your comments
June Hawkes from Te Awamutu, NZ
My mother Madeline is Jimmy's cousin and I grew up hearing all about this amazing, humble man. I now live in New Zealand, and thanks to Cathy from the USA, have been able to contact Dolly, another of Jimmy's cousins, who also lives here. We met and shared the stories we grew up with, and Dolly was even able to show me the video about Jimmy's life. I came here thinking I had no relatives, then met Dolly and her family, and through them learnt so much about our very own "Mighty Atom" - AWESOME as they say here. Go well all the Wilde whanau. "Toku toa, he toa rangatira" - "When times are difficult, take strength from your noble ancestors". Arohanui from New Zealand.
Margaret Wilde, Sheffield
My father, Gwilym Thomas Wilde, was Jimmy's youngest brother and was born on June 4th, 1905. He worked down the pit when a young man and later moved to Hull, where he married and lived until his death in 1962. I met Jimmy when he came to Hull to be a member of a sports panel or something like that. He brought his Lonsdale Belt with him and I put it on but it was much too big for me as I was only about 12 years old. How I wish I had questioned my father more about his early life and the details of the family and all his brothers and sisters - and had written it all down. We always think there is all the time in the world, and then suddenly there is no time because death comes too soon.
Kim Jones from Ystrad
My great-grandmother was Mary Ann Lloyd and was Jimmy Wilde's oldest sister. We have a few family photos of Jimmy and his wife and two sons. Anybody knows where the Lonsdale belt is now?
Daniel Wilde from Blackpool
Jimmy Wilde was my great, great grandad and I have one of the hymn sheets from his funeral.
Angelica Sadler, Newport
Jimmy Wilde was my great uncle, my grandmother Rosie Maria Wilde's brother. I met him when I was young, he used to visit us and he was a very gentle man. He makes me so proud. I did not know of the older sisters though, I thought Mary Ann was the oldest, she was born in 1890. He is always in any book on boxing and is the greatest in my opinion.
Chris Russell, Quakers Yard
A lot of photos and memorabilia can be seen in the Glantaff Inn in Quakers Yard including his birth certificate! From what I have researched, Jimmy Wilde was a true Welsh great boxer and one of the world's best. An inspiration to everyone for his size and heart!!
Paula, Sheffield
I was amazed to find out he was a distant relative - absolutely fantastic. Thanks to my lovely auntie Michelle I have more memories of our family history to trace.He is definately one if not the greatest boxer from the information I have read. God bless.
Michelle Haerizadeh (nee Marshall)
Well until recently I didn't know that Jimmy was my grandmother's brother. Truly amazing atom...
Ronnie Scarrott from Portsmouth
My great grandfather was Jack Scarrott who trained both Jimmy Wilde and Tommy Farr. Clifford, I do have a photograph of Jack with one of his Sons Harrold. My grandfather Levi used to tell me the stories of both Jimmy and Tommy.
Jim Hughes, Merthyr
My grandad grew up with Jimmy and went to most of his fights. he used to tell me that he used to spar with him, and couldnt get near him. he is the best pound for pound fighter and a proud Welshman. RIP Jimmy Wilde
Paul Hodder from Porthcawl
Jimmy Wilde could definitely be considered as the greatest fighter within all divisions of all time. He frequently knocked out opponents twice his body weight and more in the boxing booths of the time.
Steve Lloyd, Llanfoist
Greatest pound for pound fighter of all time. Does anyone know where he was buried?
Rhianwen Howell, Pyle
We've photographs around the family homes of Jimmy who was my great grandmother Rose's brother which means he had more than two sisters. My gran speaks highly of him and visited him when he was in hospital in his latter years. She also spoke of wearing his belt but feels bitter that he didn't give up boxing sooner so as to prolong his life.
Gaynor hale Quakers yard
Jimmy was born in the Graig area of QY. He started off in the boxing booth's of my husband's family's fair, I think they were then taylor, scarrot and studd.
Brian Lee
When I was a little boy in the late 1940s my father introduced me to Jimmy Wilde. We were walking down Wharton Street in Cardiff on the same side as Howells'storeand I can boast that I shook his hand. Jimmy,in his earlier days,had several racehorses which ran at Monmouth and Cardiff races.
Linda Ridgway from Wiltshire
I have been told that my Grandfather, Owen Jones, claimed to be a second cousin of Jimmy Wilde. They belonged to the same Boxing Club/Gym possible in Golfach Goch or Ynysybwl. Does anyone know what Club/Gym this was? Does anyone have any information on Owen Jones?
Clifford Scarrott
Has anybody got any photos of Jimmy in his fairgrond days and any of Jack Scarrott who Jimmy fought for in the Scarrotts boxing booth in South wales valleys?
Cathy from USA
By the way thanks to those that mentioned Jimmy lived at 8 Station Street. I most definitely see him in the 1901 census. He is listed as William James Wilde age 8. He has an older sister MaryAnn age 10, two younger sisters Catherine L age 4 and Ellen Jane age 2. The youngest was a boy, I think Elias John age 2 mths. Who remained alive after this or who may have been born after 1901 I have no way of finding out at this time. If anyone else can add to this I'd appreciate it.
Michael Wright, Manchester
My grandmother was Jimmy's sister. He had two I met his other sister in Sheffield Attercliff where I lived until recently. I was 7-9 years of age I did get to wear his much loved longsdale belt and did have all of his war time medals until a relative relieved them from my mother the day annie eliza marshall 'nee wilde died. She died two years before Jimmy she was 88 and born in 18884 years older than jimmy we still have birth and death certifcates - if you're a relative can you solve the mystery both sisters living in sheffield
Bill Cook, Bermuda
I think the information that Wilde retired after his loss to Pancho Villa is inaccurate. He had aleady retired for two years prior to fighting Villa and was lured out of retirement as the purse in those days was for a lot of money.
Alex Sim from Hull
As a boxing fan for forty years I have seen some of the great boxers on TV. Sadly there's not a lot on video of Jimmy - nevertheless the truly greatest boxer ever.
Clive J Calhoun, Upminster, Essex
As a boy living in Cadoxton I used to see Mr Wilde almost weekly. He gave me two signed photographs of himself, he was always polite and kind. When he was in his late seventies he was attacked by a thug on Cardiff General station. I knew the PC who eventually arrested this individual and in the course of the arrest he was forced to give him the good hiding. Mr Wilde would have done had he not been a seventy odd year old diabetic. He was never the same after that incident.
Kevyn Howells, Porth
I am too young to have seen him fight but my father (Jim Howells 1903-1994) told me stories told me stories of how he saw him train in Tylorstown Workmens Club and how he would stand in a small circle and invite youngsters to try and hit him - they never did! His record is testament to his greatness.
Rosemary Ashley, California, USA
My uncles (George and Danny Dando from Merthyr) fought Jimmy Wilde and gave him quite a fight, even though they lost. They really respected him.
Graham Gillgrass, Cwmbran
Jimmy was my father`s uncle. As a boy I myself visited Jimmy at his home in Cadoxton near Barry numerous times. I think this was Jimmy's last address before he sadly passed away. In my heart, a true legend.
Webmaster - www.johnnyowen.com
Jimmy Wilde does indeed state in his book that he was born in Pontygwaith. However strange it may seem Jimmy was mistaken; he was definitely born in Quakers Yard. If I remember correctly he actually states in the book that his memory was not as clear as it once was which could explain his error. Jimmy's birth certificate states that he was born in Craig Berthllwyd, Quakers Yard.
If you follow this link - www.johnnyowen.com/Rpts/wilde/at_home.html - you will see the area he was born in and also Station Road (just before it was demolished) where he moved to.
Graham, Llwynypia
Puzzled?? According to the book "Fighting was my business" Jimmy was born on May 15th 1892, and I quote "I suppose my birthplace, number 8 Station Road, Pontygwaith... next door and really part of Tylorstown, was in no way different from the hundreds of other cottages...of the Rhondda Valley" ... and not Merthyr as stated above??(Editor's Note: Our source at the Welsh Warriors boxing website says his contacts including members of the Wilde family say Jimmy was mistaken when writing this in his biography, and that he was definitely born in Quakers Yard)
Michael Ivor Williams
Big hearted man. My dad Ivor Oswald Williams said he was a cousin of Jimmy.
v ralph
Was jimmy world champion boxer in the 1920's or 1930's and did he have a relative named mariah wilde??? If so I am an ancestor of his
David Williams - Hertfordshire
My father, David Arthur Williams was born in 1919 in Tylorstown & was a boxer in his youth. His father, my grandfather known in the town as Yankie Di knew Jimmy Wilde. He spoke of lending him his shoes so he could go to chapel! I would love to contact anyone with connections with Jimmy Wilde as I intend to chart my family history in Tylorstown this Summer 2006. I too became a professional boxer and was European Welterweight ABA champion 1978 and I was inspired my the likes of Jimmy Wilde and Freddie Welsh.
Dave
ken evans, pontlottyn
He was voted third best pound for pound puncher of all time by Ring Magazine in 2003. Only Sam Langford and Joe Louis were above him.
David Collins from New Southgate London
I Was to young to see the great
Jimmy Wilde in action but my grandfather
Will Collins was a traveling showman who
presented the first wall of death,
circus's, and boxing shows,
and rumours say he had Jimmy
under his guidence for six month's
whilst his trainer recovered from illness
my father was born in Merther at that time
Kerry Edwards
Jimmy was my great uncle - I never met him (too young, 26) but my gran is still alive. We have photos - my great gran was Lisbeth-Ann's sister and Di Davis' daughter.
Gareth Owen from Hereford
Jimmy was simply the best ever Welsh boxer who ever lived. He was also the greatest flyweight of all time. An all time great.
Gareth Harris, Pontypridd
I have just completed a new book charting the career of Jimmy Wilde. Having had great success with a book about Freddie Welsh, the Jimmy Wilde book is sure to be in great demand. A limited edition of about 100 will be published in early 2006.
Geoff Gray Manchester.
My father was an old friend of Jimmy Wilde and I was introduced to him when I Was only about 9 years old. Jimmy was about to hand in his Lonsdale belt to the local bank for safe keeping, and let me hold it, what a thrill, he certainly was the greatest, he signed a copy of the above photo to me, it now sits in my local barbers shop.
Clifford Scarrott from Basingstoke
I have read the stories from my ancestor and relation, the showman/gipsy Jack Scarrott, who Jimmy fought in the boxing booths. He said he was a genius.
H. Roberts, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
On the subject of boxers, wouldn't Howard Winstone, another Merthyr product, deserve his own spot on this site?
Pinoy Punch
i am too young to know, but did pancho villa outfight him? was it a fair fight? how do people feel about his loss to pancho villa?
Nick Morgan Rhoose
Jimmy Wilde is buried in Barry Cemetery.
Dave Wilde from Albuquerque,NM,USA
I believe Jimmy was my dad's second cousin. I have a picture of his, and his wife's gravestone in Barry. I understand his daughter is still alive and living in Merthyr Tydfil. His book 'Fighting Was My Business' is still available in sports libraries in the USA.
Craig from Newport
Where is Jimmy Wilde buried?
Clifford Coghlan - Australia
I am too young to have seen him fight, however, my father thought he was the greatest. As a young teenager I used to always read and enjoy his column in the Sunday edition of "The News Of The World"
I am a long time boxing enthusiast.
Tracy Jackson
I believe Jimmy was my grandmother's uncle.
Arthur Wilde from the West Midlands
The greatest fighter of all time. I believe Jimmy was my granddad's uncle.
Terry Price from Rhymney
He was the best. Outstanding record.
Karl Smith from Portsmouth
Best fighter ever. No-one can match the little man with the big heart. His record shows he is simply the BEST.
J Serjeant from Enfield
A true boxing chanpion if ever there was one.
Hank Klein in the Caribbean
He was possibly the best professional flyweight of all time. Pound for pound he was one of the greatest professional boxers ever. More to the memory of the Mighty Atom.
David Jones from Nantyglo, now Newfoundland, Canada
Considered the greatest flyweight of all time and possibly greatest fighter of all time.
Boxing legend dubbed the Mighty Atom
