Jim Driscoll was a master of defense
yet could mix it
with the best of them. Many of his opponents would find themselves chasing
his shadow as he effortlessly slipped their best punches then proceeded to
give them a boxing lesson. Jim Driscoll was the master of the straight
left hand punch. As with most Welsh boxers of this time, Jim Driscoll
started out in the boxing booths, which were commonplace in Wales.
Fighting against men of all shapes and sizes in the booths proved to be a
hard grounding for any would be champion. Legend has it
that he would challenge anyone to hit him on the nose while he stood on a
handkerchief with his hands tied behind his back ! He never officially achieved the
ultimate prize, a World title, but it is testimony to the fact that he was
such an exceptional boxer that he has achieved legendary status. As he
lost only 3 fights in his career it is also proof that he fought in an era
where hunger and poverty produced fighters of rare quality.
Jim
wins British Title - twice !
After losing only one fight, against Harry Mansfield in
a hotly disputed decision, Jim fought for the British featherweight title,
in 1906, against the reigning champion Joe Bowker. Although the fight went
the full distance of 15 rounds, Bowker was hopelessly outclassed by
Driscoll and went down to a points defeat. Jim Driscoll inexplicably gave
up his title but the following year met Joe Bowker again for the
Featherweight Championship of Great Britain - this time knocking
Bowker out in the 17th round to become a two-time British Champion. The
next year, 1908, saw Jim avenge his only defeat to date by beating Harry
Mansfield over 6 rounds and taking the Empire title by defeating Charles
Griffin over 15 rounds (this fight was also billed as being for the
British version of the World Featherweight Title).
America
beckons
He then went to America where his reputation had gone
before him. The Americans were keen to see this Welshman they had heard so
much about. Stories had gone before him of his ring craft, elusiveness and
superior boxing ability. They were not disappointed as Jim set about
beating the best America had to offer with ease. They could hardly lay a
glove on him.
The
Peoples Champion
This was the era of the no-decision in America, where
the rules stated that if a boxer was not knocked out then the fight was
declared a no-decision. It is primarily this rule which prevented Peerless
Jim from being declared a World Champion. At the time the World
Featherweight Champion was Abe Atell, a true champion taking on and
beating the best of his day. However, Abe Atell would not fight Jim
Driscoll in anything other than a 10 round no-decision contest.
The fight
was agreed and went ahead in February 1910. Undeniably Abe was a great
champion but as with the others before him once faced with Peerless Jim
Driscoll the story was much the same. Jim peppered Abe constantly with his
perfect straight left while evading with ease any offerings from the
champion, this continued over the course of the entire fight,
with observers later stating that Jim had won every round. It is widely
acknowledged that had there been a decision that night then Wales, and the
world, would have heralded a new World Champion - Peerless Jim Driscoll.
Although a decision was not given it was customary for the ringside reporters
to give their decision as to who won the fight. This was done for betting
purposes. The reporters all gave the verdict to Jim Driscoll. Indeed, Nat
Fleischer when commenting on the fight said 'Driscoll was easily the best.
The Welshman easily outpointed Atell and virtually took his title away
from him. He definitely proved, as far as I am concerned, that he was the
best featherweight in the world'.
Nazareth
House
Jim was offered a return fight with the world title at
stake but before leaving Wales had promised to box in an exhibition bout
at the Nazareth House Orphanage annual charity show. Being a true
gentleman he sailed back to Wales the following day to honor his promise,
effectively giving up his chance to become a World Champion before he
would break the promise he had given.
On his return to Wales he was given a heroes welcome,
as far as the Welsh were concerned he WAS the World Champion. Indeed, much
of Europe recognised Jim Driscoll as THE World Featherweight Champion and
he was billed as such. To this day
the nuns of Nazareth House tend his grave. Jim Driscoll was truly a
champion.
First featherweight Lord Lonsdale Belt
Jim's next fight was against Seaman Hayes which was won
in 6 rounds whereby Jim was presented with the very first featherweight Lord Lonsdale
belt and once again became the British Featherweight Champion.. Later that
year a controversial chapter in Jim Driscoll's career took place when he
fought against his fellow countryman Freddie Welsh. Freddie Welsh was at
the time the British Lightweight Champion and already recognized as a world
class fighter ( he went on to become World Lightweight Champion). Welsh
and Driscoll were great friends but in the build up to the fight the
friendship did not last surrounded by all the hype that generated from
their respective fans and the press. Sadly, it became a grudge fight
between the two Welshmen.
Jim
loses his cool - Welsh wins
Two world class fighters of tremendous skill facing
each other was surely going to prove a feast for ardent boxing purists. It
was not to be. Freddie Welsh adopted rough house tactics and did
everything he could to stop Jim from boxing, by legal or
illegal means. Jim appealed to the referee on several occasions to
no avail- Freddie was holding and hitting to the kidneys amongst various
other transgressions of the rules - until in the tenth round he could take
no more of Freddie's illegal tactics, losing his patience Jim butted
Freddie Welsh full in the face giving the referee no alternative but to
immediately disqualify him. Jim was deeply upset by the outcome and
pleaded for a return but a rematch never took place.
European
Title
Spike Robson was defeated in 7 rounds in Driscoll's
next fight giving him the first ownership of a Lord Lonsdale belt. By now
though the Peerless One was not a well man, suffering ill health. It was
purely because of his superior skill that he was able to continue and took
the European title by defeating Jean Posey in 12 rounds.
Defeated
by illness
The First World War broke out in 1914, Jim joined the
Armed Forces and did not box for 6 years. After a couple of comeback
fights Peerless Jim Driscoll stepped in to the ring for the last time in a
failed attempt to beat Charles Ledoux, who was considered to be the best
featherweight in the world at this time. It was not a wise decision but
Jim was not to resist a last big pay day. Ledoux was 11 years younger than
Driscoll, at his peak and a rough all-action type of fighter. To make
matters even worse Jim had been taken ill four days before the fight and
climbed into the ring a very sick man. It was apparent to all at ringside
that Jim was indeed a sick man, he looked aged, grey-haired and
haggard. Astonishingly however, once the fight had started Jim Driscoll
gave a display for 15 rounds of what many consider to be the finest
display of classical boxing ever witnessed. He hit Ledoux at will, danced
around the ring bobbing and weaving, feinting, jabbing - displaying
all his old ring craft. At the end of the eighth round even Ledoux joined
in the applause for the brilliant Welsh master. For 15 rounds it was a
totally one sided fight, Ledoux could not place a telling punch on
Driscoll. For one last time The Master was at work.
It was unfortunate that the fight was over 20 rounds,
not the 15 rounds that Driscoll had wanted. After dominating the fight
totally for 15 rounds Jim Driscoll was now hopelessly tired. Ledoux connected
with a wild right hook to the body of The Master toward the end of the
15th round but did not follow up, such was his surprise at actually
striking his opponent. Had he followed up the fight would have ended there
and then as Jim was all but out on his feet. Desperately Jim's corner
tried to revive him and persuade him not to go out for the next round but
Jim would not hear of it. At the sound of the bell Jim staggered to his
feet. Before a punch was landed Driscoll's corner threw in the towel.
100,000
honor Jim
It was the end of an illustrious chapter in boxing. Jim
Driscoll died on 30th January 1925. He was held in the highest esteem by
thousands of people, as was demonstrated at his funeral when more than
100,000 people lined the streets of his hometown, Cardiff. Leading the
procession were 100 children from the Nazareth House Orphanage.