David (bomber) Pearce

This is Newports latest statue in the City, it was unveiled yesterday on the Riverfront in front of hundreds of people, in the extra photo section is the plaque about David which is by the side of the statue,
David 'Bomber' Pearce (8 May 1959 – 20 May 2000) was a British heavyweight boxing champion
He was one of a quartet of exciting British heavyweights in the 1980s, along with Frank Bruno, John L. Gardner and Noel Quarless, who held out the possibility of a future British heavyweight world champion.[1]

Pearce defeated a number of top heavyweights, by knockout, in his career,including Mal Tetley, Winston Allen, Denton Ruddock, Larry McDonald, Ishaq Hussain, Dennis Andries, Gordon Ferris, Albert Syben, Neville Meade and John Tate.
Pearce, born in Pillgwenlly, Newport, Monmouthshire, was one of nine children: seven brothers, six of whom boxed professionally, and one who was a professional dancer, and two sisters.

He boxed out of St Josephs ABC in Pillgwenlly, Newport and coached junior and senior boxers at Alway ABC in Newport before his death.

Soon after his final fight, against Percell Davies in Michigan, Pearce became ill, developing epilepsy, David 'Bomber' Pearce died 10 years later due to SADS (Sudden Adult Death Syndrome). The South Wales Argus described him as "Newport's most famous boxer."[2] Around 2,000 people attended his funeral in Newport at Stow Hill Cemetery.[3]