MR PEERLESS          MR DIGYFFELYB
Channel: A48 Theatre Company
Date: 2021-03-31

James Driscoll, commonly known as Peerless Jim, was a Welsh boxer who fought his way out of poverty. Driscoll was British featherweight champion and won the coveted Lonsdale belt in 1910. 

Driscoll was born in Cardiff in 1880 and was brought up on Ellen Street in the Newtown region of the town. Driscoll's parents were both Irish, and both Catholicism and the local St Paul's Church played a key part in his life. Driscoll's father died in a goods yard accident before Driscoll was one. His mother was forced to accept parish relief to bring up her four children. 
Driscoll was an apprentice with the Western Mail printing works when he began boxing in the fairground booths of South Wales. He turned professional in 1901 and by the end of the year he had secured twelve wins without defeat. On 22 February 1904 Driscoll fought his first match at the National Sporting Club in London, a points decision win over Boss Edwards. That year he also suffered his first defeat in a return bout against Mansfield, losing by points in a ten-round clash. 

On 26 February 1906, Driscoll took the British Featherweight title by defeating Joe Bowker in a 15-round contest at the National Sporting Club. He undertook four more fights before his first defence, which included beating Mansfield by knockout in their fourth meet. His first title defence was a twenty-round match and Driscoll stopped his opponent in the seventeenth via a knockout. 

The 24 August 1907 is recorded as a non-contest fight between Driscoll and fellow Welshman Freddie Welsh. Boxing historians such as Andrew Gallimore have cast doubt on this being a professional contest and instead regard it as a display fight at a fairground. Welsh supposedly took advantage of this situation and attacked Driscoll with kidney and rabbit punches. Driscoll never forgave his former friend for taking such liberties. 

On 24 February 1908, Driscoll faced New Zealander Charlie Griffin for the vacant Commonwealth Featherweight title. Again fought at Covent Garden, the match went the full fifteen rounds with Driscoll declared champion on a points decision.

After claiming the British and Commonwealth featherweight titles Driscoll went on to prove himself in the U.S.. American boxing fans of the era favoured all-action boxers, but they were won over by the Cardiffian's skills, giving him the nickname 'Peerless Jim.' Featherweight champion Abe Attell faced Driscoll in 1910; the Welshman dominated the fight, but with the "no decision" rule in place, without a KO, he couldn't take the crown. Driscoll declined a rematch in order to attend an exhibition match in aid of the orphans of St. Nazareth House: "I never break a promise.”

He returned to the United States the next year, but a chest infection and an injury in a road accident meant a poor showing.  He never got his title shot at Attell. After becoming the first featherweight to win a Lonsdale Belt, Driscoll prepared for an eagerly-anticipated fight against Freddie Welsh. The match was a disappointment, though, as Welsh's spoiling tactics upset Driscoll's style. By the tenth round Driscoll's frustration boiled over, and he was disqualified for butting Welsh.

Driscoll's boxing career was interrupted by World War I. In succeeding years, he continued to box despite failing health, relying on his skills to keep him out of trouble. When he died in Cardiff of consumption at the age of 44, over 100,000 people lined the streets for his funeral. A statue was erected in his honour near the Central Boys' Club, where he trained, in 1997.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Driscollhttp://www.welshboxers.com/hall-of-fame/jim-driscoll/

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Owen Thomas is an award-winning Playwright whose previous plays include ‘The Wood’ and ‘Grav’ for the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, where he is proud to be an Associate Artist. ‘Grav’, has toured widely, enjoying successful runs in London, Washington, New York, and a special one-off performance for the Welsh National Rugby team prior to their Six Nations victory against England in 2019. His breakthrough play ‘Richard Parker’ won ‘Best International Show’ at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, Los Angeles in 2012. In 2019, ‘West’, his first American commission, premiered in Milwaukee, to a standing ovation. ‘West’ toured Wales in Spring 2020 with performances in London and New York. ‘An Orange in the Subway’, his new play about homelessness, was performed at the Vaults Festival in London in 2020 where it was nominated as Best Show.Owen has spent lockdown writing monthly radio plays for RCT Theatres and ‘Isolationship’, an online play. He also wrote ‘Who Runs Towards a Fire’ and ‘Peerless’ for the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owen_Thomas_(playwright)https://getthechance.wales/2019/08/13/an-interview-with-welsh-playwright-owen-thomas/ 


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