A valuable bronze statue commemorating British boxing legend Teddy Baldock has been stolen from an east London park, leaving behind only the pugilist's boots as a haunting reminder of the crime. The statue, which is estimated to be worth approximately £100,000, was cut down at the ankles from its plinth outside Langdon Park in Poplar on Sunday evening.
Police Investigation Underway
The Metropolitan Police were alerted to the statue's disappearance at around 8pm on Sunday and have launched a full investigation into the incident. A spokesperson for the force confirmed that officers are conducting extensive enquiries to identify those responsible and will pursue every available line of investigation.
No arrests have been made at this early stage of the investigation, according to police statements. The force is urging anyone with information about the theft to contact them on 101 or reach out to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 1111.
The Legacy of Teddy Baldock
Baldock, affectionately known as the "pride of Poplar," began his professional boxing career at just 14 years old and quickly rose to become one of Britain's most celebrated sporting figures. He fought 81 professional matches at prestigious venues including Madison Square Garden in New York.
His most significant achievement came in 1927 when, at only 19 years old, he became Britain's youngest boxing world champion by winning the bantamweight title at Royal Albert Hall. This record remains unbroken nearly a century later.
A Tragic Decline
Despite his early success, Baldock's career burned out by his mid-twenties. He retired from boxing and subsequently struggled with drinking and gambling problems, eventually dying in poverty at age 63 in 1971.
Family's Heartbreak and Hope
Martin Sax, Baldock's grandson who was just two years old when the boxer died, expressed a mixture of upset and anger about the theft. "It's an amazing piece of art," he told The Times, "and to think that people have stolen it, and all that's going to happen is it'll get melted down and they'll get scrap value for an iconic statue in the centre of London of a British sporting hero — it's very sad really."
Mr Sax, who only discovered his grandfather's legacy through old scrapbooks, spent years raising funds for the statue, which was finally erected in 2014. He described how Baldock's fights would draw enormous crowds, with 12 buses reportedly leaving the East End full of supporters for his Albert Hall bout.
"Tragically, I suppose, when you turn professional at such a young age it takes its toll," Mr Sax reflected on his grandfather's career trajectory.
Hope for Recovery
Despite the devastating theft, Mr Sax remains hopeful that media coverage might make the statue "too hot to handle" for potential buyers or scrap metal merchants. "If it can be recovered, it can be fixed," he stated, expressing optimism that the distinctive artwork might yet be returned to its rightful place.
Tower Hamlets council has been contacted for comment regarding the security of public artworks and potential replacement plans should the statue not be recovered. The theft has raised concerns about the protection of cultural heritage in public spaces across London.
