Early life and boxing career James Burke was born on 8 December 1809 in St Giles, London. He was deaf from infancy and worked as a waterman on the River Thames before he began boxing professionally in 1828. He stood tall and weighed between and during his career. He was known by the nicknames "Deaf Burke" and "the Deaf'un".
Early life and boxing career James Burke was born on 8 December 1809 in St Giles, London. He was deaf from infancy and worked as a waterman on the River Thames before he began boxing professionally in 1828. He stood tall and weighed between and during his career He was known by the nicknames "Deaf Burke" and "the Deaf'un".