Hatton unveils Driscoll statue and ........

[the patriot]

...talks about a possible comeback fight in Cardiff.



Ricky Hatton unveils Jim Driscoll statue

Jun 18 2009 by Peter Collins, South Wales Echo

A STATUE of South Wales boxing legend Jim Driscoll is set to prove a hit with a new generation of sports fans after being unveiled by Ricky Hatton.

The present-day boxing star officially marked the reinstatement of the statue, after long-standing building work, at the entrance to the new Radisson Blu Hotel in Cardiff city centre.

The statue was originally erected in 1997 near the site of the former Central Boys Club where Driscoll, nicknamed “Peerless Jim”, used to train.

Hatton, two times IBF and IBO welterweight champion, unveiled the reinstated statue as he checked out the Millennium Stadium as a possible future fight venue.

Hatton, who like Cardiff’s great featherweight champion of yesteryear has won the coveted Lonsdale belt, said: “Jim Driscoll was a world-class boxer and a highly respected sportsman and it is great that he has been honoured by this statue.

“The fact that he’s got a statue shows how much of a legend he is in Cardiff and I would be proud if one day there was one of me in Manchester.”

Eyeing up a potential venue for a comeback fight, the boxer known as “The Hitman” added: “I have never fought professionally in Wales and the Millennium Stadium is a world class venue. I have always been treated well by the Welsh and so a comeback fight in Cardiff is not off the cards.”

Simone Sander, general manager of the Radisson Blu, said: “I first heard about the Welsh links with boxing when the statue of Jim Driscoll was reinstated outside the hotel, so it is very apt that one of our first guests is a boxing legend.”

When Driscoll died in Cardiff of consumption at the age of 44, more than 100,000 people lined the streets for his 1925 funeral. He is buried in the city’s Cathays Cemetery where fresh daffodils always adorn his grave.

Hywel Thomas, spokesman for Cardiff & Co – the organisation charged with promoting the city – said: “The city-region has a proud boxing history and has produced some great fighters over the years such as Jack Peterson, Jim Driscoll, Jimmy Wilde and, just down the road, in Newbridge, Joe Calzaghe.”

In a recent article, Echo columnist and Driscoll admirer Dan O’Neill wrote of how Driscoll went to America to fight Abe Atell, featherweight champion of the world.

Dan wrote: “He gave Abe a boxing lesson, astonished America, and years later was remembered by American promoter Doc Kearns as ‘the greatest boxer of all time’.”

Driscoll also features prominently in a book called Wales and its Boxers, by writer, broadcaster and former history lecturer, Peter Stead, and Professor Gareth Morgan, of the Centre of Modern and Contemporary Wales.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardi ... -23907891/

[teddy007]

...talks about a possible comeback fight in Cardiff.



Ricky Hatton unveils Jim Driscoll statue

Jun 18 2009 by Peter Collins, South Wales Echo

A STATUE of South Wales boxing legend Jim Driscoll is set to prove a hit with a new generation of sports fans after being unveiled by Ricky Hatton.

The present-day boxing star officially marked the reinstatement of the statue, after long-standing building work, at the entrance to the new Radisson Blu Hotel in Cardiff city centre.

The statue was originally erected in 1997 near the site of the former Central Boys Club where Driscoll, nicknamed “Peerless Jim”, used to train.

Hatton, two times IBF and IBO welterweight champion, unveiled the reinstated statue as he checked out the Millennium Stadium as a possible future fight venue.

Hatton, who like Cardiff’s great featherweight champion of yesteryear has won the coveted Lonsdale belt, said: “Jim Driscoll was a world-class boxer and a highly respected sportsman and it is great that he has been honoured by this statue.

“The fact that he’s got a statue shows how much of a legend he is in Cardiff and I would be proud if one day there was one of me in Manchester.”

Eyeing up a potential venue for a comeback fight, the boxer known as “The Hitman” added: “I have never fought professionally in Wales and the Millennium Stadium is a world class venue. I have always been treated well by the Welsh and so a comeback fight in Cardiff is not off the cards.”

Simone Sander, general manager of the Radisson Blu, said: “I first heard about the Welsh links with boxing when the statue of Jim Driscoll was reinstated outside the hotel, so it is very apt that one of our first guests is a boxing legend.”

When Driscoll died in Cardiff of consumption at the age of 44, more than 100,000 people lined the streets for his 1925 funeral. He is buried in the city’s Cathays Cemetery where fresh daffodils always adorn his grave.

Hywel Thomas, spokesman for Cardiff & Co – the organisation charged with promoting the city – said: “The city-region has a proud boxing history and has produced some great fighters over the years such as Jack Peterson, Jim Driscoll, Jimmy Wilde and, just down the road, in Newbridge, Joe Calzaghe.”

In a recent article, Echo columnist and Driscoll admirer Dan O’Neill wrote of how Driscoll went to America to fight Abe Atell, featherweight champion of the world.

Dan wrote: “He gave Abe a boxing lesson, astonished America, and years later was remembered by American promoter Doc Kearns as ‘the greatest boxer of all time’.”

Driscoll also features prominently in a book called Wales and its Boxers, by writer, broadcaster and former history lecturer, Peter Stead, and Professor Gareth Morgan, of the Centre of Modern and Contemporary Wales.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/cardi ... -23907891/

What about Calzaghe? Why choose some fat english t*sser, talk about patriotic.

[the patriot]

What about Calzaghe? Why choose some fat english t*sser, talk about patriotic.

That thought did cross my mind as well.

Maybe he's too busy learning the foxtrot

[Horse]

What about Calzaghe? Why choose some fat english t*sser, talk about patriotic.

Perhaps Calzaghe declined the offer.

Who should they have had instead? Maccarinelli?

[winkveron]

'Maybe there'll be a statue of me in Manchester one day'



Talk about ego!

[hitman_hatton1]

Hatton, who like Cardiff’s great featherweight champion of yesteryear has won the coveted Lonsdale belt, said: “Jim Driscoll was a world-class boxer and a highly respected sportsman and it is great that he has been honoured by this statue.

“The fact that he’s got a statue shows how much of a legend he is in Cardiff and I would be proud if one day there was one of me in Manchester.”

what a good idea.

[DG.]

/[/quote]

What about Calzaghe? Why choose some fat english t*sser, talk about patriotic.[/quote]