ONE of Nottingham's favourite sons, ex-boxer Wally Swift, has died aged 76.
Swift, who had 88 professional fights (wining 68), was taken ill at home with a chest infection.
He was rushed to hospital in Birmingham, where he died on Saturday.
Nottingham-born Swift, who worked on the production at Raleigh, became a local hero after winning the British welterweight title at the Ice Rink in only his 10th fight.
He boxed at a packed old ice stadium on 18 occasions and is perhaps best remembered for his blood-and-thunder battles with Brian Curves, Les McAteer and local rival Johnny Pritchett.
He was also good enough to fight for the European crown but was controversially disqualified in the 10th round against Juan Carlos Duran in Birmingham in March 1968.
Swift quit the ring in 1967 after his second fight against McAteer, after suffering bad eye damage.
He later became a successful bookmaker in Knowle. But he retired from the business after suffering a serious back injury in a fall from a ladder.
He later coached his sons, Wally junior and Tony, who both became boxing champions.
He also managed several local boxers like British welterweight champion Del Bryan.
"He took poorly and died peacefully in hospital," said his wife, Sheila. They met in Nottingham and had been married for 50 years.
"They put my dad on an oxygen mask but they said straight away that it didn't look good," said son Tony. "But, typically, he battled on for another 16 hours. He hadn't really been himself since suffering a mini stoke, but it still came as a bit of a shock.
"I suppose 76 is a good age, especially for an ex-boxer."
He said his dad was respected for being fearless.
"He was so passionate about his boxing and his football and always looked for the results of the Nottingham teams on a Saturday night," he said. "He would talk about boxing and football for hours but mention things like politics and religion and he would put the phone down on you."
