46-year-old dad flies to Africa to become pro boxer

By Isobel Williams

A dad flew to Africa to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional boxer after being told he was "too old" to fight in Britain.

Ben Caunter, 46, says he was advised he was unlikely to get a license for a bout at home due to his age and lack of experience.

So the super welterweight organized a match in Tanzania before jumping on a 4,500-mile, 15-hour flight earlier this month.

Caunter, a dad-of-two from Barnet, north London, won by knockout in the third round and can now call himself a professional.

In fact, he is thought to be Britain's oldest active pro.

Caunter - dubbed the 'Butcher of Barnet' - took up boxing in COVID-19 as a way of keeping fit after giving up the gym and rugby.

He said: "I know I am old, I know I am well past the prime of when you would normally start boxing. But what if?

"It went from just trying it for fun with no intention of really doing anything with it to having a dream.

"It is about really putting your all into something, being disciplined, making things happen through your own action and unlocking potential.

"I look back now and think how this was such an unrealistic dream to me not that long ago and now I have done a professional fight."

Caunter, a senior marketing worker, started boxing six years ago - ordering a punch bag online and watching YouTube videos to teach himself.

But he quickly realized that he would need a trainer to improve and signed up to sessions in his local park.

He then realized he wanted to fight professionally after visiting Stonebridge Boxing Club in Wembley for training in 2021.

However, fighters who want to box turn pro in Britain have to apply to the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) to get a license.

Caunter planned to apply to the BBBofC but, after speaking to managers and promoters, decided there was little point - as he says they told him age would prevent him from getting a license.

It was then that he started looking abroad.

He said: "It is really hard to get a professional boxing license in the U.K. I got told no so many times because I don't have experience and I am too old.

"You need a manager and/or promoter to support an application. And many of those said that the BBBofC would never give a license to someone my age and without amateur experience.

"There is a fair bit of skepticism and doubt. On the whole people have found it very inspiring, but there have been a few roadblocks on the way.

"You don't give up at the first hurdle. If you want something to happen then you have to be persistent and resilient and take it into your own hands."

Caunter took on Shabani Jafari in a small venue in Tanzania in a four-round bout organized by Kisarawe Sport Promotions.

The dad had never done three-minute rounds before, only competing in 'white collar' - amateur - fights involving two-minute rounds.

But he managed to deliver a knockout blow at the beginning of round three.

Caunter said: "One day I am working in an office, the next day I am flying to Tanzania for a few days to have a boxing match. It is really amazing.

"It was great fun, it was a really good experience. There is something about stepping into the unknown. You have one life so why not live it and try a few things.

"It was exciting and fulfilling. The fans were very passionate. It was a bit rough and ready but amazing. It is still a bit of a pinch me ‘did this really happen?' feeling.

"The most rewarding part of it was phoning my children afterwards and telling them and just seeing the smiles on their faces. Hopefully I can motivate them and inspire them a bit."

The dad says that it can be difficult juggling his day job, parenting, and training but that he keeps a very organized calendar to help.

He is encouraging others to live their dreams and is raising money for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) through his fights.

Caunter added: "I fit in training around my office job and raising two children, so it is a lot to juggle. It gets busy. You can do more than you think you can if you are disciplined.

"If you want to do something, even if it does seem a little bit out there, why not try it and see what happens."

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 1:56 PM.