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Just randomly came across the interesting story of heavyweight boxer James Burke from the 1800s.
Original page here.
James "Deaf" Burke (8 December 1809 - 8 January 1845), 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall, 14 stone 4 pounds (91 kg; 200 lb), was one of England's earliest boxing champions. He trained in the area around the River Thames.
On 30 May 1833, in a particularly brutal fight for the English heavyweight championship that lasted more than 75 minutes, Burke defeated Simon Byrne, the Irish champion. Burke knocked him unconscious in the 28th round and Byrne died three days later. Burke was promptly arrested and tried for Byrne's murder, but was acquitted on 11 July 1833 and subsequently freed.
The former English champion Jem Ward, who had earlier retired rather than face Burke in the ring, refused to hand over the championship belt or acknowledge Burke as heavyweight champion.
Following Byrne's death and the resulting stigma from having killed his opponent, Burke found it impossible to obtain opponents in Britain. He went to the United States and fought the new Irish champion Sam O'Rourke in New Orleans on May 6, 1837. As the fight progressed, O'Rourke took heavy punishment. In the third round, fearing O'Rourke's defeat, elements of the crowd rioted and caused the fight to be abandoned. Burke was forced to flee on horseback.
On 12 February 1839, Burke fought William Thompson for the English heavyweight crown. Burke was disqualified in the 10th round for hitting Thompson when he was down. Thompson retired the next month and Burke claimed the title.
Jem Ward's younger brother Nick Ward fought Burke for the English championship on 22 September 1840. The fight ended in disarray when Ward's gang forced the referee to disqualify Burke for an alleged foul.[5]
Burke challenged William Perry, 'The Tipton Slasher', to a fight in July 1842. Perry declined.
Burke won his final fight against Bob Castles (to whom he was related by marriage) in the 37th round on 13 June 1843.
At age 35 and in extreme poverty, Burke died of tuberculosis at home on 8 January 1845 in Francis Street, Waterloo, London. He is buried in St John's Church-yard, Waterloo.
Original page here.
James "Deaf" Burke (8 December 1809 - 8 January 1845), 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall, 14 stone 4 pounds (91 kg; 200 lb), was one of England's earliest boxing champions. He trained in the area around the River Thames.
On 30 May 1833, in a particularly brutal fight for the English heavyweight championship that lasted more than 75 minutes, Burke defeated Simon Byrne, the Irish champion. Burke knocked him unconscious in the 28th round and Byrne died three days later. Burke was promptly arrested and tried for Byrne's murder, but was acquitted on 11 July 1833 and subsequently freed.
The former English champion Jem Ward, who had earlier retired rather than face Burke in the ring, refused to hand over the championship belt or acknowledge Burke as heavyweight champion.
Following Byrne's death and the resulting stigma from having killed his opponent, Burke found it impossible to obtain opponents in Britain. He went to the United States and fought the new Irish champion Sam O'Rourke in New Orleans on May 6, 1837. As the fight progressed, O'Rourke took heavy punishment. In the third round, fearing O'Rourke's defeat, elements of the crowd rioted and caused the fight to be abandoned. Burke was forced to flee on horseback.
On 12 February 1839, Burke fought William Thompson for the English heavyweight crown. Burke was disqualified in the 10th round for hitting Thompson when he was down. Thompson retired the next month and Burke claimed the title.
Jem Ward's younger brother Nick Ward fought Burke for the English championship on 22 September 1840. The fight ended in disarray when Ward's gang forced the referee to disqualify Burke for an alleged foul.[5]
Burke challenged William Perry, 'The Tipton Slasher', to a fight in July 1842. Perry declined.
Burke won his final fight against Bob Castles (to whom he was related by marriage) in the 37th round on 13 June 1843.
At age 35 and in extreme poverty, Burke died of tuberculosis at home on 8 January 1845 in Francis Street, Waterloo, London. He is buried in St John's Church-yard, Waterloo.
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