It gradually dawned on me that I had been played with so far, and that my man was only now beginning to give his mind to the business.

Ass that I had been! Poor wretch that I was! Before the round had well begun I was reeling about like a ninepin.

The little knowledge of pugilism I had, or thought I had, was like child's play against the deliberate downright assault of this practised hand.

I did what I could, but it was very little.

The laughter of my opponents and the gibes of my backers all tended to flurry me and lose me my head.
Let me draw a veil over that scene.
My opponent was not one of the sort to give quarter.