 Subsequently the BBBoC recognised the Cruiserweight division in 1985, one year after Pearce was forced to retire on medical grounds.David Pearce was voted, in "The Ring" magazine, in the top ten of unluckiest boxers never to win a World title.Pearce was hugely disadvantaged at that time, however he defeated a number of top heavyweights, by knockout, in his short career, including Mal Tetley, Bobby Hennessey, Winston Allen, Denton Ruddock, Theo Josephs, Larry McDonald, Ishaq Hussain, Dennis Andries, Gordon Ferris, Albert Syben, Neville Meade and John Tate.