Nicholas Ward
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Ward often known as Nick Ward (April 1, 1811 – February 17, 1850) was an English bare-knuckle
fighter. He was born at \ 6 weighed 8 pounds. Nick Ward was the heavyweight champion of England for four months in 1841.
His first recorded fight was in 1835 against Harry John Lockyer. In 1840 he fought his brother's old enemy James Burke
; Burke was a feared and dangerous fighter, who had killed one opponent, the champion Simon Byrne
. Following the match Jem Ward had refused to fight Burke, would not hand over the championship belt or acknowledge Burke as the heavyweight champion, even after he was acquitted of murder. Nick Ward won the bout against Burke when his gang of supporters forced the referee
to disqualify Burke for an alleged foul. This winning pattern was repeated when in February 1841 Ward became heavyweight champion. He beat Ben Caunt
, the reigning champion, when Caunt was disqualified, after the referee
succumbed to pressure from the crowd claiming Caunt hit Ward while he was down. In May of the same year Caunt legitimately beat Ward and regained his title. At this time boxing was governed by the less than arduous London Prize Ring rules
. The more strict and fair Queensbury rules were not implemented until much later in the century.
Nick Ward is today considered a "mediocre" boxer , known for using "unfair tactics" and avoiding head on fighting. However, in spite of his reputation for underhand fighting he was considered a good counter puncher.
Ward died in Soho
, London
in 1850 aged 39.
Bare-knuckle boxing
Bare-knuckle boxing is the original form of boxing, closely related to ancient combat sports...
fighter. He was born at \ 6 weighed 8 pounds. Nick Ward was the heavyweight champion of England for four months in 1841.
His first recorded fight was in 1835 against Harry John Lockyer. In 1840 he fought his brother's old enemy James Burke
James Burke (boxer)
James "Deaf" Burke , 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 200 lb , was one of England's earliest boxing champions. He trained in the area around the River Thames....
; Burke was a feared and dangerous fighter, who had killed one opponent, the champion Simon Byrne
Simon Byrne
Simon Byrne , nicknamed "The Emerald Gem", was an Irish bare-knuckle prize fighter. The heavyweight boxing champion of Ireland, he was drawn to England by the larger sums of prize money on offer and his hopes of becoming the heavyweight champion there as well...
. Following the match Jem Ward had refused to fight Burke, would not hand over the championship belt or acknowledge Burke as the heavyweight champion, even after he was acquitted of murder. Nick Ward won the bout against Burke when his gang of supporters forced the referee
Referee (boxing)
The referee in the boxing is the individual charged with enforcing the rules of that sport during a match.-The role of the referee:Referees have the following roles:*Gives instructions to both boxers before the fight...
to disqualify Burke for an alleged foul. This winning pattern was repeated when in February 1841 Ward became heavyweight champion. He beat Ben Caunt
Ben Caunt
Ben Caunt was a 19th century English bare-knuckle boxer who became the "heavyweight" boxing champion known as the "Torkard Giant" and "Big Ben".-Early life:...
, the reigning champion, when Caunt was disqualified, after the referee
Referee (boxing)
The referee in the boxing is the individual charged with enforcing the rules of that sport during a match.-The role of the referee:Referees have the following roles:*Gives instructions to both boxers before the fight...
succumbed to pressure from the crowd claiming Caunt hit Ward while he was down. In May of the same year Caunt legitimately beat Ward and regained his title. At this time boxing was governed by the less than arduous London Prize Ring rules
London Prize Ring rules
The London Prize Ring Rules was a list of boxing rules promulgated in 1838 and revised in 1853. These rules were based on those drafted by Britain's Jack Broughton in 1743 and governed the conduct of prizefighting/bare-knuckle boxing for over 100 years...
. The more strict and fair Queensbury rules were not implemented until much later in the century.
Nick Ward is today considered a "mediocre" boxer , known for using "unfair tactics" and avoiding head on fighting. However, in spite of his reputation for underhand fighting he was considered a good counter puncher.
Ward died in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1850 aged 39.