was ruled to be legal at the time. Many pugilists, such as James Figg and Jack Broughton, shaved their heads to avoid the possibility of this, until hair-pulling was eventually banned in boxing. Mendoza retired after his loss, and though he attempted boxing comebacks, he never again enjoyed the same-size audiences or received large purses. Although Mendoza continued sparring tours well into the nineteenth century, 1795 marked the beginning of a steep decline in his popularity and for the most part, his income. He very rarely appeared in the London newspapers after this period, and had lost respect with much of the public. In 1799, Mendoza contracted a debt and ended in Carlisle Prison. Though he was bailed out by friends in the Freemasons, he later served another six months. With great connections, though a convict, he was later appointed Sheriff's Assistant to the County of Middlesex in 1806, though he would have to evade prison again in later life due to mounting debts. Work at Admiral Nelson pub, 1806–09 Victory over Harry Lee On 21 March 1806, at Grinstead Green, Mendoza returned to the ring and defeated the taller Harry Lee in 53 grueling rounds. Mendoza had cemented his reputation, and was a 3–1 favourite in the betting. The purse was 50 guineas, or a little over fifty pounds, for each boxer. Mendoza began to seek other sources of income, becoming the landlord of the "Admiral Nelson" pub and public house in Whitechapel with his money from the Lee fight. He continued his work at the pub for a number of years. He turned down a number of offers for re-matches and in 1807 wrote a letter to The Times of London in which he said he was devoting himself chiefly to teaching the art of boxing. In 1809 he and some associates were hired by the theatre manager John Philip Kemble of Covent Gardens in an attempt to suppress the Old Price Riots. The riots lasted three months and became a violent uprising of British commoners against the increase in prices at the new theatre after the old theatre had burnt down. The resulting poor publicity probably cost Mendoza much of his remaining popular support, as he was seen to be fighting on the side of the privileged. The anger against the raising of the prices also sparked additional antisemitism in London and apparently, judging by the press