Jimmy Wilde ( 1892-1969)

There is no doubt among the experts that Jimmy Wilde of Wales in the United Kingdom must be the greatest fighting man between 1911 and 1923, indeed some maintain that he was the greatest boxer that has ever lived. He was a huge sensation and the various names that were bestowed on him tell a fascinating story. The best known of these must be THE MIGHTY ATOM and THE GHOST WITH A HAMMER. Brought up in a miner's cottage in the Rhondda Valley he was taught his craft while working as a coal miner with his father and in the evenings in the boxing booth . He was fortunate in his family, his wife Elizabeth, his father-in-law Dai Davies and his trainer Ted Lewis. Jim Driscoll, another boxing giant from Cardiff taught him the finer points of the craft As he was so thin and never exceeded seven stones he always fought with great deal disadvantage before heavy boxers . Wilde provided every boxing venue from Edinburgh to Dublin, London to New York, Philadelphia to Liverpool with drama and excitement . The fans were dazzled by his speed, skill and dexterity. Seen in action in his Army service in the First World War, he travelled everywhere with plenty of energy Wilde would never shirk from his challenger and exhibited at all times superb courage and knock out punches He was unique in his day . Professor Dr. D Ben Rees has produced a readable, well produced account which will be of a huge interest to those who love reading of the golden age of boxing, and how Wilde was able to show his ability in the home of boxing, the United States of America.