Tom Paddock, born Thomas Paddock (c. 1822,

Redditch Redditch is a town and non-metropolitan district with borough status in Worcestershire, England. It is located south of Birmingham, east of Bromsgrove, north-west of Alcester and north-east of Worcester. In 2021, the town had a population of ...

– 30 June 1863) also known as the Redditch Needlepointer was a champion English bare-knuckle boxer in the early

Victorian era In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the reign of Queen Victoria, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. Slightly different definitions are sometimes used. The era followed the ...

. Tom was baptised on 25 August 1822 in

, Worcestershire, England, the son of George Paddock and Elizabeth (née Morris). Brought up on a farm, he was noted to have developed a size and endurance that served him well in his career as a boxer. His professional career in

boxing Boxing is a combat sport and martial art. Taking place in a boxing ring, it involves two people – usually wearing protective equipment, such as boxing glove, protective gloves, hand wraps, and mouthguards – throwing Punch (combat), punch ...

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. It was William Thompson of

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...

who spoilt his clean record in 1850 in

Mildenhall, Suffolk Mildenhall is a market town in the civil parishes in England, civil parish of Mildenhall High, in the West Suffolk District, West Suffolk district, in the county of Suffolk, England. The town is near the A11 road (Great Britain), A11, and is n ...

. In 1851 a fight against Harry Poulson in Belper ended in a riot when both men were jailed. Both served ten months hard labour. Three years later Paddock challenged both Harry Broome and Bill Perry to a

Heavyweight Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling. Boxing Professional Male boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 2 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation an ...

Championship of England bout but both turned it down. Paddock then claimed himself as the Heavyweight Champion of England by default, though this was not generally recognised until 1856 following fifty-one rounds in the ring against Harry Broome in Manningtree. However, his victory was short-lived; he lost the title later the same year to Bill Perry. He twice attempted to regain the title, but was unsuccessful. Paddock's last fight took place in 1860 against Sam Hurst, for the championship of England. He died of

heart disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is any disease involving the heart or blood vessels. CVDs constitute a class of diseases that includes: coronary artery diseases (e.g. angina pectoris, angina, myocardial infarction, heart attack), heart failure, ...

on 30 June 1863 in

Marylebone Marylebone (usually , also ) is an area in London, England, and is located in the City of Westminster. It is in Central London and part of the West End. Oxford Street forms its southern boundary. An ancient parish and latterly a metropo ...

.FreeBMD
/ref> A book on Paddock's life is currently being penned by Tom Podmore, a Nottingham-based writer originally from Redditch.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paddock, Tom 1822 births 1863 deaths Sportspeople from Redditch English male boxers English bare-knuckle boxers Heavyweight boxers