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课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨( U5 E( Y J# H
348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.
1 \) }" m" o# _2 N, g& w 两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
% X) L |: }& c) d349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
- X/ p' E: r3 u$ k 当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。0 s3 \7 v+ t: ]) N0 P* B* m$ d
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.# |+ C4 ]9 O/ t+ \. e
因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。% r2 j' S/ C! M
351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
( T+ B" f) o- m) n& N; V" |/ G2 u& r 不过,拳击是十分野蛮的,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。
/ @* {$ J; w. d6 |4 y1 P, j& ?' \352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
, J. b/ W7 l6 m: G. C, j 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。
0 A- ~$ q; K' `/ h" w353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.2 D/ Z" S+ v: |) r7 ^/ [ @8 T
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。. N, \) d2 ~0 E
354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.; g, @+ l" R2 Y( [6 i
虽然门多萨严格来讲不过是个职业拳击手,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。是他把科学引进了这项运动。; A5 ?( H4 N g% G2 b
355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.; N1 Z G: q) T$ z. g: Q* m
门多萨在的全盛时期深受大家欢迎,无论是富人还是穷人都对他祟拜备至。
$ ^" T! J: p; h% z) J- Q+ a356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.) l& T% P* ]6 W
门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
/ s" n) v* h" A, }" ~357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
; G% C1 ]( j% H1 n 这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
* Q1 k% }) H0 ]8 |358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.1 G6 I# L) `: R( ]4 _2 i
他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。
& T- n- X0 E: ^) f/ v. R7 f4 w359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.4 Y% U+ h, K8 J. J
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。& {6 q, @1 I* r- [: C' r% f
360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.' M* e% U- Y3 Q+ G
两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。" E& U+ b+ x, F+ W: A* W
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour." {! p# y3 y/ K) T/ s. E& o$ J6 z* R, t
于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。8 C" P6 }* V. I) m1 m9 N' c7 j; I
362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
5 e& n$ n v! c$ ?+ w 公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。
8 y5 L# q: a; ]2 a363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.6 Y4 w( \ r) r; H( J0 _
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。/ N- B9 S3 x( E6 l" S O
364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
; _4 j2 R/ p9 S6 i 直到1790年他们第3次对垒,门多萨才终于击败汉弗莱斯,成了全英拳击冠军。
; g+ V* G1 L( O% s2 r365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.3 T ~! o8 ?. f% x! @( H
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。
% o4 k9 |. y- n- v6 J: K366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.0 m6 n& D! C3 R2 f# |/ B+ g
门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
9 A8 F+ _- ~1 L" ^4 q$ e+ l7 U367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
; X9 z3 \' @0 z) w6 B4 K( I; y 尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。5 F- \; f: y2 [
368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten." n: f" q2 d% \% G6 J3 z
他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。8 t0 e) [1 b( h
369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
8 e9 m1 @% S: P3 Q$ B2 W1 ? 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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