Here are my choices for the top five boxing films of all time, plus other boxing movies that I’ve seen. Let me know what you think and what else should be on this list.

Top five boxing films

1. When We Were Kings

It’s hard to see how any traditional movie could top this documentary-style coverage of the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’, telling the story of the epic Muhammad Ali-George Foreman showdown in Zaire. Featuring Ali at his wise-cracking, driven, calculating and inspirational best. What more could you want?
Amazon: When We Were Kings [DVD] [1997]

2. Raging Bull

Martin Scorsese’s 1980 masterpiece chronicling the life of Jake LaMotta is a regular contender in lists of the greatest films of all time, let alone the greatest boxing films. Robert De Niro’s performance as LaMotta is spellbinding and the whole movie – shot in black and white – has a brutal, balletic quality, loaded with violence. Stunning.
Amazon: Raging Bull (Wide Screen) [DVD] [1981]

3. Rocky

The original and best of the Rocky films. Riffed on classic moments from boxing history and helped take the legends to the wider public to such an extent that many are now clichés.
Amazon: Rocky [DVD] [1977]

4. The Harder They Fall

A great period piece based on Budd Schulberg’s classic novel, itself a fictionalised re-telling of the Primo Carnera story. Humphrey Bogart plays boxing-journo-turned-PR-man Eddie Willis who gets drawn deeper into the world of mob corruption as his backers exploit the commercial potential of naïve Argentine heavyweight Toro Moreno.
Amazon: The Harder They Fall [DVD] [2003]

5. The Hurricane

The boxing is far from the primary focus of this movie, but Denzel Washington gives a great performance in the telling of the remarkable life story of Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter. The movie’s reception amongst boxing fans was somewhat spoiled by its inaccurate depiction of the Carter v Joey Giardello fight, the story wrongly suggesting that Giardello’s deserved points win was the result of racial bias against Carter. This was a long way from being the only historical inaccuracy, but the film is still a stimulating watch.
Amazon: The Hurricane [DVD] [2000]

Other boxing movies

Against the Ropes

Meg Ryan plays the part of US boxing manager Jackie Kallen. I’ve seen the film. I can’t really remember it. That probably says a lot.
Amazon: Against the Ropes [DVD] [2004]

Ali

They said that the role of Muhammad Ali was an impossible one to play, and Will Smith achieved the impossible… he portrayed one of the most charismatic human beings to ever walk the planet as a miserable, sullen, lifeless bore. Just dreadful. Avoid this film like the plague and (re)watch When We Were Kings instead.
Amazon: Ali [DVD] [2002]

Bleed For This

The story of Vinny ‘the Pazmanian Devil’ Pazienza is remarkable, inspiring and film-worthy. As a movie, it works and is worth a watch, but many of the boxing scenes are unconvincing.

The Boxer

Daniel Day-Lewis is on form as an ex-IRA activist trying to resume his life as a professional boxer after his release from prison. Includes an atmospheric fight scene at the National Sporting Club.
Amazon: The Boxer [DVD]

The Calcium Kid

Orlando Bloom as a boxer. That’s the funniest part about this comedy.
Amazon: The Calcium Kid [DVD] [2004]

The Champ

A proper tear-jerker. Saw it as a kid and it made me miserable. Haven’t wanted to watch it since.
Amazon: The Champ [1979]

Champion

Kirk Douglas gives a superb performance as Midge Kelly, a boxer who rises to the top while destroying everything that’s good in his life. A rarely seen 1949 classic, well worth digging out.
Amazon: Champion [1949] [DVD]

Cinderella Man

A Hollywood re-telling of the remarkable Jim Braddock story. Entertaining, although I find it hard to watch the demonisation of the much-loved Max Baer.
Amazon: Cinderella Man [DVD] [2005]

Creed

A memorable and convincing continuation of the Rocky universe with some visceral fight scenes. Highly recommended, although the portrayal of Tony Bellew as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world is hard to swallow.

The Fighter

The fight scenes aren’t the greatest, but this is a great film with memorable performances from Mark Wahlberg as Micky Ward and, in particular, Christian Bale as his brother ‘Dicky’ Eklund.
Amazon: The Fighter [DVD]

Grudge Match

Umpteen years on, Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro riff on their classic roles as Rocky and LaMotta in this sports comedy. Nowhere near as embarrassing as it could have been.
Amazon: Grudge Match [DVD]

I am Ali

If you only watch one Muhammad Ali documentary, make it When We Were Kings. But why wouldn’t you want to see two?
Amazon: I Am Ali [DVD]

Matilda

Saw it as a kid as the first film of a double feature (remember those?) at Tredegar Workmen’s Hall. It was about a boxing kangaroo. As a four-year-old, I loved it.

Million Dollar Baby

I’m usually a big fan of Clint Eastwood’s movies, but I think he dropped the ball on this one. Little new to say and rather depressing.Amazon: Million Dollar Baby [DVD] [2005]

Mr Calzaghe

It’s obvious that no Welsh fight fan should be able to hold their head up with dignity until they’ve seen this film! A solid telling of the remarkable Joe Calzaghe story, those familiar with his career will enjoy reliving it and may gain an extra appreciation for the strength that he gained from his relationship with his father and trainer, Enzo Calzaghe.

It will be interesting to gauge the reaction to the film from non-boxing fans… although its initial reception gleaned the rather unsurprising thought from reviewers that Enzo stole the show!
Amazon: Mr Calzaghe [DVD]

On the Waterfront

Marlon Brando in another film based on a classic piece of Budd Schulberg literature.
Amazon: On the Waterfront [DVD]

The Quiet Man

Cliche-ridden 1952 fare from John Wayne about a boxer who returns from the States to his childhood home in Galway, where he tries to build a new life having killed a man in the ring.
Amazon: The Quiet Man [DVD] [1952]

Real Steel

Do boxing robots count? The film was all right.
Amazon: Real Steel [DVD]

Risen

I was hugely excited when I heard about this project that chronicles the life of one of my favourite boxers, Howard Winstone. The film makers treat their subject lovingly, but unfortunately with too much reverence. A worthy film that lacks joy and colour.
Amazon: Risen [DVD]

Rocky II

Kind of like Rocky I except this time (spoiler alert…) he wins.
Amazon: Rocky II [DVD]

Rocky III

So gloriously ‘80s, and every time I hear Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” theme music I remember the schoolboy excitement and anticipation that preceded this film’s launch. It’s ultimately a bit disappointing, though, and the climax of the piece – Rocky’s revenge win over Clubber Lang – just seems a bit too easy.
Amazon: Rocky III [DVD]

Rocky IV

Rocky trains in the snow then brings down Communism by breaking Mikkel Kessler. I’m trying to ignore what happened to Apollo Creed. It’s still too painful.
Amazon: Rocky IV [DVD]

Rocky V

Surely the weakest film in the series as Rocky turns trainer after his forced ring retirement before having to whup ungrateful protégé Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison) in a street brawl.
Amazon: Rocky V [DVD]

Rocky VI (Rocky Balboa)

A valiant attempt to re-boot the franchise as a decrepit Rocky makes an unlikely return to the ring against Mason ‘the Line’ Dixon (Antonio Tarver). A decent movie if, ultimately, a little bit dull.
Amazon: Rocky Balboa [DVD] [2007]

Rocky Marciano

A plodding TV-movie take on the life and career of Marciano.
Amazon: Rocky Marciano [1999]

Snake Eyes

Nicolas Cage plays a corrupt cop at a world title fight in a movie that’s more about the crime thriller than the boxing.
Amazon: Snake Eyes [DVD] [1998]

Somebody Up There Likes Me

Paul Newman plays Rocky Graziano in this fistic classic. A little dated but well worth checking out.
Amazon: Somebody Up There Likes Me [1956]

Southpaw

I watched this film on an aeroplane, and it seems to have been the perfect setting – it was a pleasant way to waste a bit of time without requiring any amount of thought or interaction with what passes as a story.

Jake Gyllenhaal gives an impressive physical performance, but if you haven’t worked out the entire plot line by the end of the opening frame, you’re doing something wrong.
Amazon: Southpaw [DVD]

Tyson

A brutally honest documentary focusing on a brutal and honest man. Harrowing, but not to be missed.
Amazon: Tyson: The Movie – Ultimate Knockout Edition [DVD]

Undisputed

Wesley Snipes does lots of boxing while in prison. Worth a watch on a quiet night.
Amazon: Undisputed [DVD]

Shocking admission…

I haven’t seen the following, but they need to be mentioned here:

Fat City

John Huston’s 1972 take on the classic Leonard Gardner book. I really need to see this.
Amazon: Fat City [DVD] [1972] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Kid Galahad

Elvis’ take on the boxing world!
Amazon: Kid Galahad [DVD]

The post Boxing films appeared first on Welsh boxers.

Considering the varying histories and experiences of the leading Welsh boxers during World War I, the conflict having erupted in a true golden era for the sport in Wales.

Battle of the Somme

• Johnny Basham in World War I
• Dai Davies in World War I
• Jim Driscoll in World War I
• Fred Dyer in World War I
• Llew Edwards in World War I
• Percy Jones in World War I
• Eddie Morgan in World War I
• Dai Roberts in World War I
• Francis Rossi in World War I
• Walter Rossi in World War I
• Freddie Welsh in World War I
• Jimmy Wilde in World War I

The rich, varied and, at times, horrific experiences of Welsh boxers in the First World War reflect both the vibrancy of the country at the time and the glory of the sport in a true golden era for Welsh pugilists.

The heavy industry of south Wales coupled with the diversity and militancy of its workforce was a potent, explosive mix that would burst out onto the world stage in many unexpected forms.

Boxing was undoubtedly one of those forms of expression, and it was a sport that had a tightening grip on the nation.

‘Peerless’ Jim Driscoll was the pride of, not just the Welsh, but the entire British boxing scene, the darling of the National Sporting Club and a man whose classic, upright style epitomised everything that the country valued in the noble art.

Freddie Welsh (centre) prepares for a transatlantic trip

If ‘Peerless’ Jim was coming towards the end of his career when the war started, the ageing hero seemed to have paved the way for an even more glorious generation.

1914, the year that the Great War started, had finally – after many near misses – seen Wales secure its first world champion in Percy Jones, and he was soon followed by the second, Freddie Welsh.

Jimmy Wilde and Johnny Basham already appeared likely to follow in those footsteps, while the likes of Llew Edwards, Fred Dyer, Eddie Morgan, Dai Davies and the Rossi brothers – Francis and Walter – also awaited their opportunities.

World War I would have a varied and profound impact on the lives and careers of all these men.

Some of the more prominent pugilists were able to continue their ring careers at home, with varying degrees of disruption.

The rise of Wilde, for example, continued almost unchecked and his role as a fitness instructor in the army does not seem to have been overly onerous.

Fred Dyer in military uniform

Basham’s fitness and exhibition work for the military seems to have been more taxing and – whilst he was grateful for the privileges he gained in the army – the war may well have stopped him from becoming a world champion and from forging a lucrative career in the States.

Freddie Welsh, as individual as ever, quickly took his newly won world title to the US where he would remain for the rest of the war, a route also taken by title-hopeful Morgan.

Dyer and Edwards continued their careers through the war years in the States and Australia and – while their experiences appear comfortable – each faced losses in their own way.

In simple numeric and financial terms, author Alex Daley says that there were around 8,000 fights a year in the UK in the build-up to World War I.

Trench warfare on the western front

This dropped to around 4,000 a year in 1915-18, then climbed to 7,000 in 1919-25, before peaking at close to 20,000 in 1930, meaning that this golden generation of Welsh fighters missed out on a booming sport in some of the peak years of their careers.

If none of the boxers here were unaffected by the war the true losers were, of course, those sent to fight in the front line.

How many obscure Welsh boxers shared the fate of Caerau’s Dai Roberts?

The little-known welterweight was a prominent sportsman in his day who had fought Wilde and Basham, sparred with Freddie Welsh, and helped in Willie Ritchie’s corner on the night that Welsh took the American’s world lightweight belt. Roberts was killed by a shell in France in July 1917.

Unlike Roberts, both Davies and Jones made it home from the western front. But the injuries they suffered there affected them badly and, in Jones’ case, ended his service, career and, ultimately, his life.

The post Welsh boxers in World War I appeared first on Welsh boxers.

When Lee Selby slipped to a four-round points defeat against Samir Mouneimne at Fenton Manor Sports Complex, Stoke-on-Trent, few would have predicted he would rise to the heights he has now scaled.

Lee Selby celebrates after winning the IBF world featherweight belt (Photo: Lee Selby, Twitter)

The May 2009 loss came in his fifth professional fight, and the smart money would surely have been on a career of obscurity for the featherweight.

It did, indeed, prove a long road back for the Barry man, but in claiming the IBF featherweight title from Evgeny Gradovich the self-styled ‘Welsh Mayweather’ has become his country’s 12th world champion.

He has followed a path rarely trodden by many modern prospects, who are often given the opportunity to build long unbeaten records against easy opposition to smooth their route to a world title.

Selby slowly, quietly rebuilt after the Mouneimne defeat, winning Welsh Area and Celtic titles to earn his shot at Stephen Smith’s British and Commonwealth belts – which he claimed with a stunning upset win on the champion’s own turf.

Such a route to the top is far from unusual in the history of the game, though, nor in the history of great Welsh champions.

The likes of Tommy Farr, Frank Moody, Tommy West and Johnny Basham had awful early records, while the results of fighters like Robbie Regan, Eddie Morgan and Steve Robinson were at best mixed at the start of their careers as they learnt the professional game.

Percy Jones drew his first fight before embarking on a long unbeaten run that would see him become Wales’ first world champion.

Enzo Maccarinelli lost his fourth professional fight before himself building an impressive winning run that would make him Swansea’s first world champion.

‘Big Macc’ would become just the third Welshman to win British, Commonwealth, European and world crowns, following Freddie Welsh and Nathan Cleverly.

Selby has now become the fourth and now looks ready to start setting his own milestones…

The post Selby takes forgotten path to top appeared first on Welsh boxers.

Marking the centenary of Freddie Welsh winning Wales’ second world boxing title with his victory over Willie Ritchie at Olympia on 7 July, 1914.

Willie Ritchie

Freddie Welsh‘s long-awaited shot at the world lightweight title marked the end of an exhaustive pursuit of the crown that had seen the Pontypridd legend criss-cross the Atlantic, maintain an outrageous PR campaign and inject himself into the world of high finance.

The ‘Welsh Wizard’, aged 28 at the time of the fight, had been the leading contender for the title – ranked second in prominence only to the heavyweight crown – for much of the previous six years.

He had been due to face then-champion Ad Wolgast for the title at the Vernon Arena, Los Angeles, on 30 November, 1911, a bout that could have made him Wales’ first world champion.

On the eve of the bout, though, Wolgast was rushed to hospital with acute appendicitis.

Instead of his dream bout, Welsh faced a little-known, last-minute stand-in called Willie Ritchie. Welsh ground out a 20-round victory, but faced criticism for not stopping the San Francisco youngster.

The Pontypridd man had an agreement to fight Wolgast on his return, but the champion repeatedly evaded him. Instead, on 25 November, 1912, Wolgast took what most saw as an easy defence against Ritchie.

It went to script for the ‘Michigan Wildcat’ in the opening rounds, but as the fight wore on the younger, fitter, stronger challenger began to take control.

Ritchie dropped the champion twice before, in the 16th round, a desperate Wolgast was disqualified for two low blows.

It seemed to Welsh that he was the natural challenger for the new champion who he had already beaten convincingly, but Ritchie had other ideas, demanding an outrageously large purse for a potential fight then – every time Welsh got close to meeting his demands – moving the goal posts.

Although he continued fighting and winning at the highest level, both in Britain and the US, the Pontypridd man got little support from the American press, which seemed to hold the view that he was past his best.

Welsh employed a PR agent and worked relentlessly to keep himself in the headlines, his campaign including the concoction of a story that he had been kidnapped in Mexico!

Meanwhile Ritchie’s options narrowed. He was unconvincing in his first four fights after winning the title then, in May 1914, he was lucky to walk away with the belt after barely surviving a 10-round mauling from Charley White in a no-decision bout.

The only acceptable options open to the champion for his next defence were a rematch with White or to finally give Welsh his chance.

The Pontypridd man had been busy courting some of the richest sports-loving Londoners and it was this that would eventually win him his opportunity as he was able to offer Ritchie the largest guaranteed purse.

Welsh had secured an enormous guarantee of $40,000 for a title fight at Olympia. Ritchie was holding out for $50,000… until the debacle of the White fight gave Welsh the opportunity to drop the champioin’s fee to $25,000, plus $1,500 expenses.

Even so, Welsh would make nothing from the fight – he would have to rely on the money he could earn should he become champion. He was happy to make that gamble, boarding the liner Imperator in New York to head to Britain with the line: “I am now entering the final lap of a six-year race.”

He was given a huge reception in Wales as he made his way to his training camp in Porthcawl. Basing himself in Victoria Road, Welsh’s weight preparations were helped by a heatwave as he sharpened up with the support of training partner Boyo Driscoll.

Ritchie, meanwhile, prepared in Brighton, and surprised his opponent’s camp when he agreed on the choice of the popular English official Eugene Corri as fight referee.

Despite his mauling by White, the American press remained firmly behind their champion. Many of them felt that the US had ‘lost’ the heavyweight title when Jack Johnson became the first black man to claim that crown, and to now see the lightweight belt going to a Briton was felt to be unconscionable.

The coming fight was equally hyped in London where it became the main social event of the weeks leading up to the outbreak of World War I.

Excitement in Wales was hardly less intense, and a huge exodus of fans followed the challenger on the train from Cardiff to Paddington.

Welsh’s wife Fanny and his newly born first child Elizabeth were, meanwhile, dashing to join the challenger at ringside, having arrived in Fishguard on the Lusitania at 5am on the morning of the fight – they would reach Olympia in time for the 17th round.

Freddie Welsh (centre) prepares for a transatlantic trip

The crowd of over 10,000 at the arena was a veritable who’s who of the London social scene, with aristocrats filling the expensive seats and Welsh’s legions of female fans causing a stir amongst the boxing fraternity.

American fans were also out in force, helping to make Ritchie an early favourite in the betting before the influx of Welsh supporters saw their man installed as a seven-to-four-on favourite by first bell.

Those same supporters built the fervent atmosphere as Welsh songs filled the arena, something that must have resonated with Dai Roberts.

The well-known Caerau welterweight – who had fought Jimmy Wilde and sparred with Welsh – was serving as a second in Ritchie’s corner.

If he had any thoughts that he was on the wrong side, his unease would have quickly grown after the opening exchanges.

By the end of the first round the challenger had a huge grin on his face. He had been boxing like the master he was, but also bossing the close exchanges, making a mockery of the belief that Ritchie would be the bigger puncher.

The champion was taking terrible punishment from Welsh’s cultured left and was bleeding heavily by the third round.

World welterweight champion Matt Wells – who had defeated Welsh in 1911 – described the challenger’s dominance as being akin to ‘a racehorse challenging a donkey’ (Pontypridd Observer, 22 August, 1914).

There were arguments to be made for Ritchie having won the sixth round and the 13th, but little else. When the two went toe-to-toe for an outstanding final round, there was no doubt over who would go on to claim the verdict.

The inevitable announcement of the new champion was greeted with huge cheers followed by a rousing rendition of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau, before Welsh was carried back to the dressing room on the shoulders of his adoring fans.

Meanwhile, the Western Mail newspaper’s ringside phone relayed the news to huge crowds outside its offices in Pontypridd, Cardiff, Swansea, Merthyr, Newport and other south Wales towns.

Ritchie, who would fight on until 1927 and be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1962, was devastated at ringside, but initially took the defeat with good grace.

He did claim, though, that he had been dazzled by the strong arc lights that had been set up for the benefit of the film cameras, an excuse that he felt justified a call for a rematch which he believed he could win as, he said, he had more power than the new champion.

By the time Ritchie got back to the States, he was claiming that he had won the fight and had been robbed of his title – a stance that left a legacy of American boxers who would refuse to defend belts in Britain because they believed Ritchie’s tale.

Welsh, meanwhile, was able to bask in the glory as cables of congratulation came in from all over the world.

He had made no money directly from the fight as the gate did not even cover Ritchie’s guarantee, but he would later profit from the film rights, while offers of magazine articles, books and music hall dates were soon flooding in.

There would later be talk that Ritchie’s guarantee was actually arranged by Arnold Rothstein – the man who had fixed baseball’s 1919 World Series.

If there was money to be made from a betting scam, though, it would seem more likely to have revolved around a defeat for Welsh – who did later claim that he had refused an offer of £50,000 ($250,000) to throw the fight.

The new champion spent a week living the high life at the Waldorf hotel before returning to Wales, where huge crowds cheered his car as it made its way from Cardiff Central to Pontypridd and then on to Merthyr.

Plans to profit from his popularity in Britain would soon be scuppered by the outbreak of the war, though, and Welsh quickly headed back to the US where he would spend the duration of the conflict.

Battle of the Somme

The Americans – who did not recognise the belt held by Wales’ first world champion Percy Jones – initially acknowledged Welsh for his achievement in becoming – as they saw it – Britain’s first undisputed world champion since Dick Burge, whose reign ended in 1896.

Welsh was determined to profit as much as he could from his title, though, and as he exploited the no-decision rule to keep hold of the crown until May 1917 his popularity began to wane.

Given the struggles he had endured to secure the belt, it is easy to sympathise with his pragmatic approach to his reign.

The post Freddie Welsh v Willie Ritchie II: Wales’ second world title appeared first on Welsh boxers.

As part of a series looking at the history of the most prominent Welsh boxers during World War I, we consider the experiences of Jim Driscoll.

Jim Driscoll

Unlike the majority of the boxers featured in this series, it is arguable that the prime fighting years of the great Jim Driscoll‘s career were over by the start of World War I in 1914.

‘Peerless’ Jim was aged 33 when the conflict broke out and the pinnacle of his career – his ‘newspaper victory’ over Abe Attell in New York – was over five years ago.

Since that high-water mark, the Cardiff man had fought just seven times, winning four, losing two and drawing the other. High living and an aversion to training contributed to the poor health that accompanied his downturn in form.

But the respect that Driscoll’s character had earned and the fame of his ring exploits meant he was a valuable propaganda recruit for the army.

He was drafted into an elite corps of army physical training instructors under captain Bruce Logan. The so-called ‘famous six’ fighters – Johnny Basham, Jimmy Wilde, Driscoll, Bombardier Billy Wells, Dick Smith and Pat O’Keefe – toured Britain, taking on all-comers in military boxing booths.

The period was dramatised in Alexander Cordell’s 1984 novel Peerless Jim, a piece of literature that the author claimed (rather dubiously) was based on “known facts”.

In the book, Driscoll’s character says that the job was “10 times harder than any boxing booth” as the fighters were over-worked, taking on all-comers at all weights, challengers who did not pull their punches and who were desperate to knock-out a famous professional boxer.

“From heavyweight Billy Wells to flyweight Jimmy Wilde, the army wore us out,” says ‘Driscoll’ in the book.

“I served four years during the Great War; during that time I did some 12,000 three-minute rounds of boxing, taking on all comers, all weights, amateur and professional.

“We performed all over Britain, we entertained the troops in nearly every town in France, and for the smallest pay any other professional boxer has earned; less than a shilling a round! But, of course, it was for the beloved country.”

The six were eventually split up, although Basham and Driscoll stayed together when they were sent to France.

The two famous fighters avoided the front line as they were based in St Pol, the HQ of the gymnastics staff under Colonel Campbell.

“There were many other well-known boxers there,” recalled Basham. “It was our job to show the boys the right way to do the physical jerks (how they blessed us).

“Time and time again we would make long journeys in the night in order to box an exhibition for some of the boys who had been wounded and who preferred seeing Jim and I do our stuff to taking the ‘number nines’ that the medical officer used to hand out!

“At this gymnastics job I had a fair run round, Amiens, Arras, Albert, Poperinghe, etc, etc, were all visited by Jim and I.”

Driscoll and Basham, both sergeants, were regularly sent to calm upset in the ranks, the troops proving ready to listen to the boxers when MPs could only inflame the heated situation.

Jim Driscoll statue in Cardiff

The popularity of the two was recalled by author and boxer Norman Clark. In his All in the Game he recalls meeting them in France where he sparred with Basham, Clark praising his opponent’s boxing skills and his jovial character.

The joy and laughter that Driscoll and Basham found amidst the horrors of war-time France seems undeniable, but the conflict also took its toll.

In the Cordell novel, ‘Driscoll’ says: “At least one of [the boxing instructors], and I won’t say who, died physically as sure as if he’d been killed with the tanks at Cambrai; most of us were sent to early graves.

“Eventually my health broke under the strain; a recurrence of my bronchial troubles and an ulcerated stomach sent me back to Britain.”

Before that happened, Driscoll was ‘slightly gassed’ in a German chlorine poison gas attack at the start of the second battle of Ypres.

This affected his bronchial chest and he was laid up in hospital in Arras for a time, suffering asthmatic attacks. The experience is believed to have had a big effect on his health in the post-war years.

After the war, Driscoll defied failing health to return for three more fights, using his skills to keep him out of trouble before ending his career with the bravest of defeats to Charles Ledoux in December 1919.

The great champion died of pneumonia on 30 January, 1925, at the age of 44, and over 100,000 lined the streets of Cardiff for the funeral.

The post Jim Driscoll’s Great War: Welsh boxers in World War I appeared first on Welsh boxers.