THE campaign to erect a statue to a Newport boxing legend has got more than halfway to its £35,000 target thanks to two recent fundraising efforts.

A black-tie event at Tredegar Park Golf Club earlier this month raised £7,100 and additional recent fundraising has seen the total grow to £20,000.

Some of the cash to create the statue of David Pearce has come from Trafford Associates, an events management company based in Newport, who have raised £304 after one of their staff members completed three rounds in a boxing ring, despite being a novice.

Fundraising committee member Luke Pearce said: “One of the staff members, Daniel Brimble took himself well out of his comfort zone and entered the ring to do three rounds of boxing.

“It was a great achievement and we’d just like to thank him for his efforts.”

Mr Brimble teamed up with trainer Kirk Ford, who helped put an eight week boxing training plan in place. He thanked everyone involved from St Michael’s boxing gym who helped raise the money.

The dinner at Tredegar Park Golf Club was attended by former boxers including Eddie Avoth, Robbie Regan, Andy Gerrard, Steve Sims and ‘Bimbo’ Pearce.

Many of them paid tribute to David Pearce on the night, with Eddie Avoth calling him: “One of the greatest Welsh fighters we have produced”.

Robbie Regan said: “He was the most avoided fighter in the heavyweight division”; while Newport’s Steve Sims said simply: “What a left hook! He is sorely missed and Newport’s own Rocky.”

M Pearce tragically died in 2000 when he was just 41-years-old and around 2,000 people lined Newport streets for his funeral. The next event will be a benefit gig with Big Mac’s Wholly Soul Band at Ringland Labour Club on Friday June 9.