How many unsuccessful attempts did Mendoza make before becoming Champion of all England?
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 this 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 appear 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.