Egan, Pyle vs Archer at Eagle Tavern (1829)

At the Eagle Tavern, City Road, in April, 1829, a match took place for £20, between PHILIP PYLE and William ARCHER. In appearance Archer exhibited no superiority over his veteran antagonist, except his youth; but when they grappled his strength was evidently superior. Pyle, who has always been considered a heavy kicker, commenced with some severe visitations to the padded shins of his antagonist, who, nothing loath, repaid him in his own coin.

After playing twenty-five minutes, Archer took the inner crook with his left leg, and, although Pyle put every manœuvre in execution to slip it, he could not, nor could he prevent himself from receiving as fair a back fall as was ever, perhaps, witnessed in the London ring. When the second bout commenced, Archer made almost instant play, and again locked Pyle’s right leg. Pyle’s coolness did not for a moment forsake him; and although it was now quite evident, even to himself, that he was overmatched, yet the manner in which he continued to save his back when repeatedly floored with the toe, was the admiration of the ring. At the expiration of three quarters of an hour, after doing all that man could to protract the struggle, Pyle was again thrown, by the same lock, a second indisputable back fall.

Source: Egan, P. (1836). Pierce Egan’s Book of Sports. T. Tegg, London.