David Pearce (boxer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids David Pearce |
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Pearce in 1983
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| Statistics | |
| Nickname(s) | Bomber Pearce, Welsh Rocky |
| Rated at | Heavyweight Cruiserweight |
| Height | 5ft 11in |
| Nationality | Welsh |
| Born | 8 May 1959 Pillgwenlly, Newport, Wales |
| Died | 20 May 2000 (aged 41) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 24 |
| Wins | 19 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 1 |
David "Bomber" Pearce (born May 8, 1959 – died May 20, 2000) was a famous Welsh heavyweight boxer. He was known as "Bomber Pearce" and "The Welsh Rocky." He held the Welsh and British heavyweight boxing titles. He was also ranked number one in the WBC cruiserweight division for two years. David won 19 of his 24 official fights, with 15 of those wins coming by knockout.
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David "Bomber" Pearce: His Life and Boxing Career
David Pearce was born in Newport, Wales, on May 8, 1959. He grew up in a big family with nine children. He had seven brothers and two sisters. Six of his brothers became professional boxers, and one was a professional dancer. His mother was related to another famous boxer, Bob Fitzsimmons.
David started boxing at St Josephs ABC in Newport. After he stopped fighting, he helped coach younger and older boxers at Alway ABC in Newport.
After his last fight in 1994, David became very ill. He later developed epilepsy. Doctors told him to stop boxing for good. He passed away seven years later, at the age of 41. His death was due to SADS, which stands for Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. This is when a young, healthy person dies suddenly from a heart problem. The South Wales Argus newspaper called him "Newport's most famous boxer." About 2,500 people went to his funeral in Newport.
Amazing Boxing Achievements
David Pearce had a very successful boxing career, even though it ended early.
- David won both the Welsh and British heavyweight boxing titles in September 1983.
- He fought for the important EBU European heavyweight title against strong opponents like Felipe Rodriguez and Lucien Rodriguez.
- David was ranked as high as number seven in the WBA heavyweight world rankings. This was a huge achievement before his career was cut short.
- He was ranked number one in the WBC cruiserweight rankings. This happened after he beat Michael "Jack" Johnson in 1984.
- David was supposed to fight Buster Douglas in the USA. However, he was pulled out of the fight just three hours before it started.
- He had to retire from boxing for medical reasons in 1984. He was only 24 years old.
- In 1983, David came in second place for the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year award.
- A boxing journalist named Steve Lillis said David 'Bomber' Pearce was one of the most underrated British boxing champions ever.
Winning Welsh and British Titles
David faced some tough challenges on his way to becoming British champion. He lost to Neville Meade when he was only 20. He also lost to John Rafferty, even though he knocked Rafferty down four times. David was disqualified in that fight for punching after the referee called for a break.
David later fought Dennis Andries, who was a three-time world champion. David won that fight in the seventh round. Dennis Andries wasn't stopped again for six years after that.
David then got a chance to fight Neville Meade again for the Welsh and British heavyweight titles. He wanted to get revenge for his earlier loss. David won both titles in September 1983 at the St David's Hall in Cardiff. He beat Neville Meade, who was a Commonwealth gold medalist and the British heavyweight champion. David had to give up the Welsh title because he became the British champion.
European Title Challenges
David Pearce fought for the EBU heavyweight title. He had a draw with Felipe Rodriquez, which means neither boxer won.
Later, he lost his title fight for the European Heavyweight Title against Lucien Rodriguez. Rodriguez had won 14 of his last 15 fights and was ranked number one in Europe.
Fights Outside the Rules
David Pearce also took part in three fights that were not officially approved by boxing organizations. He won two of these fights by knockout. In one of these fights, he took on Percell Davis with only two days' notice and was stopped in the eighth round.
Later, David felt a new burst of energy after sparring with Lennox Lewis. Lewis was getting ready for a big fight at the time. David decided to train again for a final comeback in California, USA. He wanted to end his career on a high note. He trained very hard with his brother Gary Pearce.
In 1994, David fought two of these unofficial bouts in Bakersfield, California. In his first fight, he knocked out Mary Konate in the first round. In his second fight, he beat the former heavyweight world champion John Tate in three rounds. Newspapers compared David Pearce to a fighter from the movies named Philo Beddoe.
The Pearce Boxing Family
David wasn't the only boxer in his family! Many of his brothers also boxed.
- Walter Pearce was the oldest brother and a professional boxer. He won five amateur titles.
- Raymond Pearce was a middleweight boxer. He fought famous boxers like Winston Burnett and Dennis Andries. Raymond later became an Elvis impersonator and performed around the world.
- Gary Pearce had 31 professional fights. He won the Welsh Area Super Welterweight title.
- Ronald Pearce fought against Paul Wetter and Robert Smith. Robert Smith is now a top official in British boxing.
- Nigel Pearce had five professional boxing matches.
- Simon Pearce, the seventh brother, became a professional dancer and actor. He starred in famous musicals like Starlight Express, Cats, les miserables, and Mousetrap in London's West End.
Images for kids
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Pearce aged 3
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David 'Bomber' Pearce
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St Josephs Amateur Boxing Club, George Street, Newport
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Boxing contract
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Pearce at Newport County AFC
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Pearce turning professional
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Oil painting of Pearce
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Sculpture near Riverfront, Newport
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Dedication plaque for sculpture
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Sculpture near Riverfront, Newport
