Tom Paddock

Tom Paddock, born Thomas Paddock (c. 1822, Redditch – 30 June 1863) also known as the Redditch Needlepointer was a champion British 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 courageousness 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 wasn't 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 attempted to regain the title twice but never actually managed it.^[3]

Paddock's last fight took place in 1860.^[3] He died of heart disease on 30 June 1863 in Marylebone.^[1][5]

A book on Paddock's fighting life is currently being penned by Tom Podmore, a Nottingham-based freelance boxing writer originally from Redditch.

References