David Pearce (boxer)

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

David Pearce
Pearce in 1983
Statistics
Nickname(s)'Bomber' 'Welsh Rocky'
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Cruiserweight
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
NationalityWelsh
Born(1959-05-08)8 May 1959
Pillgwenlly, Newport, Monmouthshire, UK
Died20 May 2000(2000-05-20) (aged 41)
StanceOrthodox

Pearce, known as 'The Welsh Rocky', was one of a quartet of exciting British heavyweights in the early 1980s, along with Frank Bruno, John L. Gardner and Noel Quarless, who held out the possibility of a future British heavyweight World champion.[1]

He held both the Welsh and the British Heavyweight titles and held the number one World Cruiserweight ranking from September 1983 to September 1985. In all he won 17 (13 KO) of his 21 professional bouts, losing 3 with 1 drawn. He also won 2 (2 KO) of his 3 unsanctioned boxing bouts.

David "Bomber" Pearce while still in his prime was due to fight Buster Douglas in Columbus, Ohio, USA, but the bout was cancelled on 3 hrs notice by the BBBoC whilst Pearce was warming up in the changing room. Donnie Long, replaced Pearce, Buster Douglas had fought for the IBF World heavyweight title in his previous bout.[2]

Pearce was seen as the first real Cruiserweight from Great Britain and the uncrowned World champion but due to the British Boxing Board of Control reluctance to recognise the division, he was unable to fight for the WBA Cruiserweight title in 1983 after signing the contracts with promoter Morgans Palle. Subsequently the BBBoC recognised the Cruiserweight division in 1985, one year after Pearce was forced to retire on medical grounds. David Pearce was voted, in The Ring magazine, in the top ten of unluckiest boxers never to win a World title. Pearce was hugely disadvantaged at that time, however he defeated a number of top heavyweights, by knockout, in his short career, including Mal Tetley, Bobby Hennessey, Winston Allen, Denton Ruddock, Theo Josephs, Larry McDonald, Ishaq Hussain, Dennis Andries, Gordon Ferris, Albert Syben, Neville Meade and John Tate. The tragedy of Pearce is that he was medically retired when just entering his physical prime.

Biographical details

Pearce, born in Pillgwenlly, Newport, Gwent, 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 unsanctioned boxing fight in 1994, in California, Pearce became seriously ill, in later years developing epilepsy. 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 described him as "Newport's most famous boxer."[3] Around 2,000 people attended his funeral in Newport at Stow Hill Cemetery.[4]

Boxing career achievements
British Heavyweight Title, 1983
  • Pearce won the Welsh and British heavyweight boxing titles in September 1983.[5]
  • David "Bomber" Pearce challenged for the prestigious EBU European heavyweight title against Felipe Rodriguez and Lucien Rodriguez.[6]
  • Pearce was ranked as high as number seven in the WBA Heavyweight World rankings before his career was cruelly cut short.[7]
  • Pearce was ranked number one in the WBC Cruiserweight Rankings after the Victory over Micheal "Jack" Johnson in 1984. [8]
  • Pearce was due to fight Buster Douglas in Columbus, Ohio, USA but was pulled out whilst warming up in the changing room on 3 hrs notice Donnie Long, replaced Pearce.[9]
  • David Pearce vs Leon Spinks was called off and a new opponent found on 24 hrs notice, even though contracts were signed.[10]
  • David Pearce was medically retired in 1984, at the age of 24. This was something he disputed, until after his last semi - Professional boxing bout in 1994. The Reason for the dispute was David had been given a clean bill of health and a confirmation letter from a Harley Street Neurologist Consultant stating, "He was at no greater risk, than any other professional boxer"
  • 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 Holders) of all time.[12]

British Heavyweight Title
  • Pearce suffered two setbacks on his road to the British title. A loss to Neville Meade when still a raw teenager, 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 and stopped Dennis Andries, 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.[13]
  • Pearce, challenged and vowed to avenge his loss to Neville Meade to win the Welsh and British Heavyweight titles.[6]
  • Pearce won the Welsh and British Heavyweight Boxing Titles in September 1983 at the St David's Hall 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.[5]
  • Pearce is noted for boxing in the last 15-round British championship bout, as the contracts for the bout were finalised before the new 12-round format was introduced.[14]

European Heavyweight Title (EBU)
  • David Pearce earned a draw with Felipe Rodriquez whilst fighting the EBU Heavyweight Title challenger. Felipe Rodriquez has a statue erected in his hometown of Vilaxoan [15]
  • Pearce secured a fight for the European Heavyweight Title after earning the number one ranking. The fight saw Pearce knock down Lucien Rodriguez, the long-standing European Champion three times, Rodriguez took a knee in the third round for a standing eight count and twice in the 8th round. Both the counts in round 8 were over 10 seconds, 13 and 17 seconds respectively during the live footage. The most experienced judge scored the fight 114-115 and the referee score card read 114-115. Some observers, including Reg Gutteridge, felt Pearce was very unlucky not to get the verdict due to the two infamous long counts and his aggressive style, during round eight. [16]
  • Pearce was one boxing referee decision away from being mandatory to fight Larry Holmes for the WBC Heavyweight World title as Luis Rodriquez had done in 1983 in Chicago. In doing so David "Bomber" Pearce would have been the first Welshman since Tommy Farr to fight for the World Heavyweight title.
  • Lucien Rodriquez was quoted in the French press as saying that Pearce had been "the toughest man he had faced" in his whole boxing career, "he had an Iron Chin, and would walk you down taking a lot of punches just to unload his bombs, but he had devastating power!" and that "Pearce did what two World Champions couldn't do" Larry Holmes & Micheal Dokes.
  • David "Bomber" Pearce's family were awarded the original EBU Heavyweight Boxing Belt and a letter signed by the president and secretary of the board at the unveiling of the Bronze Statue in his honour. On receiving an honorary championship title he became the third boxer after Joey Giardello and Ruben Carter.

World Cruiserweight Title (WBA)
  • David Pearce defeated Dennis Andries, in a WBA Cruiserweight final eliminator via 7th-round KO in 1982, although the BBBoC did not sanction the Cruiserweight division in the UK and Pearce was unable to fight for the title.
  • David signed contracts with Morgan's Palle, through promoter Frank Warren, to fight the winner between Ossie Occasio v John Odihamibo for the WBA Cruiserweight title. This was 4 weeks before Pearce's boxing career was cruelly cut short due to medical reasons.[17]
  • Pearce made efforts from 1979 to 1984 to fight Cruiserweight champions such as ST Gordon, Mate Parlov, Marvin Camel, Ossie Ocasio and Bernard Benton who were WBA and WBC Cruiserweight Champions but the BBBoC would not sanction the bouts in the UK or recognise Pearce as a champion if he traveled abroad.

Unsanctioned bouts

Pearce took a fight with Percell Davis on 2 days notice, even though he was a shadow of his former self he still showed tremendous heart and was courageous in defeat. The referee stopped the fight in Rd 8 with Pearce still on his feet. The American TV commentators said they had not seen such bravery in a boxing ring.

Pearce later had a second wind and decided to train for 6 months in his final comeback in America after his unprepared previous trip to the states. David "Bomber" Pearce knocked out John Tate, and Mary Konate, in 1 and 3 rounds respectively, in unsanctioned bouts in Bakersfield, California in 1994. This was reported by Mr John Francis of the South Wales Argus.[18]

Other notable boxing facts
  • Pearce ran up the steps of the Newport Transporter Bridge as a training aid.
  • Pearce gave away at least 2 stone (28 lb; 13 kg) to most opponents during his career.[19]
  • Pearce weighed exactly the same weight as Johnny Nelson when he fought Dennis Andries, Pearce's KO of Dennis Andries was 15 years earlier.[13]
  • Pearce won two Heavyweight Prizefighter Tournaments during his career.[20]
  • Pearce sparred 20 rounds with Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Trevor Berbick in the lead up to Pearce's British Heavyweight Title fight. This included a knockdown of Berbick in 1983, Pearce was Trevor Berbick’s number one challenger to the Commonwealth Heavyweight title. Berbick decided not to defend his title against David Pearce.[21]
  • Joe Bugner was floored by David Pearce during a sparring session, before a possible bout with Pearce for his comeback fight. This resulted in Bugner choosing another opponent.[22]
  • Pearce sparred with Lennox Lewis, in the lead up to Lewis becoming British Heavyweight Champion.[22]
  • Pearce retired due to an abnormality on the brain something he was born with, he was subsequently offered a contract to fight Lenny McLean, the guvnor in a Heavyweight Unlicensed British title fight, David signed the contract but Lenny McLean declined to fight Pearce.
  • Bartley Gorman offered to fight David Pearce, for the unlicensed British Heavyweight Title for £25,000. Gorman had huge respect for Pearce and believed him to be the best fighting man in Great Britain at the time. Gorman, said if he had won the fight he would have fought for the world bare knuckle title. In his memoirs of an undefeated Bare Knuckle Champion of Great Britain and Ireland, "King of the Gypsies" that Gorman used the phrase "if he won.."[23]
  • David Pearce was good friends with Diana Dors and Alan Lake, who supported him in his 1st rd KO victory over 3 time European Heavyweight titlist Albert Syben
  • Sportswriter Harry Mullan was derogatory about Pearce's size for the Heavyweight division in some of his articles, this had a negative effect at the time. Mullan did praise Pearce in later years, for his bravery and achievements. Harry always maintained David Pearce would have been World Champion in the Cruiserweight division.[24]

Notable quotes and tributes
  • "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.[25]
  • "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.[26][27]
  • "I have never trained so hard in all my life. That was for my father, the people of Newport and also for myself". – Pearce, after his British Heavyweight Title fight at St David's Hall, Cardiff.[27]
  • "Pearce won the European Heavyweight Title twice last night" in reference to the two long counts (13 & 17 seconds)[28] Reg Gutteridge reporting on the European Heavyweight Title fight the next day.
  • Frank Maloney said of Pearce: "They dont make them like him anymore! Pearce would have fought anybody"! [29]
  • Lucien Rodriguez said: “Pearce did what two Heavyweight World Champions couldn’t do” In reference to not being knocked down in his fights with Larry Holmes and Michael Dokes. [17]
  • "David Pearce was the most ferocious fighter in the United Kingdom in the late 70's early 80's. No one wanted to fight him!" [30]
  • Dick Richardson said: "David should have gone to London, he would have been a superstar. He is the most exciting heavyweight we have seen in many years".[27]
  • Bimbo Pearce said of his brother: "He would have been unstoppable at cruiserweight". [32]
  • Eddie Avoth described Pearce as: “One of the greatest Welsh fighters we have produced".[32]
  • Robbie Regan said: “He was the most avoided fighter in the heavyweight division”. [32]
  • Steve Sims said: “What a left hook! He is sorely missed and Newport’s own Rocky". [32]
  • Andy Gerrard said: "his power was truly unbelievable, he was a pound for pound king in his own time. For me he was the biggest puncher in Welsh boxing history". [32]
  • Craig Kennedy British Cruiserweight title challenger said “David Pearce is an absolute inspiration, I just wish I got to meet him”.
  • Lee Selby IBF World Featherweight Champion said “David Pearce was one hell of a fighter". [34]
  • Johnny Nelson, former WBO Cruiserweight World Champion, said "Thank god he wasn't around when I was World champion, he was a right handful" Nelson also said "Pearce was ahead of his time" - In reference to the Cruiserweight division being active in the United States and not being active in the United Kingdom. [35]
  • Spencer Fearon said "David Pearce was a fantastic warrior, he was so rugged and powerful".[35]
  • Steve Bunce said "In any other era David Pearce would have been a star."[35] "If the European Heavyweight title fight had been in London or Cardiff, Pearce would have been champion".
  • Welsh boxing historian Gareth Jones said "In my opinion David Pearce would have been dominant in the Cruiserweight division very similar to how David Haye was with the ability to move up due to his World Class durability and punching power". [36]
  • Frank Warren said "He boxed an american for me and drew for the European Heavyweight title against Felipe Rodriguez, the panther at the Royal Albert Hall, David was a tough, hard, welshman and a nice guy". [37]

Professional boxing record / Unsanctioned bouts
19 Wins (15 knockouts, 4 decisions), 4 Losses (2 knockouts, 2 decisions), 1 Draw[38]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Win 34-3 John Tate TKO 3 10 June 1994 Hilton Hotel, Bakersfield, California, United States Unsanctioned Bout.
Win 16-6 Mary Konate TKO 1 12 April 1994 Hilton Hotel, Bakersfield, California, United States Unsanctioned Bout.
Loss 13-9 Percell Davis TKO 8 10 December 1990 Hyatt Regency Hotel, Dearborn, Michigan, United States Unsanctioned Bout

Pearce took the fight on 2 days notice.

Loss 36-8-1 Lucien Rodriguez PTS 12 30 March 1984 Palais des Sports de Beaublanc, Limoges, Haute-Vienne, France EBU Heavyweight Title.

Rodriguez took standing 8 count in round 3, and dropped heavily twice in round 8 for 13 seconds and 17 second counts.

Win 11-2 Michael Johnson TKO 5 28 January 1984 Victoria Hall, Hanley, Staffordshire, United Kingdom Johnson hurt from uppercut and turned his back to retire.
Win 20-12-1 Neville Meade TKO 9 22 September 1983 St David's Hall, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom BBBofC Wales Heavyweight Title.

BBBofC British Heavyweight Title.

Referee stopped the bout at 2:57 of round 9.

Win 35-4-2 Albert Syben KO 1 7 April 1983 Lyceum Ballroom, The Strand, London, United Kingdom Syben knocked out at 2:25 of the first round.
Draw 24-5-3 Felipe Rodriquez PTS 10 7 December 1982 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, United Kingdom Vacant EBU Heavyweight Title.

98-98.

Win 20-5 Gordon Ferris KO 5 1 June 1982 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, United Kingdom BBBofC 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 13-4-1 Dennis Andries TKO 7 12 October 1981 Bloomsbury Centre Hotel, Bloomsbury, London, United Kingdom Andries heavily down in Rd 6, from an uppercut. Down twice in Rd 7 before Referee stopped the bout at 2:15 of the seventh round.
Win 15-9 Ishaq Hussein TKO 1 8 June 1981 Porter Tun Rooms, Moorgate, United Kingdom time: 2:03 Ref Stopped Fight on 2nd Knock Down.
Win 4-0 Larry McDonald KO 3 16 March 1981 National Sporting Club, Piccadilly, London, United Kingdom Mcdonald down heavily in the third from a left hook to the body.
Win 15-27-1 Bonny McKenzie PTS 8 2 March 1981 National Sporting Club, Piccadilly, London, United Kingdom 79.5-78.5.
loss 2-1 John Rafferty DQ 3 26 January 1981 St.Andrew's Sporting Club, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom Pearce disqualified at 1:32 of the third round due to hitting a downed opponent, Rafferty down 4 times before the DQ. The decision was disputed through the official channels via Pearce's trainer and promoter
Loss 14-11-1 Neville Meade TKO 2 22 January 1980 Double Diamond Club, Caerphilly, United Kingdom BBBofC Wales Heavyweight Title.

Referee stopped the bout at 2:48 of the second round.

Win 8-3 Denton Ruddock TKO 7 30 October 1979 Double Diamond Club, Caerphilly, United Kingdom
Win 8-12 Theo Josephs TKO 3 5 July 1979 Afan Lido, Port Talbot, United Kingdom time: 2:35 of Rd 2 Josephs was down in the third.
Win 7-3 Winston Allen PTS 6 3 April 1979 Caerphilly, United Kingdom £1000 Heavyweight Competition Final.

58½-59½, Allen was down in the fourth.

Win 11-14 Bonny McKenzie PTS 8 19 February 1979 Mayfair Sporting Club, Mayfair, London, United Kingdom McKenzie down in sixth and seventh. 79-78.
Win 1-0-1 Mal Tetley KO 1 22 January 1979 Mayfair, London, United Kingdom £2000 Heavyweight competition semi final.

time 0:15 of Rd 1.

Win 4-3 Bobby Hennessey TKO 2 22 January 1979 Mayfair, London, United Kingdom £2000 Heavyweight Competition Final.
Win 6-10 Theo Josephs PTS 8 11 December 1978 Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom 79-78.
Win 0-1 Bob Bleau KO 1 1 December 1978 Minster-in-Thanet, United Kingdom KO time: 0:50.
Win -- Osborne Taylor TKO 1 15 November 1978 Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, United Kingdom £1,000 heavyweight competition semi final.

time: 0:38 of Rd 1.

[19]

Pearce Brothers
  • Walter 'Bimbo' Pearce was a professional boxer, Bimbo won amateur titles from flyweight to Heavyweight in over 200 fights including stopping boxer Cliff Fields, other notable opponents were Andrew Bonniface and Trevor Kerr. Bimbo won the Heavyweight WABA Title in 1973 and defeated the Light Heavyweight Central Champion also in the same year.[39]
  • Raymond Pearce a middleweight fought the three times WBC world Light Heavyweight champion Dennis Andries.[40] Raymond is now a United States Citizen and an Elvis impersonator.[41]
  • Gary Pearce challenged for the Welsh Welterweight and Light Middleweight Titles. Gary Pearce travelled to Randers, Denmark to fight Hans Henrik Palm, the long-standing European Welterweight Champion, Gary took him the distance including a knockdown of the Champion in rd 6 but ultimately lost the fight by 1/2 point. Gary had signed contracts to face Joergen Hansen, in his retirement fight but after the excellent performance Gary Pearce had produced the Joergan Hansen camp decided to face Perico Fernandez. One story which will go down in boxing folklore.. Gary was enjoying a night out at a professional boxing show with friends, when Frank Warren the respected boxing promoter asked him to fight Gary Knight, whose opponent had pulled out at late notice. Gary accepted and made his way from the crowd, he borrowed kit from all the other fighters on the show. Gary then fought the then number 1 British Welterweight Gary Knight over 10 rounds. Gary struggled in the early rounds, and was repeatedly sick in the corner between rounds. Gary fought back brilliantly in the middle part of the fight and ended the fight the strongest, albeit ending up losing by 1/2 point over 10 rounds in what local newspapers had him winning.[42]
  • Ronald Pearce was a professional boxer, he fought Paul Wetter and Robert Smith the now BBBoC General secretary.[43]
  • Nigel Pearce had five fights as a professional boxer.
  • Simon Pearce the seventh brother graduated from Italia Conti and subsequently went on to star in Starlight Express, Cats, and Mousetrap musicals in the West End.
  • Luke Pearce won the lightweight armed forces representative tournament title in the year 2000 in Aldershot. After winning the Welsh Guards Lightweight, and Welterweight titles, he fought and beat Chris Harman in the Welsh Guards Boxing Championships. Luke fought in the Welsh Boxing Federation, and Chris Harman went on to win the WABA Welsh Heavyweight Title in 2006, and fight Mark Potter for the UK Cage Fighting Title. Luke served with the 1st Btn Welsh Guards in the British Army, passed selection for the Royal Navy, and served as an Airman in the Royal Air Force. Luke Commissioned into the Royal Air Force as a Flying Officer in 2016. Luke Pearce is now a professional BBBoC Boxing Trainer & Second. Luke Pearce's God Mother is Debbie Pulis, the wife of Tony Pulis, the football manager.[44]

Legacy

Pearce has been name-checked in a number of books, including Diana Dors' A-Z of Men, Bartley Gorman and Peter Walsh's King of the Gypsies and Leighton Frayne's The Frayne Brothers. Paddy Monaghan's "TheSunshine in my life".[45][46]

Pearce's family relative Luke Pearce has donated 61 copies of a portrait of Pearce, to be installed at well-known locations in Newport and the rest of Wales and the UK. Including 3 overseas locations.[47]

Boxing News, the UK's biggest boxing magazine, supported the campaign for a Pearce statue.[48] In 2016 The David 'Bomber' Pearce Statue Fund was given permission to erect a bronze sculpture to commemorate Pearce in Newport City Centre.[49] On the 9 June 2018 a life-sized sculpture of Pearce, by Laury Dizengremel, was unveiled at Newport riverfront.[50]

A charitable organisation named #NewportsRocky was set up to support local community projects in the South Wales area.[50]

  • Pearce aged 3
  • David 'Bomber' Pearce
  • St Josephs Amateur Boxing Club, George Street
  • Boxing contract
  • Bimbo Pearce defeating the Central Light-Heavyweight Champion
  • David Pearce at Newport County AFC
  • David Pearce turning professional
  • Commissioned oil painting of David 'Bomber' Pearce the former undefeated Welsh, and British Heavyweight Champion 1983-85
  • Sculpture near Riverfront, City of Newport
  • Dedication plaque for sculpture
  • Sculpture near Riverfront, City of Newport

References
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  2. "James Douglas". BoxRec. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  3. "Pontypool RFC boss slams Newport MP's 'misguided view' over dangers of concussion in rugby and boxing". southwalesargus.co.uk. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  4. Martin Wade (3 September 2016). "The Long View: The Newport boxing great who came close to the top and was dubbed the city's own 'Rocky'". southwalesargus.co.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  5. "David Pearce, British Heavyweight Champion". Johnnyowen.comBoxRec. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  6. "BoxRec - Lucien Rodriguez". BoxRec. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
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  8. https://boxrec.com/en/proboxer/24030
  9. "James Douglas". BoxRec. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  10. "James Douglas". BoxRec. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  11. "BBC Sport-Wales-BBC Wales Sports Personality Of The Year". BBC website. BBC. 8 December 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  12. "Boxing News". Boxnation.com. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  13. "BoxRec - Dennis Andries". BoxRec. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  14. http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/2365
  15. Pantera Rodríguez. Alfonso Vilar. Vilaxoán. Vilagarcía de Arousa. Galiza VV02.jpg
  16. "David Pearce". Welsh boxers. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  17. "Magazine - Boxing News". Retrieved 20 November 2018.
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  19. "David Pearce". BoxRec. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  20. "BoxRec - David Pearce". BoxRec. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  21. "Latest - Boxing News".
  22. South Wales Argus, 23 May 2000
  23. Bartley Gorman; Peter Walsh. "King of the Gypsies: Memoirs of the Undefeated Bareknuckle Champion of Great ..." Books.google.co.uk. p. 141. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  24. "John L. Gardner and Danny Mcalinden - Page 2 - BoxRec". BoxRec.
  25. "davidpearcevrodriguez - YouTube". M.youtube.com. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  26. "davidpearcevgordonferris - YouTube". M.youtube.com. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  27. BBC Archives - Past Present Future information and archives preservation services (1983).
  28. BBC Archives - Past Present Future information and archives preservation services (1984
  29. "Jason Booth v Jamie Arthur: Round by round | Nottingham Post". M.nottinghampost.com. 5 February 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  30. "Charles Bronson wants a statue of boxing hero David Pearce built in Wales". 8 April 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  31. http://mirageboxing.blogspot.com/2019/09/remembering-incredible-life-of-david.html?m=1
  32. "Statue appeal for Newport boxer David Pearce reaches £20,000". South Wales Argus.
  33. https://www.latimes.com/
  34. "Welsh boxing champion helps raise funds toward David 'Bomber' Pearce statue campaign". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  35. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CiGbyJRcXak
  36. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/boxing-news/20180510/282059097635921
  37. http://mirageboxing.blogspot.com/2019/09/remembering-incredible-life-of-david.html?m=1
  38. "Marvin Camel". BoxRec. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  39. "Boxer Walter Bimbo Pearce Newport". Boxinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  40. "Ray Pearce". BoxRec. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  41. "Vacaville man finds niche as Elvis tribute artist". Dailyrepublic.com. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  42. "Gary Pearce". BoxRec. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  43. "Ronald Pearce". BoxRec. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  44. Martin Wade. "Newport ex-soldier becomes RAF officer". M.southwalesargus.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  45. Gorman, Bartley (2011). Bareknuckle: Memoirs of the Undefeated Champion. The Overlook Press. ISBN 9781468303100.
  46. "paddy monaghan book - Google Search". www.google.co.uk.
  47. https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/15544061.support-for-newport-boxer-hero-comes-from-caribbean/
  48. Alex Daley. "Campgain for "Newport's Rocky"". Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  49. "Campaign launched to put up statue of Newport boxing legend David Pearce". southwalesargus.co.uk.
  50. https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/16278552.statue-of-newports-rocky-to-be-unveiled-this-weekend-at-entertainment-filled-event/
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