Ben Caunt
| Ben Caunt | |
|---|---|
Ben Caunt, by unknown engraver
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| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | Torkard Giant, Big Ben |
| Rated at | 18 st (250 lb; 110 kg) |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Nationality | English |
| Born |
22 March 1815 Hucknall Torkard, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Died | 10 September 1861 (aged 46) |
Ben Caunt (22 March 1815 – 10 September 1861) was a 19th-century English bare-knuckle boxer who became the "heavyweight" boxing champion known as the "Torkard Giant" and "Big Ben".
Caunt was born on 22 March 1815 in Hucknall Torkard in Nottinghamshire in England. Caunt stood six foot two inches tall and weighed 18 stone. He was said to be strong, durable, willing yet also slow and clumsy. His early boxing career is not well known, but he did defeat several minor local opponents at the age of 18.
In 1834 he beat George Graham (of Lincolnshire). On 21 July 1835, Caunt boxed William "Bendigo" Thompson and was disqualified for an alleged foul striking Thompson while he was sitting in his corner.
On 17 August 1837, Caunt fought and beat William Butler at Stoneyford, and on 4 November Bill Boniford at Sunrise Hill.
On 3 April 1838, Caunt again fought William Thompson on Skipworth Common, and after 75 rounds Thompson was disqualified for going down without being struck; Caunt claimed the Heavyweight Championship of England but this was not generally accepted.
On 24 June Caunt was scheduled to again fight William Thompson but the bout was cancelled.
In 1840 on 26 October Caunt defeated Bill Brassey at Six Mile Bottom in 101 rounds.
Then in 1841 on 2 February Caunt fought Nick Ward on Crookham Common for the Heavyweight Championship of England where the crowd forced the referee to disqualify Caunt for an alleged blow striking Ward while he was down.
Caunt avenged this defeat on 11 May of the same year, defeating Ward in 35 rounds at Long Marsden to become the Heavyweight Champion of England. On 10 September 1841 Caunt sailed to America to challenge Tom Hyer to a world championship bout, but Hyer never replied. Caunt returned to England on 10 March 1842 with the "American Giant" Charles Freeman.
In 1845 he was challenged for the English heavyweight title by William Thompson. On 9 September Caunt lost at Stoney Stratford with a disputable decision after 93 rounds where it was alleged that Caunt went down without a blow striking him. Caunt denied this accusation and announced his retirement, only to return for a final attempt at the heavyweight crown 12 years later.
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