Boxing matches were very popular two hundred years ago in England. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money. Because of this, they were known as prize fighters. However, boxing matches were very crude, for there 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 Daneil Mendoza, who was born in 1764. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis fo Queenberry 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 pupils was quick to learn. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humohries turned against him. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that this 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 a ring on anther 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 pounds for a single appearence. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentalmen Jackson, he was quickly forgotten. He was sent to prision for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
--- 于20200318 默写完成
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