Nice to see him finally getting the recognition he deserves. Hard as nails, the Welsh Marciano. I never met David but worked with his brother Ron and knew Gary from the "step power" gym in pil. Both nice guys.
I watched him beat Neville Meade, and saw a few other fights of his. I wish he had had a better break in life. Really sad. I am English, but always support the Brits and consider David one of my own. Lovely bloke. Never forget him.
"You 've had a go, and that's all that matters." That in a nutshell is everything. David 'Bomber' Pearce (8 May 1959 - 20 May 2000) R.I.P. Reginald George Gutteridge (29 March 1924 - 24 January 2009) R.I.P.
At the end of the day you have to admit that the Boxing Board of Control were right in their decision to suspend his licence. Dying of epilepsy is quite rare and though attributed to SADS one can't help wondering whether his congenitive neurological abnormality contributed to David's early death.
There is an hour long documentary on ITV that goes in to detail, Pearce's argument at the time was he was at no greater risk (Harley street neurologist recommendation) than any other boxer and had just signed to fight for the World title.
Fantastic documentary. I had the privilege of meeting David on a number of occasions when he would come to Abingdon Oxfordshire and spar with my mentor and combat teacher Dave Townsend. David was an absolute gent and it was great watching him workout. Incredible punching power. Such a tragedy that his life and boxing career was cut short . R.I.P Dave ' Bomber' Pearce.
I learned so much from David, and his father Wally, The Pearces are a remarkable family, kind and loving, with the heart of warriors, big, big respect,
Great story,remember seeing the statue when I went to Newport last year.Shame he didn’t go all the way as he clearly had the heart and ability to,a proud Welshman from a proud background 🥊🥊👏
truly he could have been a world cruiserweight champion,old skool tough as iron,true gentleman.my family are from the Rhonda so will check statue next year when back there.RIP bomber.
I don't remember this fighter I was young and always read ring magazine old ones so I knew of Cooper and older fighters but why didn't this guy fight light heavy or if he was born 20 years earlier when he would be the average size heavy but luck plays a big part from no cuts to getting enough sleep food training luck plays suck a huge part in our lifes how many fighters ,football players wrestlers, find out they had fought played their whole career with luke a broken neck or a thin spine and its nothing they did and nothing they can do so its career over life is not fair sometimes.
great documentary on a talented boxer and an outstanding man. I had the great pleasure of knowing David, he was such a lovely man, no ego, just a happy go lucky Gent. RIP mate.
My home town but I've only been back once since I was born.I remember my Dad used to go to a pub called the Globe.we lived in Joan St and Stowe Hill.Happy memories😊.Early 70s.
In 2008 a work colleague from Swansea went into a local car dealership and a man who was clearly living on the streets and an alcoholic shuffled in begging for money. That man was the late Neville Meade former British boxing champion who Pearce defeated to win the title. Very sad.
David Pearce, a Newport legend. Feel a bit of credit should go to Charlie Bronson here also, what a great gesture to help the cause. Respect all round.
Legend that tags get thrown about to easy these days..but david was a legend in and out the ring what a fella..god bless you brother love and respect from manchester..
I seen him fight when I was a kid at the lycium in London and an hour before the fight he was chatting and laughing relaxed, a lovely bloke he would have chinned Bruno, my favourite fighter when I was a kid, great documentary thanks
Lovely tribute. I was still boxing as an amateur when Dave beat Neville Meade and I remember watching the Rodriguez fight live. Dave came so close in that one and we can only wonder what impact he would made in the then fledgling Cruiserweight division. I certainly would have fancied his chances against Carlos DeLeon, Marvin Camel, ST Gordon etc.
Welsh people never hated on Calzaghe we always support our people including Calzaghe, in fact that was one of his problems at the start of his career the only place that regularly filled arenas up in would be in Wales because of the lack of support from England who had people Hatton and Khan at the time and I think a few more champs ,so when they were on top they didn't really care about Joe at all tbh, that is why people say he didn't travel to much , yeah no wonder,he would guarantee to sell out an arena in his home country , and the English fans didn't came out for Joe's fight until after Hatton lost to May weather, so he was like the UK's last hope at the time and Joe beat Lacy and Kessler for undisputed supermiddleweight and that's when the whole world outside of Wales stood up and recognised him as a legit Champ and pound for pound at the time top five,but in Wales we always rocked with him from day one 💯😎✌
Steered bruno away from Pearce , did the same with liverpool's Noel Quarless I think both big hitters . Not saying they would of beat big Frank but weren't given the chance. Big risk little reward .
Johnny owen one is in a shopping centre in Merthyr Tydfil, along with the Howard winstone one nearby. Eddie thomas one is up the road. Spent a nice afternoon visiting them on a wee holiday down the brecon beacons. Great boxing legacy for one town, brilliant
When his "Support" team forgot to book him a hotel room for his European title challenge in France, and he spent the night sleeping rough with a fractured hand ,,,That just says it all ,,,,, A Warrior surrounded by donkeys , he deserved better ,God bless him
Thank you so so much for this, I followed him around 83 i was only 22yrs old at the time and always thought he was a certainty to go far, Didn't have internet then for much information and had no idea what had happened other than the brain scan dilemma. Glad he got the statue and well done to Luke. Rip David.
it.s the first time I heard of David bomber Pearce .what a great boxer with a big heart .it s a sad story about a man with great potential.rest in peace champ.
I remember Bomber pearce and followed his career a little small for a heavyweight but he would have been a serious challenger for world honours at cruiser !!!! RESPECT to the Pearce family for keeping his memory alive ….
A bunch of hype about a nobody. Comparing him to Rocky Marciano is a huge insult to Rocky. He never fought one name guy and got KO'ed twice while losing 4 out of 21 fights.
Marciano beat old Heavyweights and old Light Heavyweights during his title reign,and had no young talented guys to expose him.It's not his fault that those were his only legitimate challengers. He has got to be one of the most overrated boxers of all-time.
@@jeremysipes44 Obviously, Marciano beat everyone he faced and as you said it was not his fault who was active in his time. That said, this guy never fought one guy that would compared to the guys that Rocky beat and he lost several fights and got KO'ed The only thing similar is the skin color and I get so tired of people comparing all white guys to each other.
What nonsense!! he was mediocre at best. won the british title against one of the weakest champs ever! and they conviniently forgot that mead had ko´ d him the first time around LOL! bruno would have killed him. FACT!!
Meade was on a great run and had a reputation as a world class puncher. Meade did win the first fight when David was 19 controversially, but respect to both fighters. Regarding Bruno, after Floyd Cummings had him out on his feet and hurt badly and Pearce had KO'd Albert Syben in 1 rd at the Royal Albert Hall, Terry Lawless was quoted as saying they wanted no part of David Pearce because of the risk he posed with his toughness and punching power. It was also a known fact that the cartel tried to sign Pearce to fight ST Gordon and bring him to Cruiserweight. But more importantly he was a gentleman and an inspiration to so many which is proven by his statue and the registered charity that supports the advancement of amateur sport and has up to now raised 130k plus since it's inception. #WelshRocky #NewportsRocky #TheDavidBomberPearceLegacy
@@andrewgibbs7279 Totally agree, what Pearce achieved against all the odds and giving height and weight away, with no real promoter and with his father was remarkable.
@@thewelshrocky-davidbomberp1224 i remember him he was a big puncher i spared with him in Vancouver Canada, God bless 🙏 him it's a tough world we live in.