Sam Hurst (March 13, 1832 – May 22, 1882),[1] nicknamed the Stalybridge Infant in ironic reference to his considerable physical size, was the English bare-knuckle boxing champion 1860–61.
[3] 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,[4] and was unable to continue after being knocked down by a punch that broke three of his ribs.
Hurst's seconds withdrew him from the fight in the eighth round, and he never fought again except in exhibition matches.
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.