Heartfelt tributes have poured in for a "true gentleman" who trained Jawaid Khaliq, who was crowned the first British Asian boxing world champion. Ken Bolton was described as a "people's person" who dedicated most of his life to sports.
He died aged 88 at home in Silverdale on February 24 - but he only stopped training six years ago. Mr Bolton never met his parents and lived in a boy's house in London until the age of 14, when he was adopted by a family.
Mr Bolton came to Nottingham in 1953 and started boxing at the YMCA on Shakespeare Street in the city centre. "He did it to keep fit," said his wife of 65 years, Marlene Bolton.
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They met in a pub in West Bridgford and got married three years later. Mrs Bolton described her wedding as "one of the best days of my life" at the Saint Saviour's Church in The Meadows.
She described him as the "perfect husband" who introduced their two children into sports. He trained people in Nottingham for about 30 years, initially at Ruddington Boxing Club before moving to Portland Leisure Centre in The Meadows.
His heartbroken wife, who was by his side when he passed away, added: "He died peacefully at home. The past couple of years were not easy."
Mr Bolton was found to have a melanoma on his foot in 2017 before being diagnosed with dementia. "His health deteriorated in the past years," Mrs Bolton added.
"I was feeding him and asked him if he had enough, and he said 'more for now, more for now' and those were his last words. He was on morphine, so he died peacefully."
Mrs Bolton added: "I miss him every day. We have had a happy life together for 65 years."
Jawaid Khaliq is among the big names Mr Bolton trained during his career. A dual Pakistan national, Mr Khaliq became the first British Asian boxing world champion, winning the lightly-regarded IBO welterweight title in 2001 and defending it seven times before retiring three years later.
He also paid a tribute to Mr Bolton, who was his amateur boxing coach. In a post on Facebook, the star said: "Very sad news to hear of the passing of Kenneth Percy Bolton.
"He helped at the amature boxing club at Portland Leisure Centre. He used to help take me on the pads as an amateur and trained alongside us for years. [He] was loved and respected by everyone that came and will be missed. RIP KEN."
Dan Hardy, a former mixed martial artist who fought in the welterweight division, is another Nottingham star who was trained by Mr Bolton, said his son. Adrian Bolton, 53, added: "My dad helped them in their early careers.
"He helped to build Jawaid into becoming a world champion, even though he was an amateur boxer when he used to train with my dad. He trained a few guys, but it was more than boxing for him.
"It was also people coming off the streets. Boxing can give people a little discipline and a little respect for themselves, and he worked his magic in that kind of way as well."
He added: "My dad was always a gentleman. Everyone was welcome there.
"It would be people of any nationality, religion - he was just happy to help. He had a sense of the people who would come through the doors.
"It would also be people who have been in quite a bit of trouble and he helped in that department as well. It was not just boxing."
In early December last year, the family received the news that they were dreading to hear. Ken's son, recollecting, added: "We were told that he would probably have weeks or months left to live.
"It [the cancer] has spread all over my dad's body. He had surgeries and radiotherapy.
"He was also suffering from dementia, so I do not think he did not understand what was going on extensively. We spent our last Christmas together, but my sister could not come because she had coronavirus."
He went on to describe his dad as a "true gentleman" and a "people's person". "He loved talking to people and that could be anywhere, it could be in a supermarket, or in the middle of the city centre. He was a friendly man and a nice guy," he added.
The heartbroken son added: "He was a family man as well. He was always there for us and spent time with his granddaughter, my sister's daughter, as well."
He is now a personal trainer who previously worked for David Lloyd for 22 years. Mr Bolton, of West Bridgford, said: "That is something that my dad always wanted me to do - to do something I enjoy. I really enjoy training and I suppose that is something which passed down from my dad."
Julie Bolton, Ken's daughter, 56, added: "He trained people until he was like 82. Everyone loved him at the boxing club.
"My mum and dad would always go out for walks and people would recognise them. My dad used to go all around the country for competitions.
"My brother played table tennis and he did quite well - he was very talented. And my dad used to go with him all around the country.
"In fact he got a campervan so they could stay overnight when he was travelling around. He supported us all through sports.
"I also did a lot of sports like ice-skating, horse riding and he used to watch all my running races. He was my biggest supporter.
"Unfortunately, in his last years, he had dementia and did not understand what was going on. We were devastated when we heard that the cancer has spread.
"He just went downhill rapidly," she added. "But I am glad he is at peace now. He was so loved by many."
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