DRISCOLL, JIM HAND PAINED SILK

Jim Driscoll was born into poverty in the docks area of Cardiff and was one of five children. He began boxing as a young boy and when he worked in the composing room of the old Evening Express. Along with most Welsh boxers of that time he started out in the boxing booths, then commonplace in Wales, coming up against men of all shapes and sizes. Jack Scarott, who ran the boxing booth, added a silver crown to the purse for anyone who managed to do it. Jim Driscoll was just aged 17 and earning a sovereign a week from boxing. At 26 He won the British Featherweight title in 1906.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 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 - on this occasion he was to knock Bowker out in the 17th round to become a two-time British Champion. The following year, 1908, saw Jim avenge his only defeat to date by defeating Harry Mansfield over 6 rounds and also 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). After gaining the Commonwealth and European titles he went to America to force a fight with Abbe Attell who then claimed the world title. Attell would only meet Driscoll in a non title bout on 19th Feb 1909 – New York -. Despite the fact that he had pleurisy Driscoll won every round by a wide margin although he was unable to knock Attell down and the contest ending in a no decision. 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. However the New York papers stated he was the winner and was deemed to be the uncrowned titleholder after that. It was at this time he was given the accolade of Peerless Jim, a tribute to his skilful left hand. Jim Driscoll was offered a return fight with the world title at stake. However before he left for America he promised to box in an exhibition bout for the Nazareth House Orphanage annual charity show. True to his promise he sailed back to Wales the following day and effectively giving up his chance to become a World Champion. On his return to Britain he beat three more challengers , over 11 months and 16 days, to make the Lonsdale belt his own in 1911. He was the first person to win the featherweight Lord Lonsdale belt.( by winning three Championship contests) Against his will he was to meet a fellow country man Freddie Welsh in what turned out to be a dirty fight. With Driscoll being ruled out for butting. He retired in 1913 but came back 6yrs later. Offered here is an antique hand painted silk of Jim Driscoll.
This is a magnificent hand painted silk of Jim Driscoll. This antique silk pictures him in full fight pose with his colors surrounding him. The images remain bold. There is some fraying on the borders where this item was glued to a frame. There is some minor spotting to the silk. Wonderful likeness. 14 1/2" x 20 1/2."