Thieves Target £100,000 Statue of Boxing Legend Teddy Baldock in East London
The family of Britain's youngest ever boxing world champion have been left devastated after thieves stole a valuable bronze statue of the legendary fighter from outside a London station. The £100,000 sculpture of Teddy Baldock, who became bantamweight champion of the world in 1927 at just 19 years old, was cut down from its plinth outside Langdon Park DLR station in what has been described as a soul-destroying theft.
Family's Heartbreak and Community Outrage
Martin Sax, the 56-year-old grandson of Teddy Baldock and a former Royal Marine, expressed his family's profound distress at the loss. "It's absolutely soul destroying," he told reporters. "We are disgusted by the people who have stolen the statue of my grandfather. We are assuming they have taken it to melt down."
The statue had been a labour of love for the family, with Martin raising tens of thousands of pounds to commission the work by late sculptor Carl Payne. It was unveiled at a ceremony attended by 300 people, including boxing greats like former world champions Charlie Magri and Colin Dunne, and had stood proudly outside the station since 2014.
Race Against Time to Recover Historic Artwork
Detectives are now racing against time to recover the statue before it is potentially destroyed. Police plan to release CCTV footage of the suspects accused of cutting down the monument on Sunday. Martin Sax revealed that the boxing community is mobilising to help, with word being spread through extensive networks in an effort to track down the stolen artwork.
"The thieves will have to try to sell it which will be difficult," Martin explained. "Obviously the clock is ticking and we need to find it before it is melted down. The police are being very helpful and I am hoping the CCTV will help."
Tragic Legacy of a Boxing Hero
Teddy Baldock, nicknamed the 'Pride of Poplar' for his heroics in the ring, enjoyed an illustrious career that included fighting at Madison Square Garden in New York and winning multiple titles. Tragically, despite his sporting achievements, he died penniless on the streets of London in 1971 at just 62 years old.
The statue's location was particularly meaningful, positioned next to a boxing gym on the second floor of the new Spotlight Youth Centre. "It's the perfect spot," Martin said, "and I'm hoping to restore the statue to its rightful place."
What Remains at the Scene
All that now marks the spot where the statue once stood is the empty plinth and the fighter's boxing boots. The theft has not only robbed the community of a significant piece of sporting heritage but has also desecrated the memory of a local hero.
Martin added poignantly: "The idea for the statue came when I was researching his history. It's an incredible story. The fact that someone can spit on his memory like this is just terrible." The family has been so distressed by the theft that Martin hasn't yet been able to break the news to his mother.
