AN adopted sport fan was stunned to discover his long-lost dad is a legendary US boxing commentator – making him sole heir to a £200million fortune.
Simon Edwards, 40, tracked down his extended birth family in Galway, Ireland, who told him his birth dad is American household name ‘The Colonel’ Bob Sheridan, 76.
The Hitchin Town FC steward, who lives with his parents, now speaks to his celebrity dad everyday and is set to jet to Las Vegas to stay at the Colonel’s £145m home.
Simon – who now refers to himself as Colonel Jnr – told how he contacted Bob via an agency the day the childless widower laid his wife to rest.
And Bob, famous for commentating on Muhammed Ali’s 1974 Rumble in the Jungle fight with George Foreman, in Zaire, knew instantly he was his son.
Since discovering his famous dad, stunned Simon has had messages of support from superstars Angelia Jolie and J-Lo.
The dad-of-two Simon, of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, told SunSport: “I always dreamed of being reunited with my long lost father.
“As a boxing fan I knew exactly who he was, so it was fair to say it came as a pretty big shock. It’s just been so wonderful getting to know him.
“To other people it must seem amazing that this famous person is my dad, but for me it’s amazing to just know who my dad is and be in touch with him
“I’d probably still be as blown-away if he was a plumber from down the road.
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“It’s so exciting to have all these plans to fly to America and meet him and make him part of my life.
“And of course it’s totally surreal to be getting messages from people like Angelina Jolie.
“But if I’m honest, I’ve managed to bag a place stewarding at Wembley for the European Championship – and I’m a bit worried all this might get in the way.”
He added: “My mum and dad here are over the moon – they’ve always said if I wanted to find them they would be behind me.”
Curious Simon tracked down his extended family to Galway and visited them in 2019 – sadly learning his birth-mum Rosemary Ruane, had died in 1985.
He was told the unmarried hotel manager was one of nine daughters from the same Catholic family and had travelled to London to give birth after falling pregnant.
Simon was born in Newham, London, in 1980 and put up for adoption through the Catholic Children’s Society.
He was placed with retired British Aerospace scientist Mike Edwards and former healthcare worker Sue, who he still considers to be ‘his real parents’.
During his 2019 visit Simon’s new-found family revealed to him his dad was Bob, who was an Irish-American baseball player, who visiting his family’s land in Galway in 1979.
The Colonel’s family owned the land where Simon’s mum worked in a hotel and she befriended the US star before they had an affair.
Overjoyed Bob said: “I was lost for words when I was told, I have spent every day on the phone with Colonel Jnr.
“It has given me a new lease of life and I’m looking forward to the reunion with junior in Las Vegas later this year.
“I can’t wait to just have a beer with my son and getting to know him. I love him more than words express.”
Bob told SunSport: “I had just buried my wife.
“I was besides myself when the chaplain from my military regiment said to be ‘I know you feel cheated by the Lord, but remember he only gave his own son 33 years on this Earth.
“I got home and had a Guinness and I really felt like I had nothing left in my life.
“Then I got a call from an agency saying, ‘You have a 41-year-old son – and I said ‘are you sure?’
“They said all you have to do is see him once and you’ll know he’s your son. He looks just like you, he’s a great athlete like you.
“I was thinking, an hour ago I had nothing to live for – now I have a son.
“I asked how did this happen? Then I remembered this lovely girl I had been dating before I met my wife.”
Sheridan explained: “She was the manager of the Shannon Shamrock hotel where I had my farm there.
“Rosie told me I could go into the hotel for whatever I needed, a shower, food – anything.
“I asked her what would she get out of it? And she said, ‘I want you’.
“It seemed like a simple request for the likes of me and we were lovers and that’s when Simon was conceived.”
The Colonel added: “The first time I spoke to him I knew he was my boy. He sounds like me, he talks the same way as me.
“My sports number was always six, Simon told me he played high level cricket and football and his number was always six.
“Even down to the number on our uniforms we were the same.
“It’s just been such a blessing, I can’t wait to meet him and take him to meet my brother’s family in Boston.
“I only wish my wife had lived to see our son.”
Sheridan is famous for his booming baritone and has called ringside action for over 10,000 fights, including nearly 1,000 world title bouts and 100 heavyweight title fights.
He is known as the Colonel because of his rank in the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts.
The Colonel says the relationship has been confirmed by DNA, making him the ‘only heir to my fortune’.
Simon, who also stewards at Lord’s so he can be part of the cricket, has a day job as a senior credit controller.
Bob is already desperate to meet his new grandchildren – Simon’s two half-Philipino daughters Keira, nine and Scarlette, four.
