Pearce won the British title back in September 1983 in the last ever 15-rounder in this country. He didn't need all 15 as he punched Neville Meade to a standstill in nine rounds, having earlier been flattened by his big Welsh rival in two rounds. It was sweet revenge for the chirpy former steelworker but his career nosedived when he challenged for the European heavyweight title a year later in France and was picked off for 11 of the 12 rounds by Lucien Rodriguez, a man who couldn't punch but who doled out a sickening boxing lesson. Amazingly, Pearce came close to a knockout in the eighth when he finally nailed Rodriguez, dropping him twice, but the Frenchman made it to the bell and continued to hit a defenceless Pearce at will over the last four rounds.
Sadly, David never fought again under a Board licence. He failed a brain scan and found himself cast adrift from the sport he loved and just never got over it. He was dead by the age of 41 but nobody can take away his wins over the likes of Gordon Ferris (a five-round mauling), Dennis Andries (outmuscled in seven), Larry MacDonald (a giant cut down with body shots), Albert Syben (a European title challenger sparked in the first round)...
Nobody can take away his British title, a title he never lost in the ring.
