| Ben Caunt | |
|---|---|
Ben Caunt, by unknown engraver |
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| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | Torkard Giant, Big Ben |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 189 cm (6 ft 2.4 in) |
| Nationality | British |
| 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".
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Caunt was born on March 22, 1815 in Hucknall Torkard in Nottinghamshire in England. Caunt stood six foot two and a half inches tall and had a fighting weight of between 203 and 210 lb (95 kg). 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 July 21, 1835, Caunt boxed William "Bendigo" Thompson and was disqualified for an alleged foul striking Thompson while he was sitting in his corner.
In 1837, Caunt fought and beat on August 17 William Butler at Stoneyford and on November 4 Bill Boniford at Sunrise Hill.
On April 3, 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 June 24 Caunt was scheduled to again fight William Thompson but the bout was cancelled.
In 1840 on October 26 Caunt defeated Bill Brassey at Six Mile Bottom in 101 rounds.
Then in 1841 on February 2 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 May 11 of the same year, defeating Ward in 35 rounds at Long Marsden to become the Heavyweight Champion of England. On September 10, 1841 Caunt sailed to America to challenge Tom Hyer to a world championship bout, but Hyer never replied. Caunt returned to England on March 10, 1842 with the "American Giant" Charles Freeman.
In 1845 he was challenged for the English heavyweight title by William Thompson. On September 9 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.
Between 1845 and 1851 Caunt worked as farm labourer and then became the landlord of "The Coach and Horses" pub at St. Martin's Lane, a business that made him very prosperous until a fire destroyed the pub and killed two of his children.
In his final fight on 21 September 1857, Caunt fought Nat Langham at Home Circuit where after 60 rounds both men were too exhausted to continue and a draw was declared.
He died of pneumonia on September 10, 1861 at an address in St. Martin's Lane in London.
Ben Caunt is buried outside the north transept of the Parish Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Hucknall close to the grave of two of his children who died in the Coach and Horses fire.
It is said that "Big Ben", the hour bell of the clock-tower of the Palace of Westminster, is named after this English Heavyweight Champion. The origin of the name is contested with Westminster's Chief Lord of the Woods and Forests, Sir Benjamin Hall. A large and ponderous man known affectionately in the House as "Big Ben", he is said to have given an impressively long speech on the subject. When, at the end of this oratorical marathon, Sir Benjamin sank back into his seat, a wag in the chamber shouted out: "Why not call him Big Ben and have done with it?" The house erupted in laughter; Big Ben had been named. This, at least, is the most commonly accepted story. However, according to the booklet written for the old Ministry of Works by Alan Phillips (1959):
"Like other nice stories, this has no documentary support; Hansard failed to record the interjection. The Times had been alluding to 'Big Ben of Westminster' since 1856. Probably, the derivation must be sought more remotely. The current champion of the prize ring was Benjamin Caunt, who had fought terrific battles with Bendigo, and who in 1857 lasted sixty rounds of a drawn contest in his final appearance at the age of 42. As Caunt at one period scaled 17 stone (238 lbs, or 108 kilogrammes), his nickname was Big Ben, and that was readily bestowed by the populace on any object the heaviest of its class. So the anonymous MP may have snatched at what was already a catchphrase." HMSO