NEVILLE MEADEHeavyweight boxing champ Neville Meade shot to fame in 1980 with his devastating punches wowing TV audiences during a British title bout.
But the boxing world was sent into mourning after the 6ft Swansea boxer lost his battle with cancer on 13 March, 2010.
Cruiserweight Enzo Maccarinelli expressed his “shock and sadness at the news”, while his former manager Colin Breen paid tribute to Meade, saying he had the heart of a lion.
He said: “He was one hell of a fighter and packed an almighty punch. He had his problems, but he was a true gentleman.”
Jamaican-born Meade turned professional in 1974, two years after taking gold at the Commonwealth Games.
He slogged away for six years, losing 11 times, before hooking up with trainer Jimmy Bromfield and boxing out of Colin Breen’s gym in Sandfields, Swansea.
Despite being in his 30s, and weighing in at around 16 stone, the new set-up seemed to bring out the best in Meade.
Mr Bromfield said: “He was a big guy, but had a devastating punch. We worked with him for five fights, which were back-to-back knock-outs.”
Mr Meade died, aged 61, at Ty Olwen.
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