Extract* from Boxiana: During the championship of Cribb, to Spring's challenge to all England
By Pierce Egan.

Page 417-422
Jack Cooper The Tremendous Little Gypsy

This milling hero, a second gas-light man for tremendous execution ,was born in the
neighborhood of Windsor, and is about 20 years of age; In weight between 9 and 10 stone
and in height about 5ft 5inches .
His first exhibition in the Prize Ring was with West Country Dick,on Epsom Downs, on Tuesday
May 16th,1820, for a purse of £10, to make up a third fight, after Rasher and Giblet, and it was the best battle of the three.
The Gypsy introduced himself to the notice of the amateurs, and he selected Dick as a customer, having been offered his choice of several of the light weights. Cooper is well made, having a frame that almost seems to defy punishment. Dick was seconded by Randall and Clark; and Cooper by Young Brown and Abbot. It is but justice to state, that West Country Dick bad been up all night drinking, and far from being in a fit condition to fight; yet his courage would not let him refuse, and he immediately acquiesced with the proposal.


First round.—The well-known qualities of Dick rendered him the favorite on setting-to, at 6 to 4 and 3 to 1; but the Gypsy peeled uncommonly well. In fact, these sort of wandering coves are always in (raining, and have a better chance of winning a turn-up than most other men. Cooper soon showed the spectators that he was not only a dangerous hitter, but a good man; and he sharply went to work. Dick also made play; heavy exchanges "occurred, and Dick received a nobber, that he slipped down on his knees. Loud shouting, and, " This Gypsy is an ugly customer!" was the general cry.

Second. — The Gypsy meant nothing but milling; and both the men opposed each other like two game cocks, till they closed and went down. Great applause.—" This is (he best fight of (the (three ;" and " Dick's too stale for the Gypsy." —Even betting.

Third.—The Gypsy seemed to possess a good deal of the qualities of the Gas-Light Man. He did not stand for sparring, but went up to his opponent's head "sans ceremonie". The science of Dick in this round claimed approbation from all parts of the ring. The Gypsy endeavored to put in a tremendous facer, when Dick bobbed his head at least a foot below the blow, turned round sharply, and planted a heavy bodier on the Gypsy. In closing, both down. "Bravo!— Well done, Dick;—do that again."

Fourth.—This round was decidedly in favour of the Gypsy ; and he floored Dick like a shot.—" Mind what you're arter, Dick.''

Fifth.—The Gypsy followed Dick all over the ring, taking the lead in great style; and although he received several severe facers, he would not be denied till he sent Dick down.— 2 to 1 on Cooper.

Sixth.—The exchange of hits was truly severe in this round; and the goodness of Dick was applauded throughout the ring; but, nevertheless, the activity of the Gypsy was not to be reduced, and he hit Dick down like a shot.—3 to 1 on Cooper.

Seventh.—The fighting on both sides was tremendous; and Dick's nob appeared much damaged, and the claret was flowing profusely, till he again went down.

Eighth.—In this round the Gypsy received severely: his nob was bleeding; and, in a sharp rally at the ropes, he positively foamed at the mouth. Clark, by way of cheering his man, called out, " Dick for £20." Both down.

Ninth.—Notwithstanding Dick was half lushy, and had been up all night, he displayed good science, and at the commencement of this round he put in five facers, almost in succession ; but the Frontispiece of the Gypsy appeared as compact as iron, and he again had the best of the round, and Dick was grassed.

Tenth.—The friends of Dick began rather to quake for his winning ; and the two to one belters found out they had been too hasty in their offers. Dick down.

Eleventh.—This round, however, gave a little sunshine to the partisans of Dick; and, after some severe exchanges, the Gypsy went down. " Well done, Dick."

Twelfth.—No loss of time occurred in sparring; and both the combatants opposed each other in the first style of bravery, all over the ring. At the ropes, Dick put in some heavy facers, and a severe struggle for the throw took place, till both went down.

Thirteenth.—Fair play was conspicuous; and the Gypsy received as much encouragement from the amateurs as Dick. Tin's was a sharp round, and Dick threw the Gypsy cleverly.

Fourteenth.—Upon the stripping of the men, Randall entertained an opinion that Dick would win in a canter. But Turner's idea of a stranger appears rather more correct . All men must be tried—and till they are tried they are deemed novices; it is therefore often seen, that strangers prove very dangerous customers It was so in this instance; and Dick soon found it out. Milling on both sides, but Dick down.

Fifteenth.—The Gypsy seemed insensible to fear; and the bull-dog qualities of Dick had no terrors upon his mind. The science of the latter was here again well displayed; and he got his head out of Chancery in the Dutch Sam style. In closing, both down.

Sixteenth.—The Gypsy lost no time, but went in like a good one, regardless of receiving. He planted some severe facers on Dick ; and in closing, he astonished the ring with the neatness with which he threw his opponent, by just putting out his leg. " Well done, Gypsy, you are a good lad."

Seventeenth.-—Dick made some good hits, particularly one on the body, near the mark, that made the Gypsy stagger again; indeed, it was so severe, that in closing, Dick threw his opponent quite easy. Great applause ; and " Repeat that,. Dick, and you can't lose it!" From past services,, it should seem, the Old Ring-goers were anxious for Dick to win; but appearances were against him.

Eighteenth.—The mug of Dick was evidently the worse for fight, and " pepper" was strongly written upon it. This was a short but hard round. In closing, however, Dick again threw his man. . .

Nineteenth.—The decisive qualities of the Gypsy were again truly prominent in this round. Indeed, the punishment was very heavy on both sides; but Dick looked wild, from the heavy nobbers he had received; and, in going down, fell over and over.

Twentieth.—The game of Dick stood so high with the amateurs, that they felt satisfied, while a chance remained, he would not give it in. The latter fought in the most courageous style, but could not get the lead.

Twenty-first.—In this round the Gypsy was almost hit to a stand-still; and Dick kept peppering his body and head till both went down. Loud shouting, and "Go it, Dick." ' '

Twenty-second.—The Gypsy came up to the scratch as fresh as a daisy, and nobbed Dick right and left. The latter was not behind in exchanging hits; yet it was evident, that without some chance finishing hit, Dick must ultimately lose it.

Twenty-third.—The heavy milling Dick encountered in" this round operated so severely against him, that be went down on his knees quite exhausted. During the time the Gypsy was resting on the knee of his second, Gulley held up several bank-notes, as a stimulus to win.

Twenty-fourth.—The claret was streaming down the face of Dick, and he again had the Worst of this round, A guinea to a dump. After two hits, the Gypsy threw Dick with the utmost ease.

Twenty-fifth.—The Gypsy was now the favorite two to one. The science of Dick, at times, gave him the advantage of stopping well; but the sharp hitting of the wandering cove was not to be resisted. Dick was again thrown.

Twenty-sixth.—In the most manly way, Dick did every thing to change the battle in his favour; but the Gypsy was so good on his legs, and also a taker without flinching, that it was almost in vain for Dick to contend. The Gypsy again put out his leg, and Dick went down.

Twenty-seventh.—Dick, it should seem, was determined to make a desperate effort, and this was a terrific round in the extreme. Facer for facer was given as sharp as they could be received, till both went down. Great applause from all parts of the ring; but the Gypsey for any thing.

Twenty-eighth.—Two better little men were never seen in a ring. Had Dick been in regular training, he might have lasted longer; but the knowing ones seemed now to entertain great doubts whether renovation, to the utmost extent, could make conquest a certainty to Dick. The latter was quite exhausted, but he nevertheless kept hitting, till both down.

Twenty-ninth and last.—The Gypsy made the best use of his time, and went in to finish Dick off hand, which he accomplished
in the Randall style. Dick only stood up to receive facers, so hard and sharp, without being able to return, that he was floored right on his face. Twenty-nine minutes.—He was taken away in a terrible state.

The Gypsy's sister witnessed the fight. She was decently dressed, and said she was sure her brother would win it. Galley gave Cooper five pounds for his true courage; and told him it was an excellent fight on both sides. The Gypsy was not long in getting on his clothes, and walked off in triumph, with 13 guineas in his pocket, escorted by a whole tribe of his clan, including women and children. Cooper was heavily punished about his body, and his mug was a little painted, although his skin was of so close a texture as not to show it like most other men. He admitted Dick was a hard hitter. This Gypsy, it seems, once had a turn-up with little Gadzee, at Epsom Downs ; and had also exhibited at Doncaster Races. Cooper has great fighting requisites about his person. Dick was left at the ****, at Sutton ; but he recovered so soon, as to walk to the Downs, on Friday, to have another turn-up with Cooper, if he appeared; but he was not there.

Pictures Reproduced from the the "Famous Fights" from Gough Square Publishing.
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