Page 118 - Redditch People

Redditch People

Life and Times of Tom Paddock

Thomas Paddock born October 25th 1824 in Redditch and died 30th June 1863of heart
disease at his home at 41 Upper Rathbone Place, Marylebone district of London. His
parents were George and Elizabeth Paddock and he married Esther Ann Armons, 7th
September 1854 in Brompton Holy Trinity. Tom also known as the Redditch Needle
Pointer was a champion bare knuckle boxer in the early Victorian era.

He started boxing in 1844 and stood at 5ft.10½ins and weighed about 12 stone.
Between 1844 and 1850 was largely undefeated in the boxing ring and gained a
reputation for his courage but also for his foul tactics and uncontrollable temper. It was
William Thompson of Nottingham who spoilt his clean record in 1850 In Mildenhall,
Suffolk. In 1851 a fight against Harry Poulson in Belper, Derbyshire ended in a riot and
both were sentenced to 10 months imprisonment with hard labour.

Three years later Paddock challenged both Harry Broome and Bill Perry to heavyweight
championship but both declined so Paddock declared himself world champion by default,
which was never recognised until a 51 round championship fight against Harry Broome
in Bentley, Suffolk which Paddock won. However this was short lived as he lost the title
later the same year to Bill Perry. He did try to regain the title twice but failed both times.

Tom Sayer knocks out Tom Paddock on June
15th 1858 after 21 rounds to win the English

Famous fights newspaper – 4th March 1901–1904 covered © RLHS 2015
the history of bareknuckle boxing. On the cover was the

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