David "Bomber" Pearce (8 May 1959 – 20 May 2000) was a Welsh heavyweight boxing champion.
Also known as the Welsh Rocky, Pearce held both the Welsh and the British heavyweight titles and held the number one WBCcruiserweight ranking from September 1983 to September 1985.[1] In all he won 19 (15 KO) of his 24 bouts, losing four, with one drawn. He won two of his unlicensed bouts, losing one.
Biographical details
Pearce was born in Newport, Monmouthshire on 8 May 1959. He was one of nine children: seven brothers, six of whom boxed professionally and one who was a professional dancer, and two sisters. His mother was a relative of Bob Fitzsimmons.[2]
He boxed out of St Josephs ABC in 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 2,500 people attended his funeral in Newport at Stow Hill Cemetery.[4]
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.[11]
Welsh & British heavyweight titles
Pearce suffered two setbacks on his road to the British title. A loss to Neville Meade when still only 20 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.[citation needed]
Pearce fought in a scheduled WBC eliminator and defeated Dennis Andries, the future three times WBC world light heavyweight world champion, in the 7th round. Dennis Andries went six years before being stopped again, this time by Thomas Hearns in the 10th round.[12]
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 medallist 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]
European Heavyweight Title (EBU)
David Pearce earned a draw with Felipe Rodriquez whilst fighting the EBU heavyweight title challenger.
Pearce lost his title fight for the European Heavyweight Title against Lucien Rodriguez who had won 14 of his last 15 fights after earning the number one EBU ranking.[13]
Unsanctioned bouts
Pearce won two (both knockouts) of his three unlicensed bouts. Pearce took a fight with Percell Davis of Detroit at two days' notice but was stopped in the eighth round.[14]
Pearce later had a second wind after sparring against Lennox Lewis who was in preparation for the Lewis–Glenn McCrory fight and decided to train once more for his final comeback in California, USA. Pearce wanted to go out on a high after his unprepared previous trip to the states and trained diligently with his brother Gary Pearce.[15]
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.
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.
Walter 'Bimbo' Pearce the eldest son of Wally Pearce was a professional boxer, Bimbo won 5 amateur titles from Light Welterweight to Heavyweight including beating 4 British champions in bouts during the ABA exile.[20]
Raymond Pearce, a middleweight who notably fought Winston Burnett, and the future three times WBC world Light Heavyweight champion Dennis Andries.[21] A United States citizen, and married to an USAF Officer. He also worked as an Elvis impersonator across the world[22] and died, on the 1 January 2022, in Minnesota, United States.[23]
Gary Pearce had thirty-one professional bouts, including winning the Welsh Area Super Welterweight title and facing Hans Henrick-Palm the World number 5 in Randers, Denmark in 1981.[24]
Ronald Pearce fought Paul Wetter and Robert Smith the now BBBoC General secretary.[25]
Nigel Pearce had five fights as a professional boxer.[citation needed]
