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The Broughton and London Prize Ring laws governed pugilism for many years until it was decided to elaborate on them and to clarify some points that did not seem clear. This led to the creation of the "Revised London Prize Ring Rules," which were the authority for bare-knuckle warfare from the middle of the 18th Century until the last bare-knuckle championship fight on July 8, 1889, between John L. Sullivan and Jake Kilrain.

Broughton is one of the few persons not of royalty who is buried in Westminster Abbey, London.

For about 100 years the London Prize Ring Rules were the only ones known to the sport. Then, because some tender-hearted persons decided that "pugilism is barbarous," the Marquis of Queensberry drafted his famous rules. The Marquis decided that gloves should succeed bare fists, but the idea wasn't original with him. An item in a Paris newspaper of Oct. 8, 1818, read:

"Yesterday at Aix-la-Chapelle (France) a great exhibition was made by English boxers. The two champions were built like Hercules and were naked to the waist. They entered the place with their hands guarded with huge padded gloves. After a severe contest, one of them, more adroit than his rival, struck him so violent a blow on the breast that he fell, and victory was thus decided."

Working along with Arthur Chambers, an English lightweight who later fought in the United States, the Marquis framed the rules that bear his name and first were presented in 1865. However, it was not until 1872, at a tournament in London, that the rules were followed in toto, all contestants wearing gloves and fighting three-minute rounds, with wrestling, throwing, gouging, etc., barred.
The men of 1872 fought for trophies-the first time anything like that had happened. Previously, all battles either were for financial prizes, side bets, or to settle grudges. Furthermore, the 1872 tournament classified the fighters, i.e., a lightweight was 140 pounds or less, a middleweight 158 or less, and all over 158 went into the heavy class. Prior to that time, fighters were not classified. The contests usually were limited to the big men-those from 160 pounds up. The smaller persons, as a rule, did not go in for battling except when there was a grudge and they were of comparable size.

Here are the Queensberry Rules:
Rule 1. To be a fair stand-up boxing match in a 24-foot ring, or as near that size as practicable.
Rule 2. No wrestling or hugging allowed.
Rule 3. The rounds to be of three minutes' duration, and one minute's time between rounds.
Rule 4. If either man fall through weakness or otherwise, he must get up unassisted, ten seconds to be allowed him to do so, the other man mean-while to return to his corner, and when the fallen man is on his legs the round is to be resumed, and continued till the three minutes have expired. If one man fails to come to the scratch in the ten seconds allowed, it shall be in the power of the referee to give his award in favor of the other man.
Rule 5. A man hanging on the ropes in a helpless state, with his toes off the ground, shall be considered down.
Rule 6. No seconds or any other person to be allowed in the ring during the rounds.
Rule 7. Should the contest be stopped by any unavoidable interference, the referee to name the time and place as soon as possible for finishing the contest; so that the match must be won and lost, unless the backers of both men agree to draw the stakes.
Rule 8. The gloves to be fair-sized boxing gloves of the best quality and new.
Rule 9. Should a glove burst, or come off, it must be replaced to the referee's satisfaction.
Rule 10. A man on one knee is considered down, and if struck is entitled to the stakes.
Rule 11. No shoes or boots with springs allowed.
Rule 12. The contest in all other respects to be governed by revised rules of the London Prize Ring.