拳击比赛的历史故事和英雄人物。
Boxing matches were very popular inEnglandtwo hundred years ago. |
两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。 |
In those days,boxers fought with bare fists for Prize money. |
当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。 |
Because of this,they were known as 'prizefighters'. |
因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。 |
However,boxing was very crude, |
不过,拳击是十分野蛮的。 |
for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match. |
因为当时没有任何比赛规则,职业拳击手有可能在比赛中受重伤,甚至丧命。 |
One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza who was born in 1764. |
拳击史上最引人注目的人物之一是丹尼尔·门多萨,他生于1764年。 |
The use of gloves was not introduCed until 1860 when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules. |
1860年昆斯伯里侯爵第一次为拳击比赛制定了规则,拳击比赛这才用上了手套。 |
Though he was technically a prizefighter, |
虽然门多萨严格来讲不过是个职业拳击手, |
Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, |
但在把这种粗野的拳击变成一种体青运动方面,他作出了重大贡献。 |
for he brought science to the game. |
是他把科学引进了这项运动。 |
In his day,Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. |
门多萨在他的全盛时期深受大家欢迎。 |
He was adored by rich and poor alike. |
无论是富人还是穷人都对他崇拜备至。 |
Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old. |
门多萨在14岁时参加了一场拳击赛后一举成名。 |
This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer inEngland. |
这引起了当时英国拳坛名将理查德·汉弗莱斯的注意。 |
He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn. |
他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。 |
In fact,Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him. |
事实上,门多萨不久便名声大振,致使汉弗莱斯与他反目为敌。 |
The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight. |
两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。 |
A match was held at Stilton where both men fought for an hour. |
于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。 |
The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza,but he was defeated. |
公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。 |
Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time. |
后来,门多萨与汉弗莱斯再次在拳击场上较量,门多萨又输了一场。 |
It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England. |
直到1790年他们第3次对垒,门多萨才终于击败了汉弗莱斯,成了全英拳击冠军。 |
Meanwhile,he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils. |
同时,他建立了一所拳击学校,办得很成功,连拜伦勋爵也成了他的学生。 |
He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as £100 for a single appearance. |
门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就可多达100英镑。 |
Despite this,he was so extravagant that he was always in debt. |
尽管收人不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。 |
After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson,he was quickly forgotten. |
他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被人遗忘。 |
He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836. |
他因无力还债而被捕入狱,最后于1836年在贫困中死去。 |
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