Career
He was also deaf. Burke, who trained in the area around the River Thames, stood 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall and weighed 14 stone 4 pounds (200 pounds 91 kg). Byrne died three days later from his injuries. Burke was promptly arrested and tried for Byrne"s murder, but was acquitted on 11 July 1833 and subsequently freed.
Following Byrne"s death and the resulting stigma from having killed his opponent, Burke found it impossible to obtain opponents in Britain.
As the fight progressed, O"Rourke took heavy punishment. In the third round, fearing O"Rourke"s defeat, elements of the crowd rioted and caused the fight to be abandoned.
Burke was forced to flee on horseback. On 12 February 1839, Burke fought William Thompson for the English heavyweight crown.
Burke was disqualified in the 10th round for hitting Thompson when he was down.
Thompson retired the next month and Burke claimed the title. Jem Ward"s younger brother Nick Ward fought Burke for the English championship on 22 September 1840. The fight ended in disarray when Ward"s gang forced the referee to disqualify Burke for an alleged foul.
Burke challenged William Perry, "The Tipton Slasher", to a fight in July 1842.
Perry declined.
At age 35 and in extreme poverty, Burke died of tuberculosis at home on 8 January 1845 in Frances Street, Waterloo, London. He is buried in Street John"s Church-yard, Waterloo.
He was added to the International Boxing Hall Of Fame in 1992, 147 years after his death.
