Hundreds of people gathered in Langdon Park for the unveiling of a memorial statue to honour one of the East End’s greatest ever boxers.

Teddy Baldock, who grew up in Byron Street, became Britain’s youngest ever bantamweight world champion in 1927, at the age of just 19.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by about 300 people, including Martin Sax, Teddy’s grandson, who led the campaign for the statue to be placed outside Langdon Park DLR station.

Many greats of the world of boxing turned out for the event, including Charlie Magri, world flyweight champion, and seven-time world lightweight champion Colin Dunne.

The statue of Teddy, who died penniless in 1971, overlooks a boxing gym on the second floor of the new, state-of-the-art Spotlight Youth Centre.

Martin, who raised tens of thousands of pounds for the statue, said: “Whenever my grandfather fought, he was known as the pride of Poplar, and I’m hoping that now the people of Poplar can be proud of him again.”

He also thanked social housing provider Poplar Harca for its help.

All proceeds on the day went to The Teddy Baldock Sports Benevolent Fund, a charity set up by Mr Sax to help people severely injured while playing sports.