MINEHEAD mother and son Pam and Martin Sax rubbed shoulders with the great and good from the world of boxing when they were presented with a lifetime achievement award on behalf of Pam’s father Teddy Baldock.

Former world light-heavyweight champion John Conteh presented the honour at the British Ex-Boxers’ Association’s Hall of Fame inaugural awards dinner in East Sussex.

Pam and Martin accepted the Pioneer 1880 Onwards Lifetime Achievement Award for Teddy, who was the world bantamweight champion back in 1927 and remains Britain’s youngest world boxing champion to date.

Teddy was just 19 years and 347 days old when he took the title, having fought his way out of poverty to the status of national hero.

But his achievement all but faded with time. His marriage broke down and Teddy ended his life penniless on the streets of London.

Martin only stumbled across his grandfather’s past when his mother found a scrapbook containing press cuttings about his boxing career.

Determined not to let his grandfather’s achievements be consigned to history, Martin published a book about his grandfather’s life story and commissioned a life-sized bronze statue of Teddy, which was unveiled in Poplar, East London, last year.

Speaking at the awards dinner, Martin said: “The award is extra special as while the book and statue were made possible by my own ambition and determination, this award was only made possible by being nominated by the members of the British Ex- Boxers’ Association throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.”

Other great fighters honoured included John Conteh himself, former world middleweight champion Alan Minter, former world light heavyweight champion Dennis Andries and former world middleweight champion Randolph Turpin.