Top Ten Welsh Boxers Who Suffered the Most from Bad Luck

A list of 10 boxers from Wales who suffered bad luck, in one or another, some their own doing. When boxing came into being Wales was a hotbed of unlicensed fights around the villages of miners. They would fight until one could not walk. They had several boxers who were champions before the sport was legitimized, among the others who could of made list is Tommy Farr Ronnie James, Freddie Welsh Eddie Morgan and Jack Petersen to name a few. not best 10 but those who were to suffer misfortune.
The Top Ten
1 Percy Jones

Flyweight world champion, who had 1st legal fight in 1911 at age 19, although had been bare knuckle fighting for a while, won World title in 1914, but Ww1 broke out and he joined the Welsh fusiliers, while at the battle of the Somme he was injure. He refused a stretcher leaving it free for others, although he managed to crawl back to the trench, the wound had become infected, resulting in him having it amputated, he died in 1922, one day short of his 30th birthday

2 Tom Thomas

Born in 1880. He was often fighting in booths, from a young age, although suffering from Rheumatism which kept him sidelined for much of his careerv, he remained unbeaten, and was due to fight the Michigan assassin Stan Ketchel. Ketchel was murdered so fight didn't happen, a man who was loved by his community, and when he went over mountain to give a benefit for a child, it proved his downfalln, a storm erupted on his way home, and the wet and his rheumatism caused his death age 31

3 Johnny Owen

The matchstick man looked so thin, you would think he would drop if you blew on him, but the strength of the man made him near impossible to beat, and he never touched the canvas, and he was o which he offered a world title fight against the Mexican Lupe Pintor. Who had wrestled the title from the great Carlos Zarate. ? To be held in LA California. It was 1980. The Us media ridiculed his build but were in awe of his start, by the 5th round both of Pintors eyes were split, but in the 9th Owen went down for 1st time, he came back in the 10 th and 11 th but in the 12tth got hit and never recovered, dying 2 months later. Ba scan revealed he had a thin skull. He was 24 and had never been with a woman, all he would say vwas when I retire, a statue was unveiled in the tough town of Merthyr where he grew up, it was unveiled by Pintor

4 Jimmy Wilde

You may wonder what one of the best p4p fighters in history is doing here, after retirement he came back to Wales and at the age of 70 + was mugged by some scumbag on Cardiff train station. And spent last years of his life in hospital where he died

5 Nipper Pat Daly

Unbelievablev to think he retired when 17 years of age, after he had fought 120 registered bouts.. He was destined to be World champion if it wasnt for the greed of his manager, mr Newton by the age of 15 he had put Daly into 70 fights. He was completly burnt out by 17. Only 12 months earlier he became youngest person to be ranked in ring magazine top 10 list. He ended up with 11 losses on his record, but he had been fighting grown men from 14 year old and his last year was a disaster

6 Howard Winstone

Was a successful brawler fighter until he lost most of 3 fingers on one hand, as he lost destructive punching he totally adapted to a new style, eventually winning world title late in his career, the great Angelo Dundee said afyter Winston had beat Baby Luis, if I had him I would make millions, the nearest fighter I seen to the great vwilly pep

7 Jim Driscoll

Recognised as world champion in Europe but not in America ehere they had the No contest rule, went to the US in 1908. By this time he had an unbeaten pro record and nearly 600 fights in the booths, while in America the media were sceptical, until he started fighting, went vavcross states losing 2 by newspaper decision, in 1909 he fought Attel for the world title, but the Americans insisted on no contest rule, meaning Driscoll had to knock Attel out to win title, Driscoll beat him quite easily in the bout, but Zattel kept his title, except bin Europe where Driscoll was recognised champ. The next day the media were clamouring for a rematch but gentleman Jim refused to break a promise he made to an orphanage in Wales were he grew up, a very poor region. he performed each year for charity for the orphanaged and swore never to break his word. He nevercquite reachedvthem heights again, as he starting drinking

8 Robbie Reagan

After moving up in weight to bantam weight he won the world title against danny jiminez. He had been number 1 contender at fly when moved up. The opportunity he had waited for to get out of poverty was spoiled when he failed his Mr. scan forced to retire while at his. Peak, later jailed

9 Barry Jones

Same as Reagan, Barry jones won the world title but never defended vit duE to problems with a brain scan, his title was given to somejone else, even though Jones appealed, and won he only fought once more, losing his firstbever fight, before retiring

10 David Pearce

Died at the age of 41, Boxing news calling him uncomparable, retired after brain scan showed irregularities, which was probably the epilepsy, along with poverty and alzheimers that killed him in 2000. he fought at heavy but really a cruiserweight, among his wins was a knock out of future world champ Dennis Andries. ?

David was a true gentle man and an awesome fighter, brave, strong, and fearless, had the honour of working as his sparring partner for a while, bless you Yukka, and your wonderful family
Love and respect always Dave Townsend

The Contenders
11 Lee Selby

Won a prize then had to teach primary school children how to skip. I went to that primary school so I should know.

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