Off to the USA for cross-dressing cage fighters
TWO cross-dressing cage-fighters have been floored by offers from across the globe after becoming overnight internet sensations.
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Off to the USA for cross-dressing cage fighters James Lilley and Daniel Lerwell
James Lilley and Daniel Lerwell have been inundated with media requests since being revealed as the club-goers in drag who dished out some rough justice when confronted by boozed-up yobs on Swansea’s Kingsway.
The pair could also be heading stateside, with American network NBC keen to fly them over for an interview.
The CCTV images, first revealed by The Evening Post, were picked up by national media before spreading across the globe and becoming an internet hit.
And the pair, both from Mount Pleasant, say their lives have unexpectedly been turned upside down.
Plumber Dan said: “When I saw us on the front of the Evening Post I could not believe it. But then we started getting calls from the national newspapers, and from magazines.
“It has all been unreal.”
After the Evening Post exclusive was revealed, newspapers began a scramble to contact the pair, who eventually agreed to once again don the wigs and dresses they wore on that night in August — only this time for hundreds of pounds in return.
Their exploit has been featured in the Daily Mirror, the Daily Mail, the Daily Star and the Daily Sport, while magazines have been lining up to speak to the pair.
And news makers and television programmes, including Sky and Channel Five news, have been clamouring to speak to the pair.
Below: The video everyone is talking about...
They were asked to appear on television breakfast programme GMTV this morning, and American news breakfast show NBC News has shown interest in the pair.
Bank worker James said: “We have had constant calls, and people have been throwing money at us. I suppose I should be thanking the boys who started on us.
“The only thing now is I guess people are going to start shouting things at our fights — so maybe I should think of a cheesy entrance.”
The pair intend to hit the city centre this weekend for a night out with friends from the Team Predator gym they attend in Fforestfach.
James said: “We already got a little bit of recognition from having our faces on fight posters, but nothing like this. But I’m prepared for any female attention.”
Dan added: “I’m hoping so!”
The friends stood up to Dean Gardner, aged 19, and Jason Fender, aged 22, both from Llanerch Road, Bonymaen, who were ordered by city magistrates to wear tags and remain under a nighttime house curfew for four months.
Related articles:
'Drag Queens' tell of felling thugs in Swansea city centre punch-up
42 Comments
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by Jack, Port Talbot
Tuesday, October 13 2009, 11:20PM
“oh my god
shoot them
sick of hearing about this
EVENING POST GIVE IT A REST”
by kp, swansea
Saturday, October 10 2009, 8:50AM
“SWANSEA LASS, LONDON HAS HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD BEST COMMENT BY FAR”
by Jeff, Swansea
Saturday, October 10 2009, 7:28AM
“It's very obvious that the people who have left comments in defense of the Laurel and Hardy of the thugworld floored in this video are either know them personally or are family members.
It looks to be as if the man without the t-shirt makes a comment to the man in drag, who then makes a reply. The man without the t-shirt then goes after him and punches him in the face. The man with the black wig merely comes to assist his friend. Please note: making comments to someone is not a crime, punching someone in the face is - and clearly the judge agrees.
Maybe the cage fighters are no angels themselves (indeed, I don't think angels wear fishnet stcokings), but in this instance they are blameless.
Ask yourself how this would have turned out if it had been 2 skinny students in fancy dress as women who'd had the misfortune of encountering these two thugs? I somehow suspect we'd all be watching an entirely more disturbing piece of footage.”
by Passer-Bye, Swansea
Saturday, October 10 2009, 5:54AM
“completely agree with you Adrian,, I have frequented Wind St for many years and have watched the "fighting/missbehaviour" increase and increase. Its a pity that you can't have a night out in town without someone being arrested for something, Its kids out looking for trouble, ie "Dean and Phil", I wonder where it may have ended, if it weren't for Daniel and James. They put an end to a situation that could have got way out of control, before the Police turned up.
As for Dean, what is your exact age, because you are behaving like a spoilt little child, who can't get his own way!”
by Adrian, Neath, Wales
Saturday, October 10 2009, 12:08AM
“"leigh richards, waunarlydd swansea" - you've got no chance of real news around here.
Remember the last front page video that got loads of attention? Yes, another 'Fight Down Wind Street' video.
Unfortunately, this IS the culture of Swansea, South Wales. It's what makes the news and it's what people like to make the news.”
by dave, west cross
Friday, October 09 2009, 11:48PM
“did everyone see the channel five show?! omg! the cagefighters really did themselves proud!NOT!!!!! finally they showed them selves to be the beavus and butt head or dumber and dumber that they are! i laughed so much i ached! cant wait till they get the offers from usa to cage fight,theyl be minced in seconds! cant beleive the press are paying them?! what a pair of mushes!!!!!!and doesnt the light haired one look like the gut thats in a picture in all the doctors surgeries with a belt tight around his chest having a heart attack?! thought you had to hav muscle to be a cage fighter?!! seen more pecks on the chickens in asda!!!!!lol!”
by Paul Jones, Swansea
Friday, October 09 2009, 10:50PM
“To all the do-gooders who have commented on this site I say the following; your words of protection and defence of these reptiles are sad. Wake up and live in the real world, the police are either overstretched or made to acheive targets. It`s not just drunken yobs you are protecting it`s perverts and paedofiles. You rant on about human rights, scum don`t deserve human rights, if you rape a woman you get named, if you act like a thug you get named, if you interfere with children you get protected. It`s because of do-gooders like you on this site, that crime and social misbehavioue is rife in this country. It is you who are the cancer in our society preventing solutions to grave problems, if vigilanties have to address our societies issues then so be it. If it was left to people like John from Swansea and the other misguided fantasists , there would be no hope. The two boys from Mount Pleasant only did what we all want to do, fight back.”
by David, Swansea Vale
Friday, October 09 2009, 9:05PM
“Richard I am not sticking up for the 2 Bonymaen boys. From what I see it all looks like an extremely undignified affair. I always thought that the truly self disciplined 'fighter' stayed a million miles away from alcohol and trouble hotspots? I am right to presume the Kingsway is a alcohol and trouble hotspot? The light hearted 'fun' reportage and glamorisation of street violence beggars belief. I thought the media would be more responsible.”
by Richard, Swansea
Friday, October 09 2009, 8:48PM
“@ David, those idiots were not too drunk to be starting a fight with other people though, get a grip”
by David, Swansea Vale
Friday, October 09 2009, 7:33PM
“The immature revelling in their own violence cage fighters have nothing to brag about. The one who done the punching hit 2 guys way too drunk, unsteady on their feet and incapable to have any punch resistance. Also they were way too drunk to be aware of unseen from the rear/side assault. If for example in his prime All Black Buck Shelford had hit someone that drunk and unsteady on their feet they would have been out cold for for many minutes and not got up within seconds. I suggest the cage fighters continue cage fighting it suits their abilities.”