William Thompson (boxer)
William Thompson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 October 1811 Trinity Walk, Nottingham, England |
| Died | 23 August 1880 (aged 68) Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Other names | Bendigo, Bendego (in period newspapers) |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | averaged 165 lb (75 kg), weight range 164 to 168 lb (74–76 kg) |
| Height | 5 ft 9.75 in (1.77 m) |
| Stance | Southpaw Used London Prize Ring Rules after 1838 |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 20 |
| Wins | 19 |
William Abednego Thompson (11 October 1811 – 23 August 1880), also known as Bendigo Thompson, was an English bare-knuckle boxer who won the heavyweight championship of England from James Burke on 12 February 1839. He was inducted into The Ring magazine Hall of Fame in 1955, the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991 and the Bare Knuckle Boxing Hall of Fame in 2011. His nickname of "Bendigo" lives on in the name of a city and creek in Australia.