21_Daniel_Mendoza

21 Daniel Mendoza¶

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 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 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.

Words¶

Boxing /ˈbɑksɪŋ/ 拳击
fists /fɪsts/ 拳头
crude /krud/ 粗鲁的
Marquis /ˌmɑrˈki/ 侯爵
technically /ˈtɛknɪkəli/ 严密地来说
tremendous /trəˈmɛndəs/ 巨大的
adored /əˈdɔrd/ 崇拜
swiftly /ˈswɪftli/ 很快地
eminent /ˈɛmənənt/ 杰出的
pupil /ˈpjupəl/ 弟子
quarrelled /ˈkwɔrəld/ 吵架
bitterly /ˈbɪtɚli/ 残酷地
bet /bɛt/ 赌
founded /ˈfaʊndɪd/ 建立
Academy /əˈkædəmi/ 专科学校
extravagant /ɛkˈstrævəɡənt/ 奢侈的
debt /dɛt/ 债
poverty /ˈpɑvɚti/ 贫困

Expressions¶

with sb’s bare hands 赤手空拳
Technically speaking, ...+ 句子从技术上说……
gain/grow/increase in popularity 越来越受欢迎
great minds think alike 英雄所见略同
rise to fame (=become famous) 成名
quarrel/complain/ be disappointed...+bitterly 激烈地争吵/抱怨/失望
bet (¥) on sth. 在某事上下注
I bet + 句子我敢打赌……
live in poverty 生活在贫困中
Because of + 单词/短语
be born in + 年份
draw up 起草
a set of … 一套
change ... into ... N2L66 turn ... into ... 把……变成……
bring ... to ... 把……带到……
In sb’s day 在某人那个年代
be quick to do sth. 很快做某事
in fact … 事实上
turn against sb. 停止支持或对某人或某事友好
It is clear that + 句子很明显……
settle the argument 解决争论
It was not until ... that + 句子直到……才
as much as ... half as much as L4 多达……；是……的一半
be in debt 负债