CAUNT, BENJAMIN

born March 22, 1815, Hucknall-Torkard, Nottinghamshire, Eng. died Sept. 10, 1861, London British prizefighter, one of the first to aspire to a world's championship in addition to national honours. Caunt claimed the English title after winning from Bendigo (William Thompson) on a questionable foul in 75 rounds on April 3, 1838. When on Oct. 26, 1840, he beat John Leechman after 101 rounds, he was considered champion of England. In 1841 he went to the United States seeking opponents for the world's championship, but no match was ever made. Charles Freeman of Michigan, who stood 6 feet 10 1/2 inches and weighed about 250 pounds, challenged Caunt, who, instead of fighting Freeman, became his manager and took him to England for a series of exhibition bouts there. Caunt was defeated by Bendigo on a foul in 93 rounds on Sept. 9, 1845, yielding his disputed claim to the title.