Sunday marked the 100th anniversary of the death of a heavyweight hitter from Helston.

Bob Fitzsimmons was born in Wendron Street on May 26, 1863. The son of a Helston borough constable, James Fitzsimmons, and the youngest of 12 children, there was little to suggest the fame he would find when he went on to become a world champion boxer.

He was the first man and only European-born boxer ever to hold world titles at three different weights, holding the middleweight title from 1881 to 1897, the heavyweight between 1897 and 1899 and the light heavyweight from 1903 to 1905.

It was not until he emigrated to New Zealand with his family that his talents in the ring were discovered. Bob took part in an amateur boxing tournament that had been arranged by a visiting boxing promoter - and promptly knocked out four men in succession.

He went to Australia as a professional boxer and then on to America, earning himself many nicknames including "Ruby Robert" and "the Freckled Wonder."

Tragically, despite his achievements, Bob died a pauper on October 22, 1917 in Chicago, of pneumonia and is buried Graceland Cemetery.

In 2003, he was named number eight of all time among boxing's best punchers by Ring Magazine.