Sam Hurst (13 March 1832 – 22 May 1882), nicknamed the Stalybridge Infant in ironic reference to his considerable physical size, was the English

bare-knuckle boxing Bare-knuckle boxing (or simply bare-knuckle) is a combat sport which involves two individuals throwing punches at each other for a predetermined amount of time without any boxing gloves or other form of padding on their hands. It is a regulate ...

champion 1860–61. He was born in Marsden, in Yorkshire, England, but in 1857 moved to

Stalybridge Stalybridge () is a town in Tameside, Greater Manchester, England, with a population of 23,731 at the 2011 Census. Historically divided between Cheshire and Lancashire, it is east of Manchester city centre and north-west of Glossop. When ...

, where he took a job in the local iron foundry and worked as a bouncer at the White House

public house A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and wa ...

. 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. Paddock was suffering from the effects of a knife wound, 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 £29,000 as of 2010. His next fight was against

Jem Mace James "Jem" Mace (8 April 1831 – 30 November 1910) was an English boxing champion, primarily during the bare-knuckle era. He was born at Beeston, Norfolk. Although nicknamed "The Gypsy", he denied Romani ethnicity in his autobiography. Fig ...

at Medway Island on 18 June 1861. At Hurst was five inches taller than his opponent, and correspondingly heavier, but he was not a skillful 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. 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 Shudehill Interchange is a transport hub between Manchester Victoria station and the Northern Quarter in Manchester city centre, England, which comprises a Metrolink stop and a bus station. History The tracks through the site were opened in 1 ...

, Manchester. He also took over the management of the

beerhouse A beerhouse was a type of public house created in the United Kingdom by the 1830 Beerhouse Act, legally defined as a place "where beer is sold to be consumed ''on'' the premises". They were also known as 'small' or 'Tom and Jerry' shops Existing pu ...

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

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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hurst, Sam Bare-knuckle boxers English male boxers 1832 births 1882 deaths