For centuries there had been fistfighters, and from the early days of industry it was apparent that the Welsh had a particular passion for boxing. In this book the authors trace that passion through the lives of great, brave and elegant champions, by recalling their great bouts and by showing how moments of triumph were celebrated by whole communities. Every village had its heroes, and the hope was always that their names (with that of Wales) would gain the world’s attention.Mountain Men and Prize Fighters: The Bare-Knuckle Era; ‘Peerless’ Jim Driscoll: ‘One of Britain’s Greatest Unsung Heroes’; Who Was Freddie Welsh? The Image of a World Champion; Quaker’s Yard’s ‘Mighty Atom’: Jimmy Wilde; The Hero of the Darkest Years: Jack Petersen; The Fight for Glory: Tommy Farr, 30 August 1937; From Ringside to Fireside: the Boxing Fan; A Brace of Heavyweights: Erskine and Richardson; The Men of Iron: Merthyr and its Heroes: Thomas, Winstone, Owen’ Mannesmann to Maccarinelli: Swansea’s Champions; Boxing’s Underworld; The Business of Boxing; The World of Hector Bebb: Writing Boxing; and, Modern Champions: Robinson to Calzaghe.