Tom Paddock

Tom Paddock
Statistics
Real name Thomas Paddock
Nickname(s) Redditch Needlepointer
Rated at Heavyweight
Height 5 ft 10.5 in (1.79 m)
Nationality English
Born 1822
Redditch, Worcestershire
Died 30 June 1863(1863-06-30)
Marylebone, London
Boxing record
Total fights 16
Wins 11
Losses 5

Tom Paddock, born Thomas Paddock (c. 1822, Redditch – 30 June 1863) also known as the Redditch Needlepointer was a champion English bare-knuckle boxer in the early Victorian era.[1]

Tom was baptised on 25 August 1822 in Redditch, Worcestershire, England, the son of George Paddock and Elizabeth (née Morris).[2] Brought up on a farm, he was noted to have developed a size and endurance that lasted him well in his career as a boxer.[1]

His professional career in boxing started in 1844; at the time he was just under six feet tall and weighed twelve stone. Between then and 1850 he was largely undefeated in the boxing ring, and gained a reputation not only for his courage but for his foul tactics and uncontrollable temper.[1] It was William Thompson of Nottingham who spoilt his clean record in 1850 in Mildenhall, Suffolk.[3]

In 1851 a fight against Harry Poulson in Belper ended in a riot when both men were jailed. Both served ten months hard labour.[3]

Three years later Paddock challenged both Harry Broome and Bill Perry to a Heavyweight Championship of England bout but both turned it down. Paddock then claimed himself as the Heavyweight Champion of England by default,[3] though this was not generally recognised until 1856 following fifty-one rounds in the ring against Harry Broome in Manningtree.[4] However his victory was short lived; he lost the title later the same year to Bill Perry.[1] He twice attempted to regain the title, but was unsuccessful.[3]

Paddock's last fight took place in 1860 against Sam Hurst, for the championship of England.[3] He died of heart disease on 30 June 1863 in Marylebone.[1][5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Broadfoot, William; Lock, Julian (rev.) (2004), "Paddock, Tom (1822–1863)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.), Oxford University Press, retrieved 11 December 2012 (subscription or UK public library membership required)
  2. ↑ Familysearch.org
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Fighting history at cyberboxingzone.com
  4. ↑ Boxing championship fight at famous-fights.com
  5. ↑ FreeBMD
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