Shrewsbury pub owners proud as punch after buying knock-out picture
Shropshire pub owners Jake and Ryan King are as pleased as punch after landing a large signed picture of one of British boxing's most famous fights in Richie Woodhall's latest charity auction.
Jake and son Ryan, who keep the Smoke Stop in Ford, near Shrewsbury, paid £320 for the signed canvas of Joe Calzaghe's famous Judgement Day fight against Jeff Lacy at an auction earlier this month.
The money raised
will go towards an appeal to pay for changes to 11-year-old Matthew Cooper's family home in Trench, Telford. These will allow him to return home for the first time since he was diagnosed with brain and spinal cancer.
The photograph is one of a number of items of sporting memorabilia which former boxing world champion Richie has handed over to the Shropshire Star to raise money for cancer charities in memory of his father Len.
Len, who was 75, died at his home in Woodside, Telford, in July last year after an eight-year battle with cancer.
The items Richie has donated are going under the hammer in a series of auctions held by Shrewsbury-based Halls.
Former Shrewsbury Town manager Jake King lodged the winning bid for the picture in this month's auction on behalf of boxing-mad Ryan. He said it would be displayed in a room at the Smoke Stop, in Welshpool Road, which is already decked out with boxing memorabilia.
Jake said: "We've bought loads of stuff over the years for charity, and it is good to help."
Richie's third auction is planned for next month.
