Sam Hurst (13 March 1832 – 22 May 1882),[1] nicknamed the Stalybridge Infant in ironic reference to his considerable physical size, was the English bare-knuckle boxing champion 1860–1861. He was born in Marsden, in Yorkshire, England, but in 1857 moved to Stalybridge, where he took a job in the local iron foundry and worked as a bouncer at the White House public house.[2]

Hurst won the English championship in his first bare-knuckle fight by defeating Tom Paddock at Aldermaston on 6 November 1861, in a contest that lasted five rounds.[2] Paddock was suffering from the effects of a knife wound,[3] and was unable to continue after being knocked down by a punch that broke three of his ribs. Hurst’s prize money of £400 is equivalent to about £35,500 as of 2010.[2][a]Using the retail price index[4] His next fight was against Jem Mace at Medway Island on 18 June 1861. At 6 feet 2½ inches (1.9 m) Hurst was five inches taller than his opponent, and correspondingly heavier,[b]Hurst’s weight is variously given as 14 stone 12 pounds (94 kg),[2] or 15–17 stone (95–108 kg).[1] but he was not a skilful boxer and was no match for Mace’s speed and agility. Hurst’s seconds withdrew him from the fight in the eighth round, and he never fought again except in exhibition matches.[5]

A month after the unsuccessful defence of his title Hurst married the daughter of a Manchester publican, and in 1862 became landlord of the Wilton Arms in Shudehill, Manchester. He also took over the management of the beerhouse in the Botanical Gardens at Hyde in 1865, and the following year became landlord of the Glass House tavern in Manchester, where he remained until 1871.[5]

By 1881 Hurst was recorded as being a shoemaker; he died in poverty the following year, aged 50.[6]

Notes

Notes
a Using the retail price index[4]
b Hurst’s weight is variously given as 14 stone 12 pounds (94 kg),[2] or 15–17 stone (95–108 kg).[1]

References

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  2. p. 60
  3.  
  4.  
  5. pp. 60–61
  6. p. 61

Bibliography

Broadfoot, William, and Julian (rev ). Lock. “Paddock, Tom (1822–1863).” Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Online, Oxford University Press, 2004, http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/21079.
MeasuringWorth. Five Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a UK Pound Amount, 1270 to Present. 2020, https://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/ukcompare/.
Skotnicki, Jan. “Sam Hurst.” The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia, http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/hurst-s.htm.
Warrender, Keith. Manchester’s Oddities: Curious People and Places Around Manchester. Willow Publishing, 2011.