The grandson of British boxing icon Terry Baldock has been left heartbroken after a commemorative bronze statue of the sporting legend was stolen from a London park. The theft, which occurred in Langdon Park in Poplar, East London, has sparked a police investigation and an emotional public appeal from the family.
Family's Devastation Over Theft
Martin Sax, 56, discovered the statue had been torn from its base after seeing a post on social media on Sunday night. A friend later confirmed the theft, leaving Sax utterly devastated. The statue was created through Sax's dedicated efforts to honour his grandfather's legacy and was erected in 2014.
"I'm gutted that it's happened," Sax told The Sun. "But then I wanted to get on to it. Time is of the essence but if I can get out in the media, then there's a chance it could get recovered."
Boxing Pioneer's Legacy
Terry Baldock made British boxing history in 1927 when he became the country's youngest boxing champion at just 19 years old. He defeated American Archie Bell to claim the bantamweight title, establishing himself as a true pioneer of the sport in Britain. Baldock passed away in 1971 at age 63, but his legacy continues through memorials like the stolen statue.
Sax described the emotional impact of the theft: "When he got married to my grandmother, it was filmed by four different news companies from that era. Thousands of people lined the streets, police separated the crowds and to think that someone's nicked his statue, it's a bit hard to put into words really."
Metal Theft Concerns
The statue is made from bronze, which can fetch up to £3,900 per tonne in the UK scrap market. This has raised concerns that the thieves may attempt to sell it for scrap metal or have it melted down.
"I believe it'll be a gang that is nicking these statues," Sax speculated. "So there's no emotion. They don't give a f*** really, about British sporting heroes. It's just a lump of metal to them, so the sooner I can get it out there, there's hope that it can be found."
He added: "There's only going to be limited places they can hand it on for cash or to get melted down, so I just wanted to get it out there."
Police Investigation Underway
The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into the theft. According to their statement: "Police were called at 20.07hrs on Sunday, February 1 following reports that a statue had been stolen from outside Langdon Park, Poplar. No arrests have been made at this early stage of the investigation."
The statement continued: "Officers are carrying out enquiries to identify those responsible and will continue to follow every available line of enquiry. If you have any information please contact 101 quoting CAD 6133/1Feb. To remain anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
Family's Lifelong Mission
For Sax, the statue represented more than just a memorial - it was the culmination of a lifelong mission to ensure his grandfather's achievements were properly recognised.
"I suppose it's been a life mission to get him recognised and to get that ripped away, it's heartbreaking," he said, expressing the deep personal significance of the stolen monument.
The theft has not only robbed the family of a precious memorial but has also deprived the local community of an important piece of sporting heritage that had stood in the park for nearly a decade.
