Martin Sax, his grandson, who helped raise funds for the statue, said: “I got a phone call asking if I’d heard it had gone and it was confirmed it was gone.
“I’m angry, I’m upset and I’m not sure how we would get it replaced, I’m gutted.
“It was huge task to raise the money for the statue – to think that it was just for its scrap value, and not even a lot of value.”
Teddy Baldock was born in Poplar in 1907.
He enjoyed a rapid rise in the 1920s and gained huge popularity for his speed, skill and exciting fighting style.
After retiring young due to injuries, he fell into poverty and died in 1971 with little public recognition.
Sax added: “[Teddy Baldock] was from a very humble background.
“He started making money from boxing age 14, he won the title at 19 and people have gone and cut that statue down for what?”
