Barnet Father Becomes Oldest British Pro Boxer
Ben Caunter, 47, made his professional debut in Tanzania, raising awareness for a mental health charity.
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From the archive. This story was written up on 29 July 2026 from reporting first published on 24 May 2026, which is the date shown above. We took up the back catalogue of the local titles we read when this site launched, so the events are older than the page.
Barnet resident Ben Caunter has achieved the distinction of becoming the United Kingdom's oldest active professional boxer at the age of 47. His professional debut took place on May 15 in Tanzania, where he competed in a super welterweight bout against Shabani Jafari Rajabu. Mr Caunter began his boxing journey during the pandemic lockdown in 2020, at the age of 41.
A New Chapter at 47
Mr Caunter, a father of two, took up boxing initially as a way to remain active when other sporting activities were restricted. He has since become the oldest currently active British professional boxer. Reflecting on his journey, Mr Caunter stated, "At 41 years old, I walked into a boxing gym not knowing where it would lead. This journey has taught me that we’re capable of far more than we think." He added that the sport helped him manage pressure, doubt, and fear.
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He expressed a desire to demonstrate to his children, and potentially others, that pursuing new challenges and personal development is possible at any stage of life. "I wanted to show my children, and hopefully others, that it’s never too late to challenge yourself, pursue growth, and become something new," he said, as reported by Barnet & Potters Bar Times.
Raising Awareness for CALM
Alongside his professional debut, Mr Caunter dedicated the event to raising funds and awareness for the charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), which focuses on suicide prevention. He highlighted the connection between mental health and physical fitness, stating, "Mental health and physical fitness go hand-in-hand, and if this encourages someone to take that first step, then every moment of this journey has been worth it." Barnet & Potters Bar Times reported that donations can be made via his JustGiving page.
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