Who are the 10 greatest Welsh boxers in history?

OK,

 

Deep in the heart of the valleys of South Wales there lies a gym that has produced so many Welsh Superstars and World Champions.......................

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRXKjvOEJwU[/ame]

 

Ahh, yeah.... I'll always remember where I was the moment Gavin Rees won prizefighter....

 

Hi Greg, no I don't actually OWN the property, but I am the guy in charge of operating it, and getting it running again.

The Jim Driscoll gym has been there for years and years above The Royal Oak pub, a pub that was owned and run by members of the Driscoll family. Several years ago it came into new ownership, and unfortunately they shut the gym down, partitioned it off and turned it into 4 B&B rooms :yikes
Absolutely f'ing tragic! Loads of it's history and heritage had been lost. However it came into new ownership about 6 months ago. I needed a new gym to train my boxers, so I asked them if I could have it and use it as a boxing gym again - and they said yes! Result! :good
It was just left as an empty shell unfortunately, so I'm in the process of re-kitting it out as a gym again. I've only had it for about 3 weeks.

The pub downstairs is a shrine to boxing history, with loads of old vintage black and white photos from years gone by, and before the Driscoll family left the pub, they used to have a replica of the original Lonsdale Belt on display behind the bar - Jim Driscoll was the first featherweight in history to win one.

So I'm hoping to resurrect it from the ashes and hopefully restore some pride and glory there

I believe Charles Brewer used it several years ago when he came here to box Calzaghe.

 

How far is this Pub outside Cardiff City Centre ?

 

When you get it up and running be sure to let me know as I would love to see it and the pub sounds liek my kinda pub.

Driscoll is one of my favrouite Welsh boxers.

 

About 2 mins by bus, 10 minute walk It's on Broadway, sort of borderlines between Roath and Splott. If you go along Newport Road you can't miss it.

They have some great old photos adorning the walls. Again, due to wanker owners with no respect for the heritage of the place, it doesn't have as much as it once did, but it's still pretty cool.

 

You'll be welcome anytime :good
Unfortunately though, the gym itself has lost that old vintage look due to them renovating them and turning them into hotel rooms. It's beginning to look like a boxing gym again though, just sadly not like the ORIGINAL gym :-(

 

There is a Pub in Swansea , Mumbles - along the Mumbles mile.

Its a place all on the walls dedicated to boxing.

Signed photos of the likes of :

Colin Jones
John Conteh
Frank Bruno
Jim Watt
Even Mike Tyson I think

Loads of old timers -

Its a nice little pub. I think the bloke who owns the place is obviously a big boxing fan.

 

A great shame but at least it is a gym again. I'm sure driscoll would be happy with a gym again.

 

Whats the Pub name - I plan to go to Cardiff soon - for a day - might pop in for a pint .......... :beer

 

Sounds cool. That's been the problem with the last few lots of owners of the Oak, they've not been boxing fans really, and pretty much pissed over all the history, culture and heritage of the place. Still, the new people are at least letting the boxing culture return.

 

Sorry to hear that. That you're coming to Cardiff that is. Hope you have better luck soon!
The pub's called The Royal Oak, on Broadway.

 

Well I'm hoping we can restore at least some of the boxing pride there.

When the gym's all sorted, we plan on having a big launch night at the Oak, purely as a thank you to them for letting us have it (the more business they do behind the bar on the back of us, the cheaper my rent is!).
When it's all happening, I'll let all on ESB know. Everyone's welcome.

 

Its only £6.20 for a return ticket From Swansea to Cardiff and back to Swansea.