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--- lesson 21 Daniel Mendoza |
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--- Listen to the tape then answer the question below. |
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--- How many unsuccessful attempts did Mendoza make before becoming Champion of all England? |
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Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago. |
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In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money. |
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Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'. |
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However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match. |
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One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764. |
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The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.^1860 |
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Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game. |
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In his day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike. |
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Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old. |
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This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England. |
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He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn. |
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In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him. |
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The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight. |
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A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour. |
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The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated. |
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Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time. |
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It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England. |
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Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils. |
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He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance. |
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Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt. |
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After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten. |
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He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836. |