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课件网) Lesson21 Daniel Mendoza Lesson21 Daniel Mendoza Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for Prize money. Because of this, they were known as 'prize-fighters'. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prize-fighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza who was born in 1764. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860 when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set Of rules. Though he was technically a prize-fighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prize-fighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game. In his day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing-match when he was only fourteen years old. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight. A match was held at Stilton where both men fought for an hour. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as &100 for a single appearance. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836. New words and expressions boxing n. 拳击 boxer n. 拳击手 box sb’s ears 扇耳光 bare adj. (部分的)赤裸的 bare fists 赤手空拳, fought with bare fists 赤手空拳的打斗 bare feet 光着脚的 naked 全裸 He’s walking in bare feet. He is naked. prizefighter n. 职业拳击手（尤指古时赤手拳击手） crude adj. 粗野的,原初的 be crude to sb 对……粗鲁，无理 , He is crude to the girl. crude oil 原油 marquis n. 侯爵 technically adv. strictly 严格地 technically speaking 严格地讲 popularity [p pju'l riti] n. 名望 in popularity 受欢迎，受喜爱 Instant foods are getting in popularity. 即食食品越来越受欢迎。 popular songs are in popularity. adore v. 崇拜，爱戴，喜爱 Mother absolutely adore their children. like最常用词，往往只表不太强烈的兴趣或关注，不带强烈的感情，除非另加修饰语。 love不但表示强烈的喜欢，而且含依恋之情，因此多用于能激起深厚情感的人或物。 enjoy指对能提供感观或智力上满足或快乐的东西表示欣赏或喜爱。 adore非正式用词，口语体。指非常喜爱，带强烈的感彩。 prefer指有选择性或 ... ...
