THE push to pay for a statue of Newport boxing hero David Pearce continues this weekend with two fundraising events.

David ‘Bomber’ Pearce was British and Welsh Heavyweight Champion in the 1980s and one the most successful boxers to come out of the city.

Tonight there will be a 70s night at the Malpas Unionist Club. Tickets are £3 and can be purchased from the club and fancy dress is optional. Tomorrow night, tribute band Oasis Experience and 2 Rude will feature in a fundraising concert at the Neon in Newport. Tickets are £10 and are available at the Neon, Diverse Records and Rob Santwris Carpets. On September 27 there will be a fundraising dinner at Tredegar Park Golf Club.

The fundraising campaign is well on its way to raising its target of £35,000 after recent events. A sleep-out in Belle Vue Park raised £2,500 while the Malpas Unionist Club raised £400 with a music night while the Dodger pub in Newport donated £50 and plans to raise more.

These donations have enabled campaigners to pay the second instalment for the statue, with this £14,000 taking the total paid to £24,000. Sculptor Laury Dizengremel is already at work creating the figure.

There will be other fundraising events in the city across the coming months, including a fundraising dinner at Tredegar Park Golf Club on September 27.

You can support the campaign now by going to the crowdfunding website https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/andrew-collingbourne

Cheques payable to ‘The David Bomber statue fund’ can be sent to: Cwm Cottage, Cwm Lane, Rogerstone, Newport NP10 9GQ