Grandson of British Boxing Legend Condemns 'Toerag' Thieves After Statue Theft
The grandson of a celebrated British boxing champion has launched a furious condemnation of what he called "toerag" thieves who sawed down and stole a bronze statue erected in his grandfather's honour from a London park. The theft of the monument to Terry Baldock, who became the UK's youngest world boxing champion in 1927, has sparked outrage and a desperate appeal for its recovery.
The Theft of a Sporting Icon
Terry Baldock, renowned as the 'Pride of Poplar', captured the bantamweight world crown at just 19 years old after defeating American fighter Archie Bell. In 2014, a bronze statue depicting the boxing legend was unveiled in Langdon Park, located in the east London district where he was raised. However, the statue has now been brutally removed by thieves, who left behind only its metal boots at the scene.
The crime was discovered and reported to Baldock's grandson, Martin Sax, via Facebook. Mr Sax, who spearheaded the campaign and raised £100,000 to have the statue installed, expressed being "completely gutted" by the loss. The 56-year-old from Minehead in Somerset has appealed for public help in tracking down the monument, though he fears it may already have been melted down for scrap metal.
A Heartfelt Campaign and Community Outpouring
Martin Sax dedicated significant effort to honour his grandfather's legacy, including running the London Marathon, reaching out to family and supporters, and selling maquette models of the proposed statue to fund the project. Having served 25 years in the Royal Marines after joining at age 17, Mr Sax described the statue campaign as a personal passion.
He posted on social media: "The low life scum will get the scrap metal value and years of hard work will be spent within weeks. Words cannot describe the anger I have for the people responsible." Mr Sax also suggested that a scrap metal dealer might be willing to melt down the historic piece of art, adding: "Hang your head in shame."
Despite his fears, Mr Sax noted that "the word" has gone out to potential merchants through his connections in the boxing and scrap metal worlds, urging them to be suspicious of any new lumps of bronze. He welcomed the public outpouring of sympathy following the theft, contrasting it with potential indifference to a statue of a politician, and highlighting Baldock's working-class roots and achievements.
The Legacy of Terry Baldock
Terry Baldock's boxing career saw him fight at prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall in London and Madison Square Garden in New York. In 1927, The Times hailed him as "by far the fastest and most brilliant boxer at his weight". Despite his fame, he is said to have been penniless when he died aged 63 in Rochford, Essex, in March 1971.
Official Responses and Investigation
Tower Hamlets Council, the local authority covering Langdon Park, expressed shock at the theft, stating on Facebook: "The 'Pride of Poplar' statue is an important part of the borough’s history and means a lot to our community." The council is reviewing CCTV footage as part of the police investigation.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they were called at 20:07 hours on Sunday, 1 February, following reports of the statue's theft from outside Langdon Park in Poplar. No arrests have been made at this early stage, but officers are carrying out enquiries to identify those responsible. A Scotland Yard spokesman said on Tuesday morning there were no updates to the investigation.
Police are encouraging anyone with information to call 101 quoting CAD 6133/1Feb or, to remain anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
