
turned against him. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the
argument could only be settled by a fight. A match was held at Stilton, where
both men fought for an hour. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza,
but he was defeated. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and
he lost for a second time. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he
finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England. Meanwhile, he founded a
highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils. He
earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single
appearance. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly
forgotten. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in
poverty in 1836.&