The family of Cardiff boxing legend Ronnie Rush have paid tribute to him following his death.
The former Trinidad and Tobago featherweight trained three former world champions – including featherweight champion Steve Robinson – following his own glittering career in the ring.
Ronnie was also a hugely respected and well-loved member of the Ely community having set up his own boxing school, Ronnie's Gym, there more than 30 years ago. As a mentor he turned around the lives of many disadvantaged youngsters from the local area and started the careers of some of Wales' finest boxing talent.
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In recent years Ronnie – full name Ronald Reginald Radcliffe Rodney Rush – had been suffering with dementia and was cared for at the Forge in Ely.
He passed away at the care home on Wednesday, February 9, at the age of 87.
His family said he would be remembered as "a legend".
"There won't be anybody like him again," his wife Lynette said. "He was a true legend and he was recognised everywhere he went even outside of Cardiff.
"We even had a man come all the way from Pakistan to meet Ron in Cardiff. He had heard about Ron and came to the UK to get him to come back with him and train some boxers in Pakistan. That's how amazing he was."
Lynette added that her late husband, whom she married in 2011, was an "amazing family man" who was loved by his community.
"He was very kind and very gentle," she said. "He was a tough coach but he never saw the bad in people. He was a real gentleman and was great with my girls – he even had them in the boxing ring too.
"Boxing was his life but the people of Ely were his everything too. He'll be remembered as a legend in the community and beyond."
Ronnie began his professional boxing career in the West Indies where he was born and continued when he moved to the UK in 1956.
After hanging up his gloves he coached at the Trelai Youth Club and later at the Homeguard Boxing Club, both in Ely, before setting up his own gym on Grand Avenue in 1990.
During his coaching career he trained Welsh boxing star Barry Jones and Jane Couch MBE, who became the first officially licensed British female boxer in 1998, as well as world champion Steve Robinson.
Steve, who famously won the WBO Featherweight title with just two days notice while working in Debenhams in 1993, was one of the boxers taught by Ronnie at the gym.
The 53-year-old was trained by the boxing legend from the age of nine when he was an amateur boxer and during the majority of his professional days including his eight title successes between 1993 and 1995. In 2016 the pair were reunited in a visit organised by Ronnie's carers – you can read more about this here.
Speaking following Ronnie's death Ely-born Steve said his mentor was "a great coach and a great person".
"I started boxing with Ronnie when I was nine years old," he said. "He was a very good coach and I don't think he got the recognition he deserved really.
"As a coach he was very technical, very strict. He wouldn't let you get away with anything and he'd push you to your limits but he would always bring the best out of me and always gave me confidence, even when I lost a fight.
"He's done so much for the community and for the youngsters around here with his boxing gym and inspired lots of kids like me. He'll be remembered as a great coach and a great person."
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