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 'prize-fighters'. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prize-fighter 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 prize-fighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prize-fighting 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 &1oo 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 diedin poverty in 1836. 

    兩百年前，拳擊比賽在英國非常盛行。當時，拳擊手們不戴手套，為爭奪獎金而搏斗。因此，他們被稱作“職業拳擊手”。不過，拳擊是十分野蠻的，因為當時沒有任何比賽規則，職業拳擊手有可能在比賽中受重傷，甚至喪命。

    拳擊史上最引人注目的人物之一是丹尼爾·門多薩，他生于1764年。1860年昆斯伯里侯爵第一次為拳擊比賽制定了規則，拳擊比賽這才用上了手套。雖然門多薩嚴格來講不過是個職業拳擊手，但在把這種粗野的拳擊變成一種體青運動方面，他作出了重大貢獻。是他把科學引進了這項運動。門多薩在他的全盛時期深受大家歡迎，無論是富人還是窮人都對他崇拜備至。

    門多薩在14歲時參加了一場拳擊賽后一舉成名。這引起了當時英國拳壇名將理查德·漢弗萊斯的注意。他主動提出教授門多薩，而年少的門多薩一學就會。事實上，門多薩不久便名聲大振，致使漢弗萊斯與他反目為敵。兩個人爭吵不休，顯而易見，只有較量一番才能解決問題。于是兩人在斯蒂爾頓設下賽場，廝打了一個小時。公眾把大筆賭注下到了門多薩身上，但他卻輸了。后來，門多薩與漢弗萊斯再次在拳擊場上較量，門多薩又輸了一場。直到1790年他們第3次對壘，門多薩才終于擊敗了漢弗萊斯，成了全英拳擊冠軍。同時，他建立了一所拳擊學校，辦得很成功，連拜倫勛爵也成了他的學生。門多薩掙來大筆大筆的錢，一次出場費就可多達100英鎊。盡管收人不少，但他揮霍無度，經常債臺高筑。他在被一個叫杰克遜紳士的拳擊手擊敗后很快被人遺忘。他因無力還債而被捕入獄，最后于1836年在貧困中死去。