And in the yellow corner is raider who fled when he met 6ft 3in boxer
A THIEF picked the wrong house to burgle when he raided the home of a top boxer.
David Large took one look at 6ft 3in Craig “The Kid” Kennedy, went as “white as a ghost” and fled, a court heard.
But champion cruiserweight Craig soon caught up with Large and hung on to him until the police arrived.
Large, 34, admitted burglary and was jailed for three years.
Craig, the father of a six-month-old son, was sleeping at his home in Cardiff when his girlfriend heard noises and nudged him awake.
The boxer, 32, dashed to the kitchen. He said: “I could see a man with a hammer to try to put through the double glazing.
He was standing there white as a ghost. I don’t think he had signed up for this.” Craig, who has had eight knock-outs in 17 professional bouts, added: “He jumped over a seven foot wall with nails sticking out of the top. I was in ‘family protection’ mode so I jumped over as well.
“My girlfriend said I cleared it completely, which was lucky because I was still in my boxers and could have opened myself up on the nails.”
Large ran into a neighbouring house and tried to lock himself in but Craig slipped through the door and grabbed him.
He said: “It looked like he was going for his pocket so I got him in a sleeper hold. I was wrapped round him like an anaconda. I saw the neighbours shaking. I asked them to call the police and to check my girlfriend was OK.”
Craig added: “It was instinct. He was putting my family at risk. I think the boxing helped. It helps you to stay calm and teaches you discipline.”
But Craig said he would not encourage anyone to follow his example. He explained: “He could have had a weapon.”
Large had a back pack containing cash and stolen goods. He was jailed at Cardiff Crown Court after pleading guilty to burglary and attempted burglary. He had 84 previous convictions including 27 for theft and 10 for burglary.
David Rees, defending, said Large had battled drug addiction for years.