Black-tie do will raise cash for statue of Newport boxing hero, David Pearce

The black-tie event at Tredegar Park golf club on Friday night is the latest fundraiser in the push to commemorate David ‘Bomber’ Pearce. He held the British and Welsh Heavyweight crown in the early 1980s and the Pill fighter’s courage in the ring made him one of Wales’ most successful boxers.

He tragically died in 2000 when he was just 41-years-old and around 2,000 people lined Newport streets for his funeral.

Dubbed by many as ‘Newport’s own Rocky’ the ex-steelworker had his first professional fight in 1978. He followed this with a succession of wins before he defeated the three-time WBC World light heavyweight champion, Dennis Andries in 1981.

But the high-point was to come two years later at St David’s Hall in Cardiff in 1983 when David fought Swansea’s Neville Meade to become the Welsh and British Heavyweight champion - a title he never lost in the ring. Always proud of his home town, David said at the time: “I did it for Newport”.

He also defeated a number of top heavyweights by knockout in his career, including Denton Ruddock, Larry McDonald, Ishaq Hussain, Gordon Ferris and Albert Syben. He also overcame John Tate and Mary Konate in bouts in Beaconsfield, California.

The dinner will also feature a Question and Answer session with former world champion Robbie Regan compering and Andy Gerrard the former Welsh heavyweight. They both knew David.

There will also be an auction of memorabilia with signed gloves from Anthony ‘Million Dollar’ Crolla and Tyson Fury, shorts signed by Ricky Hatton and a signed picture of Muhammed Ali and Wilt Chamberlain. There will also be 10 artworks donated by Charles Bronson.

A documentary film on David's boxing career will also be played, showing fight footage and interviews. The film is produced by Steve Horton with fight footage supplied by Rickie Gilchrist of The Phonebox. The event starts at 6.30pm. For more information go to: newportsrocky.co.uk