David Pearce (boxer)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/87/David_%27Bomber%27_Pearce.png

David 'Bomber' Pearce (8 May 1959 – 20 May 2000) was a British heavyweight boxing champion.

Early years

He was born in Newport, Monmouthshire.

He was one of seven brothers six of whom boxed professionally.

He also boxed out of St Josephs ABC in Pillgwenlly, Newport.

He coached Junior & Senior boxers at Alway ABC before his Death.

Around 2000 people attended his Funeral in Newport at Stow Hill Cemetery.

^[1]

British Heavyweight Boxing Champion 1983-85

• Pearce Retired in 1984 and then returned to fight in the USA 6 Years later.^[2]
• Pearce won the Welsh and British Heavyweight Boxing Titles in September 1983.^[3]
• Pearce Knocked down Lucien Rodriguez twice in Limoges for the European Heavyweight Title.^[4]
• Michael "Jack" Johnson was ranked number 5 with the WBA
• Pearce was Ranked No.3 in the WBC World Cruiser Weight Rankings after the KO of Micheal "Jack" Johnson.
• Pearce came 2nd in Welsh Personality of the year.^[5]
• Steve Lillis the boxing journalist and co-presenter of Box-Nation voted David 'Bomber' Pearce in his Top Ten most Underrated British boxing champions (Lonsdale Belt Holders) of all time.^[6]
• Pearce weighed exactly the same weight as Johnny Nelson when he fought Dennis Andries,Pearce's KO of Dennis Andries was 15 years earlier.^[7]

Professional boxing record

^[8]

The Pearce family

The Bomber:

• David 'Bomber' Pearce is noted for boxing in the last 15-round British championship bout, as the contracts for the bout were finalised before the present 12-round rule was in place.^[2] He also knocked out Dennis Andries the three times WBC world light heavyweight champion in the 7th round. Andries went 6 years before being stopped again! this time by the great Thomas 'Hitman' Hearns in the 10th round.^[7] When fighting for the European heavyweight Title Pearce dropped Lucien Rodriguez the long serving European champion twice, with a broken hand.^[9] Both counts were over 10 seconds and observers felt Pearce was very unlucky not to get the verdict. Rodriguez had gone the distance with the great Larry Holmes for the WBC Heavyweight World Title.^[4] Pearce fought anyone and everyone on his way to the title he evenged his loss to Neville Meade to win the Welsh/British titles.^[4] And had knocked down John Rafferty four times before he was DQ in the 3rd for punching after the referee had called break, which seemed very harsh as the refereeing was weak throughout the bout.

.^[2]

• Joe Bugner was floored by David Pearce during a sparring session.^[10]
• David Pearce sparred Lennox Lewis, before Lewis became British Heavyweight Champion.^[11]

• When David had retired due to medical problems, "The King of The Gypsies" Bartley Gorman, offered to fight David 'Bomber' Pearce, for the Unlicensed British Heavyweight Title for £25,000. Gorman, said if he had won the fight he would have fought for the world bare knuckle title. - It was the only time in the book "King of the Gypsies" ( Memoirs of a undefeated Bare Knuckle Champion of Great Britain and Ireland) that Bartley Gorman, used the phrase "if he won.."

This is great testament to David 'Bomber' Pearce, as a great fighter, and Gormans respect for one of Britain's hardest men.^[12]

Quotes:

"Pearce is all action, he is a great crowd pleaser, he comes in flinging punches, cross armed in defence a lot like Rocky Marciano used to and boy does he throw them" "He certainly does unleash them" "He is a born fighter"

Reg Gutteridge - During the Felipe Rodriquez, fight at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

"Pearce has won the fight and Pearce has gone berserk, he can hardly believe it!"

"23 year old David Pearce,the Bomber they call him from Newport and he has bombed ferris out of the British heavyweight race!"

"Well that was one of the most savagely, raw, attacking performances we have seen from a British Heavyweight in many years. That's a little bit like the old days of Dick Richardson and he came from Newport too!"

Reg Gutteridge. Post - David Pearce Final eliminator at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

^[13]

"I have never trained so hard in all my life. That was for my father, the people of Newport and also for myself"

David Pearce. Post - British Heavyweight Title fight at St Davids Hall, Cardiff.

^[14]

References

1. South Wales Argus
2. "BoxRec - David Pearce".
3. "David Pearce, British Heavyweight Champion".
4. "BoxRec - Lucien Rodriguez".
5. "BBC Wales Sport Personality winners". BBC Sport.
6. "Boxing News". 13 November 2013.
7. "BoxRec - Dennis Andries".
8. http://boxrec.com/boxer/2365
9. http://www.welshboxers.com/hall-of-fame/david-pearce/
10. South Wales Argus - Tues 23 May 2000
11. South Wales Argus - Tuesday 23 May 2000
12. King of the Gypsies - The Battle of longrake mine, Page 183, line 9.
13. BBC Archives - Past Present Future information & Archives preservation services (1982)
14. BBC Archives - Past Present Future information and archives preservation services (1983).

External links

• Professional boxing record for David Pearce from BoxRec
• BBC Wales Sports Hall of Fame
• http://www.welshboxers.com/hall-of-fame/david-pearce/
• http://www.boxnation.com/boxing-news/steve-lillis-top-ten-under-rated-british-champions/
• http://www.johnnyowen.com/david_pearce.html