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Spring by name and spring by nature |
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Changes in the sport
After an illustrious career, Tom "Light Tapper" Spring, punched what he thought would be his last punches at the age of 29. His fragile hands, despite the scientific way in which he boxed, were taking a terrible beating. But he made one more come-back fight at the age of 45. The Pugilistic Club held a testimonial bout to aid the unfortunate Tom Cribb who, by that time, was in severe financial straits.
Spring was to fight the current champion Ben Caunt. For the first time, Spring was wearing gloves just to protect his failing hands and was able to make the champion look anything but comfortable. 
Spring was a gentleman as well as a fighter
© Courtesy of Jon Hurley |
There was no winner – it was just a match of support for Cribb, Spring's former trainer, manager, mentor and surrogate father.
In 1750, the sport of bare-knuckle fighting was outlawed, but even with the ban, the authorities often turned a blind eye to bouts – maybe it was because it enjoyed patronage from high society.
A bare knuckle fighter's sporting life was generally short, much in the same way as today, it was the high demands of fitness and agility that took its toll. On retiring, Tom "Light Tapper" Spring, his wife and two children moved to London and took over the tenancy of the Castle Tavern, Holborn – the spiritual home of boxing in London. But this was not to end his association with prize fighting.
The sport had become much maligned with poor behaviour both in and out of the ring by fighters and punters alike. On 25 September 1828, Tom Spring was elected as the first treasurer of the newly formed "Fair Play Club". This was testament to the high regard that Spring was held in by all connected with the sport. A set of rules was established to include the supervision of fights "to preserve peace and order in the outer ring" and "to ensure fair play to the combatants". Spring was empowered to employ pugilists to administer the rules and to ensure there were no ring invasions.
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