deaths
January 8, 1789
Jack Broughton, English boxer (born 1703)
Jack Broughton
John "Jack" Broughton was an English bare-knuckle boxer. He was the first person to codify a set of boxing rules; prior to this the "rules" that existed were very loosely defined and tended to vary from contest to contest. His seven rules were widely used in boxing for nearly a century, until they were replaced by the London Prize Ring rules in 1838. Pierce Egan characterised Broughton as the "Father of the English School of Boxing".
January 8
January 8 is the eighth day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 357 days remain until the end of the year.