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The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia -- English Bare Knuckle Champion
Jack Broughton
(the "Father of Boxing")
BORN 1704; Baunton, Cirencester, England DIED January 8 1789; Lambeth, London, England (Some sources report January 20 1789; Some sources report he was buried on December 21 1878) HEIGHT.. 5-10 1/2 WEIGHT 196-200 lbs BACKER William, Duke of Cumberland Broughton was the best boxer of the early period of the British Prize Ring; He was scientific, fast, strong and tough; His favorite punch was the "peg to the stomach" that became the terror of his contemporaries
John was intelligent, communicative and not destitute of wit; He possessed a sharp and penetrating eye that almost "looked through the object before him;" His form was athletic and commanding and denoted uncommon strength and bottom
He brought solid methodology into boxing, introducing scientific moves and the delivery of punches, especially "milling on the retreat" (i.e. moving backwards and drawing an opponent into punches so their effectiveness is doubled; He was distinguished for giving some remarkable hits, which were not easily forgotten; His stomach blow often decided the battle and his "lungeunder the ear" generally produced terrible consequences to the opponent
In 1741, Jack Broughton beat George Stevenson so badly in a 35 minute contest that a few days later Stevenson died; The tragedy upset Broughton and in an effort to ensure that it would not happen again, he called together some of the patrons of his academy and drew up a set of rules; "Broughton’s Rules" governed boxing from August 16, 1743 until 1838, when a new code, "The London Prize Ring Rules," was adopted
Broughton also invented, or rediscovered, the boxing glove; It has been suggested that seeing a statue of a Greek boxer wearing the cestus gave him the idea of the padded glove; Broughton's padded gloves were lightweight "mufflers" and used only in sparring - since matches were still bare-knuckle; The gloves were really to prevent damage to his aristocratic patrons
Broughton was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 19901725 -Broughton began his career with some turn-up matches in Bristol, Eng Sep an unnamed opponent W 10 1726-1732 -Broughton defeated a number of opponents and became a favorite of James Figg 1733 May 6 James Figg London, Eng EX 6 1734 Tom Pipes W -Some sources indicate possible Championship of England contest Tom Pipes W -Some sources indicate possible Championship of England contest 1734-1736 Bill Gretting W -Some sources indicate possible Championship of England contest Bill Gretting W -Some sources indicate possible Championship of England contest 1736 George Taylor London, Eng (20:00) W -Championship of England 1737-1740 "Buckhorse" John Smith London, Eng W -Championship of England Prince Boswell London, Eng W -Championship of England Will Willis London, Eng W -Championship of England Sailor Field London, Eng W -Championship of England 1741 Apr 24 George Stevenson London, Eng (35:00) W 4 -Championship of England; Stevenson died May -Broughton announced his retirement from the ring (only to return later) 1743 Mar 10 -Broughton opened the amphitheatre, Oxford Street, London, Eng Mar 13 -Broughton announced his comeback and reclaimed the Championship of England Aug 16 -Brought published his famous "Rules of the Ring" 1744-1746 Chicken Harris London, Eng W -Championship of England Jack James London, Eng W -Championship of England Tom Smallwood London, Eng W -Championship of England 1747 Feb -Broughton invented mufflers (boxing gloves) used in sparring contests 1750 Apr 10 Jack Slack London, Eng (14:00) L 4 -Championship of England; Some sources report 4/11/1747 1767 Apr an unnamed opponent Lambeth, Eng (15:00) W *** Assistance Was Provided By Sergei Yurchenko ***
Record courtesy of Jan Skotnicki, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization