GOLBORNE residents turned out in force to honour their most famous son -- former world champion boxer Peter Kane

The town's new £120,000 square was officially named after the "Battling Blacksmith", world flyweight champion from 1938-43, at a special ceremony.

Mr Kane, who lived in Golborne all his life and died aged 73 in 1991, was chosen by residents to be the square's namesake over a host of other ideas in a mass poll.

They voted for 'Peter Kane Square' over 'Millennium Square' or 'Kidglove Square' -- the local pit's nickname.

And Mr Kane's son, butcher Peter Cain, said yesterday: "He was not a man who liked the spotlight but if he was here he would have been very proud. He loved Golborne."

Mr Cain, aged 51, from Appley Bridge, told The Journal: "He was a really gentle man to say he was a world champion boxer. The square and plaque is a lovely thing to do and it makes me very proud."

Mr Kane's grandson, also called Peter Cain, aged 31, from Ashton-in-Makerfield said: "He was only a small man who did not speak very much. I am really pleased that the people of Golborne voted for him.

"He would be very proud as he loved his town and the people of Golborne."

The square includes an open paved area with seats, stone walls, plants and the Peter Kane Plaque. The centrepiece clock was designed by local artists Brian Taylor and Tony Staunton-Unsworth.

The square sits on the site of the former New Inn pub -- where Mr Kane is known to have trained.

Golborne resident Jane Winstanley, aged 78, said: "I think it is smashing and they chose the right person. I used to come down to the New Inn to see how he got on after he fought."

Officially opening the square yesterday, the Mayor Cllr Mrs Joan Hurst said it would serve as a focal point for Golborne.

"Peter Kane was the overwhelming choice of local people," she said.

Mr Kane was born in Golborne in 1918. He began an apprenticeship at Chris Jordan's smithy on Kenyon Lane at Lowton and was a blacksmith's striker at Naylor Brothers' works in Golborne before becoming a professional fighter.

He won 127 of his 137 fights and became world flyweight champion in September 1938 after overcoming the handicap of only having one good hand to beat Jackie Juricht in front of 40,000 spectators at Anfield stadium, Liverpool.

The fight went all the way and Peter returned home to a hero's welcome on his second tilt at the title. He had previously been beaten the year before by Scotsman Benny Lynch in a title conteets which went 13 rounds.

He relinquished his world championship in the summer of 1943 when he was KO'd by Jackie Patterson. Proud . . . Peter Kane's son and grandson -- both called Peter Cain -- admire the memorial plaque butcher Peter Cain, said yesterday: "He was not a man who liked the spotlight but if he was here he would have been very proud. He loved Golborne."

Mr Cain, aged 51, from Appley Bridge, told The Journal: "He was a really gentle man to say he was a world champion boxer. The square and plaque is a lovely thing to do and it makes me very proud."

Mr Kane's grandson, also called Peter Cain, aged 31, from Ashton-in-Makerfield said: "He was only a small man who did not speak very much. I am really pleased that the people of Golborne voted for him."

The square includes an open paved area with seats, stone walls, plants and the Peter Kane Plaque. The centrepiece clock was designed by local artists Brian Taylor and Tony Staunton-Unsworth.

The square sits on the site of the former New Inn pub -- where Mr Kane is known to have trained.

Golborne resident Jane Winstanley, aged 78, said: "I think it is smashing and they chose the right person. I used to come down to the New Inn to see how he got on after he fought."

Officially opening the square yesterday, the Mayor Cllr Mrs Joan Hurst said it would serve as a focal point for Golborne. "Peter Kane was the overwhelming choice of local people," she said.

Mr Kane was born in Golborne in 1918. He began an apprenticeship at Chris Jordan's smithy on Kenyon Lane at Lowton and was a blacksmith's striker at Naylor Brothers' works in Golborne before becoming a professional fighter.

He won 127 of his 137 fights and became world flyweight champion in September 1938 after overcoming the handicap of only having one good hand to beat Jackie Juricht in front of 40,000 spectators at Anfield stadium, Liverpool. The fight went all the way and Peter returned home to a hero's welcome on his second tilt at the title. Square honour