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He was one of a quartet of exciting British heavyweights in the 1980s, along with Frank Bruno, John L. Gardner and Noel Quarless, who held out the possibility of a future British heavyweight world champion.
Pearce defeated a number of top heavyweights, by knockout, in his career, including Mal Tetley, Winston Allen, Denton Ruddock, Larry McDonald, Ishaq Hussain, Dennis Andries, Gordon Ferris, Albert Syben, Neville Meade and John Tate.
Biographical details
Pearce, born in Pillgwenlly, Newport, Monmouthshire, 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 fight, against Percell Davies in Michigan, Pearce became ill, developing epilepsy, David 'Bomber' Pearce died 10 years later due to SADS (Sudden Adult Death Syndrome). The South Wales Argus described him as "Newport's most famous boxer." Around 2,000 people attended his funeral in Newport at Stow Hill Cemetery.
Boxing career achievements
Pearce won the Welsh and British Heavyweight Boxing Titles in September 1983; 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.
In March 1984 Pearce knocked down Lucien Rodriguez twice in Limoges for the European Heavyweight Title.
Pearce was ranked 7th in the Heavyweight World Rankings.
Pearce retired in 1984 and then returned to fight in the United States 6 Years later.
Michael "Jack" Johnson was ranked number 5 with the WBA when he fought David Pearce.
Pearce was ranked No.3 in the WBC World Cruiserweight Rankings after the KO of Micheal "Jack" Johnson.
Pearce was due to fight Buster Douglas in Columbus, Ohio, USA but was pulled out whilst warming up on 3 hrs notice.
Pearce came 2nd in Welsh Personality of the year.
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.
Pearce weighed exactly the same weight as Johnny Nelson when he fought Dennis Andries, Pearce's KO of Dennis Andries was 15 years earlier.
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 the great Thomas Hearns. In the 10th round.
Pearce, challenged and vowed to avenge his loss to Neville Meade to win the Welsh and British Heavyweight titles.
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.
European Heavyweight Title
The European heavyweight title fight saw Pearce knock down Lucien Rodriguez the long serving European Champion twice, in the 8th round. Both the counts were over 10 seconds, 13 and 17 seconds respectively, the most experienced judge scored the fight 114-115 and the referee score card read 115-114 for Pearce. Some observers felt Pearce was very unlucky not to get the verdict regarding the knockdowns including Reg Gutteridge.
Lucien Rodriquez was quoted by the French Press that " 'David "Bomber" Pearce was 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! " He also added "Pearce did what two World Champions couldn't do" This allowed Pearce, to take opponents out with one shot either to the head or body effectively.
Pearce was due to fight Buster Douglas and Leon Spinks at big events in America and Canada respectively. Although contracts were signed, the Leon Spinks fight fell through with 24hrs to go.
World Cruiserweight Title
David signed with Morgan's Palle to fight the winner between Ossie Occasio v John Odihamibo for the WBA Cruiserweight title before his boxing career was cruelly cut short.
Unsanctioned Bouts
Pearce knocked out John Tate, and Mary Konate, in 1 and 3 rounds respectively, in Bakersfield, California in 1994. This was reported by Mr John Francis of the South Wales Argus.
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.
Pearce won two Heavyweight Prizefighter Tournaments during his career.
Pearce sparred 20 rounds with Commonwealth Heavyweight Champion Trevor Berbick in the lead up to Pearce's British Heavyweight Title fight.
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.
Pearce sparred with Lennox Lewis, in the lead up to Lewis becoming British Heavyweight Champion.
When Pearce had to retire due to an abnormality on the brain, he was offered a contract to fight Lenny McLean, the guvnor in a Heavyweight Unlicenced British Title Fight, but McLean declined to fight.
When Pearce retired, Bartley Gorman offered to fight him, for the unlicensed British Heavyweight Title for £25,000. 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.."
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 boxing style in some of his articles and this had a negative effect at the time. Mullan did praise Pearce in later years, however, for his bravery and achievements.
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.
"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.
"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 Davids Hall, Cardiff.
"Pearce won the European Heavyweight Title twice last night" in reference to the two long counts (13 & 17 seconds) 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!"
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".
Bimbo Pearce said of his brother: "He would have been unstoppable at cruiserweight"
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”
Steve Sims said: “What a left hook! He is sorely missed and Newport’s own Rocky.”
Andy Gerrard said: "his power was truly unbelievable, he was a pound for pound king."
"Dave Pearce was a legend, a true hard man." Charles Bronson
Pearce Brothers
Walter 'Bimbo' Pearce was a professional boxer, who won the Welsh Heavyweight Title in 1973. Bimbo beat the Light Heavyweight Central Champion.
Raymond Pearce a middleweight fought the three times WBC world champion Dennis Andries. Raymond is now a United States Citizen and an Elvis impersonator.
Gary Pearce fought for the Welterweight, and Light Middleweight Titles. Gary Pearce also fought Hans Henrick Palm, the long-standing European Champion, Gary took him the distance in Randers, Denmark, losing by 1/2 point while dropping the Champion in the 6th round. One Story about Gary Pearce, which will go down in Boxing Folklore was when 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, who's opponent had pulled out late notice. Gary accepted and made his way from the crowd, he borrowed kit from all the other fighters on the show! He then fought the then number 1 British Welterweight Gary Knight. Gary struggled in the early rounds, and was repeatedly sick in the corner. Gary fought back brilliantly in the fight and ended up losing by 1/2 point over 10 rounds in what local newspapers had him winning.
Ronald Pearce was a professional boxer, who fought the British no.1 Gary Knight.
Nigel Pearce had five fights as a professional boxer
Simon Pearce the seventh brother starred in Starlight Express, Cats, and Mousetrap musicals in the West End. Simon starred as Mr Soft in the TV Advert. Simon was offered the chance to front the band Steps but turned it down. His friends Included Liza Minnelli and Frank Sinatra.
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 Welsh Guards in the Army, passed for the Royal Navy, and served as an Airman in the Royal Air Force. Luke Pearce Commissioned into the Royal Air Force as a Flying Officer in 2016. Luke Pearce's God Mother is Debbie Pulis, the wife of Tony Pulis, the football manager.
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".
Boxing News, the UK's biggest boxing magazine supported the campaign for a Pearce statue.
The David 'Bomber' Pearce Statue Fund has received permission to erect a bronze sculpture to commemorate Pearce in Newport City Centre.
Pearce's family relative Luke Pearce has donated 35 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.
