David "Bomber" Pearce (8 May 1959 – 20 May 2000) was a Welsh

heavyweight Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling. Boxing Professional Boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 3 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the W ...

boxing champion. Also known as The Welsh Rocky, Pearce held both the Welsh and the British Heavyweight titles and held the number one WBC

Cruiserweight Cruiserweight is a term associated with: *Cruiserweight (boxing), a weight class in boxing between light heavyweight and heavyweight * Cruiserweight (MMA), a weight class in mixed martial arts with an upper weight limit at . *Cruiserweight (profess ...

ranking from September 1983 to September 1985. In all he won 19 (15 KO) of his 24 bouts, losing three, with one drawn. He won two of his unlicensed bouts, losing one.

Biographical details

Pearce was born in

Newport Newport most commonly refers to: *Newport, Wales *Newport, Rhode Island, US Newport or New Port may also refer to: Places Asia *Newport City, Metro Manila, a Philippine district in Pasay Europe Ireland *Newport, County Mayo, a town on the ...

, Monmouthshire on 8 May 1959. He was one of nine children: seven brothers, six of whom boxed professionally and one who was a professional dancer, and two sisters. His mother was a relative of

Bob Fitzsimmons Robert James Fitzsimmons (26 May 1863 – 22 October 1917) was a British professional boxer who was the sport's first three-division world champion. He also achieved fame for beating Gentleman Jim Corbett (the man who beat John L. Sullivan) ...

. He boxed out of St Josephs ABC in Newport and coached junior and senior boxers at Alway ABC in Newport before his death. Soon after his final unsanctioned boxing fight in 1994, in

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...

, Pearce became seriously ill, in later years developing

epilepsy Epilepsy is a group of non-communicable neurological disorders characterized by recurrent epileptic seizures. Epileptic seizures can vary from brief and nearly undetectable periods to long periods of vigorous shaking due to abnormal electrical ...

. There was no specific evidence that this had been brought on by repeated blows to the head, but he immediately retired from boxing on medical advice. He died 7 years later, at the age of 41, due to SADS ( Sudden Adult Death Syndrome). The ''

South Wales Argus The ''South Wales Argus'' is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Newport, South Wales. ''The Argus'' is distributed in Newport, Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, and Torfaen. History The paper was founded as the ''South Wales Argus ...

'' described him as "Newport's most famous boxer." Around 2,500 people attended his funeral in Newport at Stow Hill Cemetery.

Boxing career achievements

* Pearce won the Welsh and British heavyweight boxing titles in September 1983. * Pearce challenged for the prestigious

EBU The European Broadcasting Union (EBU; french: Union européenne de radio-télévision, links=no, UER) is an alliance of public service media organisations whose countries are within the European Broadcasting Area or who are members of the Co ...

European heavyweight title against Felipe Rodriguez and Lucien Rodriguez. * Pearce was ranked as high as number seven in the WBA Heavyweight World rankings before his career was cut short. * Pearce was ranked number one in the WBC Cruiserweight Rankings after his victory against Michael "Jack" Johnson, in a WBC final eliminator in 1984. * Pearce was scheduled to fight

Buster Douglas James "Buster" Douglas (born April 7, 1960) is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1981 and 1999. He reigned as undisputed world heavyweight champion in 1990 after knocking out Mike Tyson to win the title. His win over T ...

Columbus, Ohio Columbus () is the state capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the 14th-most populous city in the U.S., the second-most populous city in the Midwest, after Chicago, an ...

, USA but was pulled out on three hours notice.

Donnie Long Donnie or Donny is a familiar form (hypocorism) of the masculine given name Donald, Donal, Don, or Donovan. It may refer to: People Arts and entertainment * Donny Baldwin, American drummer best known as a member of Jefferson Starship and Star ...

replaced Pearce. * Pearce was medically retired in 1984, at the age of 24. * Pearce came 2nd in the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year in 1983. * Steve Lillis, boxing journalist and co-presenter of Box-Nation, voted David 'Bomber' Pearce in his Top Ten most underrated British boxing champions (

Lonsdale Belt The Lord Lonsdale Challenge Belt, commonly known as the Lonsdale Belt, is the oldest championship belt in British professional boxing. Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale, introduced the prize on behalf of the National Sporting Club (NSC), int ...

Holders) of all time.

Welsh & British Heavyweight Titles

* Pearce suffered two setbacks on his road to the British title. A loss to Neville Meade when still only 20 and to John Rafferty. Pearce had knocked down Rafferty four times before he was disqualified in the 3rd round for punching after the referee had called break. * Pearce fought in a scheduled WBC eliminator and defeated

Dennis Andries Dennis Andries MBE (born 5 November 1953) is a British former professional boxer who fought at light heavyweight. Professional career Andries turned pro in 1978 and won the WBC Light Heavyweight Title in 1986 in a decision over American JB ...

, the three times WBC world light heavyweight world champion, in the 7th round. Dennis Andries went 6 years before being stopped again, this time by Thomas Hearns in the 10th round. * Pearce, challenged and vowed to avenge his loss to Neville Meade to win the Welsh and British Heavyweight titles. * Pearce won the Welsh and British Heavyweight Boxing Titles in September 1983 at the

St David's Hall St David's Hall (Welsh: ''Neuadd Dewi Sant'') is a performing arts and conference venue in the heart of Cardiff, Wales. St David's Hall is the National Concert Hall and Conference Centre of Wales. It hosts the annual Welsh Proms and the biennia ...

against Commonwealth Gold Medalist and British Heavyweight Champion Neville Meade; Although the Welsh Title was won on the night, the title had to be relinquished by Pearce, due to his commitments of becoming British Heavyweight Champion.

European Heavyweight Title (EBU)

* David Pearce earned a draw with Felipe Rodriquez whilst fighting the

Heavyweight Title challenger. * Pearce lost his title fight for the European Heavyweight Title against Lucien Rodriguez who had won 14 of his last 15 fights after earning the number one

ranking.

Unsanctioned bouts

Pearce won two (both knock outs) of his three unlicensed bouts. Pearce took a fight with Percell Davis of Detroit at two days notice but was stopped in the eighth round. Pearce later had a second wind after sparring against

Lennox Lewis Lennox Claudius Lewis (born 2 September 1965) is a former professional boxer and boxing commentator who competed from 1989 to 2003. He is a three-time world heavyweight champion, a two-time lineal champion, and the last heavyweight to hol ...

who was in preparation for the Lewis-

Glenn McCrory Glenn McCrory (born 23 September 1964) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 1993. He held the IBF cruiserweight title from 1989 to 1990, and at regional level held the British and Commonwealth cruiserweight title b ...

fight and decided to train once more for his final comeback in California, USA. Pearce wanted to go out on a high after his unprepared previous trip to the states and trained diligently with his brother Gary Pearce. In 1994 Pearce fought in two unsanctioned bouts took place in Bakersfield, California. In his first bout he knocked out Mary Konate in the first round and in his second he defeated the former heavyweight World champion John Tate in 3 rounds. The ''

'' and the Californian press likened Pearce to the fighter Philo Beddoe, who was portrayed in the films '' Every Which Way but Loose'' and ''

Any Which Way You Can ''Any Which Way You Can'' is a 1980 American action comedy film directed by Buddy Van Horn and starring Clint Eastwood, with Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis, William Smith, and Ruth Gordon in supporting roles. The film is the sequel to the 1978 hit ...

''.

Professional boxing record / Unsanctioned bouts

, - , style="text-align:center;" colspan="8", 19 Wins (15 knockouts, 4 decisions), 4 Losses (2 knockouts, 2 decisions), 1 Draw , - style="text-align:center; background:#e3e3e3;" , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Result , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Record , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Opponent , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Type , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Round , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Date , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Location , style="border-style:none none solid solid; ", Notes , - align=center , Win , , align=left, John Tate , TKO , 3 , 10 June 1994 , align=left,

Hilton Hotel Hilton Hotels & Resorts (formerly known as Hilton Hotels) is a global brand of full-service hotels and resorts and the flagship brand of American multinational hospitality company Hilton. The original company was founded by Conrad Hilton. As ...

, Bakersfield, California, United States , align=left, Unsanctioned Bout. , - , Win , , align=left, Mary Konate , TKO , 1 , 12 April 1994 , align=left,

, Bakersfield, California, United States , align=left, Unsanctioned Bout. , - , Loss , , align=left, Percell Davis , TKO , 8 , 10 December 1990 , align=left, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Dearborn, Michigan, United States , align=left, Unsanctioned Bout , - , Loss , , align=left, Lucien Rodriguez , PTS , 12 , 30 March 1984 , align=left, Palais des Sports de Beaublanc,

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, France , align=left,

Heavyweight Title. , - , Win , , align=left, Michael Johnson , TKO , 5 , 28 January 1984 , align=left, Victoria Hall,

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, United Kingdom , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Neville Meade , TKO , 9 , 22 September 1983 , align=left,

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, United Kingdom , align=left,

BBBofC The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. History The British Boxing Board of Control was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff ...

Wales Heavyweight Title.

British Heavyweight Title. , - , Win , , align=left, Albert Syben , KO , 1 , 7 April 1983 , align=left,

Lyceum Ballroom The Lyceum Theatre ( ) is a West End theatre located in the City of Westminster, on Wellington Street, just off the Strand in central London. It has a seating capacity of 2,100. The origins of the theatre date to 1765. Managed by Samuel Arnol ...

The Strand, London Strand (or the Strand) is a major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster, Central London. It runs just over from Trafalgar Square eastwards to Temple Bar, where the road becomes Fleet Street in the City of London, and is part of the A4, ...

, United Kingdom , align=left, , - , Draw , , align=left, Felipe Rodriquez , PTS , 10 , 7 December 1982 , align=left,

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...

, Kensington, London, United Kingdom , align=left, Vacant

Heavyweight Title. , - , Win , , align=left, Gordon Ferris , KO , 5 , 1 June 1982 , align=left,

, Kensington, London, United Kingdom , align=left,

British Heavyweight Title Eliminator. Final Eliminator for BBBofC British Heavyweight Title; Ferris down in round 3 and stopped in round 5 failed to meet the count at 1:44 of the fifth round. , - , Win , , align=left,

, TKO , 7 , 12 October 1981 , align=left, Bloomsbury Centre Hotel, Bloomsbury, London, United Kingdom , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Ishaq Hussein , TKO , 1 , 8 June 1981 , align=left, Porter Tun Rooms,

Moorgate Moorgate was one of the City of London's northern gates in its defensive wall, the last to be built. The gate took its name from the Moorfields, an area of marshy land that lay immediately north of the wall. The gate was demolished in 1762, b ...

, United Kingdom , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Larry McDonald , KO , 3 , 16 March 1981 , align=left, National Sporting Club, Piccadilly, London, United Kingdom , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Bonny McKenzie , PTS , 8 , 2 March 1981 , align=left, National Sporting Club, Piccadilly, London, United Kingdom , align=left, , - , loss , , align=left, John Rafferty , DQ , 3 , 26 January 1981 , align=left, St.Andrew's Sporting Club,

Glasgow, Scotland Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

, United Kingdom , align=left, , - , Loss , , align=left, Neville Meade , TKO , 2 , 22 January 1980 , align=left, Double Diamond Club, Caerphilly, United Kingdom , align=left,

Wales Heavyweight Title. , - , Win , , align=left, Denton Ruddock , TKO , 7 , 30 October 1979 , align=left, Double Diamond Club, Caerphilly, United Kingdom , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Theo Josephs , TKO , 3 , 5 July 1979 , align=left, Afan Lido,

Port Talbot Port Talbot (, ) is a town and community in the county borough of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, situated on the east side of Swansea Bay, approximately from Swansea. The Port Talbot Steelworks covers a large area of land which dominates the sout ...

, United Kingdom , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Winston Allen , PTS , 6 , 3 April 1979 , align=left, Caerphilly, United Kingdom , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Bonny McKenzie , PTS , 8 , 19 February 1979 , align=left, Mayfair Sporting Club, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom , align=left, McKenzie down in sixth and seventh. , - , Win , , align=left, Mal Tetley , KO , 1 , 22 January 1979 , align=left, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Bobby Hennessey , TKO , 2 , 22 January 1979 , align=left, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Theo Josephs , PTS , 8 , 11 December 1978 , align=left, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Bob Bleau , KO , 1 , 1 December 1978 , align=left,

Minster-in-Thanet Minster, also known as Minster-in-Thanet, is a village and civil parish in the Thanet District of Kent, England. It is the site of Minster in Thanet Priory. The village is west of Ramsgate (which is the post town) and to the north east of Cant ...

, United Kingdom , align=left, , - , Win , , align=left, Osborne Taylor , TKO , 1 , 15 November 1978 , align=left,

Merthyr Tydfil, Wales Merthyr Tydfil (; cy, Merthyr Tudful ) is the main town in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough, Wales, administered by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. It is about north of Cardiff. Often called just Merthyr, it is said to be named after ...

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Pearce Brothers

* Walter 'Bimbo' Pearce the eldest son of Wally Pearce was a professional boxer, Bimbo won 5 amateur titles from Light Welterweight to Heavyweight including beating 4 British champions in bouts during the ABA exile. * Raymond Pearce, a middleweight who notably fought Winston Burnett, and the future three times WBC world Light Heavyweight champion Dennis Andries. A United States citizen, he worked as an

Elvis impersonator An Elvis impersonator is an entertainer who impersonates or copies the look and sound of American musician and singer Elvis Presley. Professional Elvis impersonators, commonly known as Elvis tribute artists (ETAs), work all over the world as ent ...

across the world and died, on the 1 January 2022, in

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the List of U.S. states and territories by population, 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minne ...

, United States. * Gary Pearce had thirty one professional bouts, including winning the Welsh Area Super Welterweight title and facing Hans Henrick-Palm the World number 5 in Randers, Denmark in 1981. * Ronald Pearce fought Paul Wetter and Robert Smith the now BBBoC General secretary. * Nigel Pearce had five fights as a professional boxer. * Simon Pearce the seventh brother graduated from

Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts is a performing arts conservatoire based in Woking, England. It was founded in 1911 by Italia Conti, an actress. The first production at Italia Conti Academy was the play '' Where the Rainbow Ends''. F ...

and subsequently went on to star in

Starlight Express ''Starlight Express'' is a 1984 British musical, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. It tells the story of a young but obsolete steam engine, Rusty, who races in a championship against modern engines in the hope o ...

Cats The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of ...

, les miserables and

Mousetrap A mousetrap is a specialized type of animal trap designed primarily to catch and, usually, kill mice. Mousetraps are usually set in an indoor location where there is a suspected infestation of rodents. Larger traps are designed to catch other ...

musicals in the West End.

Gallery

File:David_Pearce_Boxer_3_yrs.jpeg, Pearce aged 3 File:David_'Bomber'_Pearce_1.jpeg, David 'Bomber' Pearce File:St Josephs Amateur Boxing Club, Newport.jpg, St Josephs Amateur Boxing Club, George Street, Newport File:David_Pearce_Boxer_Contract.jpeg, Boxing contract File:Walter_'Bimbo'_Pearce.jpeg, Bimbo Pearce defeating the Central Light-Heavyweight Champion File:David_Pearce_at_Newport_County_AFC.jpeg, Pearce at Newport County AFC File:David_Pearce_Boxer.jpeg, Pearce turning professional File:David_'Bomber'_Pearce_Oil_Painting.jpeg, Oil painting of Pearce File:David 'Bomber' Pearce sculpture 1.jpg, Sculpture near Riverfront, Newport File:David 'Bomber' Pearce sculpture 2.jpg, Dedication plaque for sculpture File:David 'Bomber' Pearce sculpture 4.jpg, Sculpture near Riverfront, Newport

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pearce, David Bomber 1959 births 2000 deaths Welsh male boxers Sportspeople from Newport, Wales Heavyweight boxers