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Boxing matches were very popular in England 200 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 'prize-fighters'.
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
因为当时没有任何比赛规则
and a prize-fighter could be seriously injured
职业拳击手有可能在比赛中受重伤
or even killed during a match.
甚至丧命
One of the most colourful figures in boxing history
拳击史上最引人注目的人物之一
was Daniel Mendoza who was born in 1764.
是丹尼尔.门多萨 他生于1764年
The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860
1860年昆斯伯里侯爵第一次为拳击比赛制定了规则
when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
拳击比赛这才用上了手套
Though he was technically a prize-fighter,
虽然门多萨严格来讲不过是个职业拳击手
Mendoza did much to change crude prize-fighting into a sport,
但在把这种粗野的拳击变成一种体育运动方面 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祟拜备至
Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match
门多萨在14岁时
when he was only 14 years old.
参加一场拳击赛后一举成名
This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries
这引起当时英国拳坛名将
who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意
He offered to train Mendoza
他主动提出教授门多萨
and his young pupil was quick to learn.
而年少的门多萨一学就会
In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful
事实上 门多萨不久便名声大振
that Humphries turned against him.
致使汉弗莱斯与他反目为敌
The two men quarrelled bitterly
两个人争吵不休
and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
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,
公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上
but he was defeated.
但他却输了
Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion
后来 门多萨与汉弗莱斯再次在拳击场上较量
and he lost for a second time.
门多萨又输了一场
It was not until his third match in 1790
直到1790年他们第3次对垒
that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
门多萨才终于击败汉弗莱斯 成了全英拳击冠军
Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful academy
同时 他建立了一所拳击学校 办得很成功
and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
连拜伦勋爵也成了他的学生
He earned enormous sums of money
门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱
and was paid as much as 100 pounds for a single appearance.
一次出场费就多可达100英镑
Despite this,
尽管收入不少
he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
但他挥霍无度 经常债台高筑
After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson,
他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后
he was quickly forgotten.
很快被遗忘
He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts
他因无力还债而被捕入狱
and died in poverty in 1836.
最后于1836年在贫困中死去
