Tracing the great Bob Fitzsimmons

The great Bob Fitzsimmons was a world champion

Helston-born Bob Fitzsimmons made sporting history in the 1890s when he became boxing's first three-division world champion.

Fitzsimmons emigrated with his family to New Zealand when he was nine years old.

There aren't any known relatives of the boxer still living in Cornwall.

David Jack from Timaru in New Zealand is a direct descendent of Fitzsimmons who is hoping to trace other relatives of the great boxer.

David has already seen the house where Bob was born and he admits it was an exciting moment:

"It was unreal. I came up the street towards the house. As a child we had a small picture of the house. I have always known of the house. But to actually get here, it was like I'm 53 years old and I am finally here."

David Jack is very proud of his family tree, having flown thousands of miles to retrace Bob Fitzsimmons early footsteps.

David Jack visits the house where Fitzsimmons was born

He says he'd like to see more of a tribute to his famous relative in Cornwall:

This sign, was presented in Helston in the '50s

"A statue would be magnificent. It's about the person and about the career and he certainly stands out as a leading person of his time.

"We certainly get a lot of mileage out of the statue in Timaru, and I would love to see one here. That would be very very fitting."

Bob Fitzsimmons was boxing's first triple world champion; winning the Lightweight Championship, Middleweight Championship in 1891 and then the Cornishman won the Heavyweight Championship in 1897.