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.