Female Pugilists

Female Pugilism

The Sporting Magazine June 1805 at 177

A ludicrous affair took place in Hyde Park, during the review on the 13th instant. Two Ladies from the Borough of the Mendoza school, and who appeared to be full of spirit, quarreled as to the comparative state of perfection between the First Surry and the Southwark Corps; and from word presently came to blows.--A ring was formed, and these modern Amazons maintained a hard fight for several rounds, giving and receiving several knock-down blows. At length one of the ladies began to shed tears, and immediately made a most furious attack on her antagonist, not according to the rules of pugilism, but as an exasperated female. The face of the other streamed with blood, and the spectators were compelled to interfere to prevent serious mischief.