Vertigo Rod
Ghost with a Hammer in his Hand
A Flickr Exclusive!!! The only photo (at this time!) of the final resting place in Barry, Wales, of The Mighty Atom - Jimmy Wilde on this website. A very understated stone for a great great man.
Jimmy Wilde is a legend. 'The Ghost With A Hammer In His Hand' was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1959; he was also inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. In a 13 year career he lost only 4 of 149 fights (99 wins by knock out and remained unbeaten for 101 fights!). He is, without doubt, the greatest flyweight of all time. Answers to the question, 'Who is the greatest fighter of all time?' will provide many differing opinions but there is no doubt that Jimmy Wilde is certainly one of the greatest, quite possibly THE GREATEST.
Jimmy Wilde was born 15th May, 1892 in Quakers Yard, Merthyr Tydfil. At the age of twelve his family moved to Tylorstown, Rhondda where Jimmy began his working life in the coal mines there. At the age of 16 Jimmy began fighting in boxing booths. It is estimated that he fought anywhere in the region of between 500 - 1000 fights when including the bouts he engaged in during these boxing booth days. The booth fights would hone Jimmy's skills and begin his legendary status. For he fought hundreds of opponents, mostly all of which were several stones (1 stone = 14lbs) heavier than himself, and indeed fought as many as 25 opponents in one day!! For a day in the boxing booths Jimmy could earn the equivalent to a weeks wages in the coal mines.
After building a fantastic reputation for himself in the boxing booths of Wales, Jimmy had his first professional contest against Les Williams in a three round no decision. He then embarked on a series of wins that would later establish him as a legend of the fight game. Wilde remained unbeaten for four years and a total of 101 fights (or depending on what book you read -103, including no decisions). They came, they saw and in the vast majority of cases they were knocked out. During the run of 19 wins Jimmy had met and beaten Joe Symonds, for the second time, by way of a 12th round K.O. At the time, 1916, Symonds was regarded in Britain as the World Flyweight Champion. Another claimant to the World flyweight title was Johnny Rosner, but he too succumbed to the power of the 'Mighty Atom' as he was defeated in eleven rounds. However, Jimmy was still not universally recognised as World Champion until later that same year. Jimmy Wilde's destiny was fulfilled when on 18th December 1916 he became the first officially recognised World Flyweight Champion by defeating Young Zulu Kid, of America. Zulu Kid was 3 inches shorter than Wilde and could not match his speed and power, resulting in a battering for the 11 rounds the contest lasted.
But the story of one of Wales' true sporting greats has a tragic end.
He was mugged on a Cardiff railway platform in 1965 (the same year as his wife's death) and spent his last four years in Whitchurch (mental health) Hospital, dying at the age of 76.
Ghost with a Hammer in his Hand
A Flickr Exclusive!!! The only photo (at this time!) of the final resting place in Barry, Wales, of The Mighty Atom - Jimmy Wilde on this website. A very understated stone for a great great man.
Jimmy Wilde is a legend. 'The Ghost With A Hammer In His Hand' was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1959; he was also inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. In a 13 year career he lost only 4 of 149 fights (99 wins by knock out and remained unbeaten for 101 fights!). He is, without doubt, the greatest flyweight of all time. Answers to the question, 'Who is the greatest fighter of all time?' will provide many differing opinions but there is no doubt that Jimmy Wilde is certainly one of the greatest, quite possibly THE GREATEST.
Jimmy Wilde was born 15th May, 1892 in Quakers Yard, Merthyr Tydfil. At the age of twelve his family moved to Tylorstown, Rhondda where Jimmy began his working life in the coal mines there. At the age of 16 Jimmy began fighting in boxing booths. It is estimated that he fought anywhere in the region of between 500 - 1000 fights when including the bouts he engaged in during these boxing booth days. The booth fights would hone Jimmy's skills and begin his legendary status. For he fought hundreds of opponents, mostly all of which were several stones (1 stone = 14lbs) heavier than himself, and indeed fought as many as 25 opponents in one day!! For a day in the boxing booths Jimmy could earn the equivalent to a weeks wages in the coal mines.
After building a fantastic reputation for himself in the boxing booths of Wales, Jimmy had his first professional contest against Les Williams in a three round no decision. He then embarked on a series of wins that would later establish him as a legend of the fight game. Wilde remained unbeaten for four years and a total of 101 fights (or depending on what book you read -103, including no decisions). They came, they saw and in the vast majority of cases they were knocked out. During the run of 19 wins Jimmy had met and beaten Joe Symonds, for the second time, by way of a 12th round K.O. At the time, 1916, Symonds was regarded in Britain as the World Flyweight Champion. Another claimant to the World flyweight title was Johnny Rosner, but he too succumbed to the power of the 'Mighty Atom' as he was defeated in eleven rounds. However, Jimmy was still not universally recognised as World Champion until later that same year. Jimmy Wilde's destiny was fulfilled when on 18th December 1916 he became the first officially recognised World Flyweight Champion by defeating Young Zulu Kid, of America. Zulu Kid was 3 inches shorter than Wilde and could not match his speed and power, resulting in a battering for the 11 rounds the contest lasted.
But the story of one of Wales' true sporting greats has a tragic end.
He was mugged on a Cardiff railway platform in 1965 (the same year as his wife's death) and spent his last four years in Whitchurch (mental health) Hospital, dying at the age of 76.