REPUBLIC of Ireland defender Cyrus Christie has paid tribute to his late uncle Errol, after the former boxer passed away while he was on international duty.
Ex-middleweight fighter Errol Christie sadly died on Sunday after losing his battle with small-cell lung cancer.
Christie, 53, was the captain of the English amateur boxing team from 1980 to 1983 and European amateur champion in 1983.
After turning professional he was a regular fixture on ITV Fight Night in the 1980s.
His nephew Cyrus, 24, who plays for Derby County at club level, tweeted a picture of his uncle captioned: “RIP champ legends never die.”
“Heart is broken rest in paradise uncle you’re not in pain anymore.
"Till we meet again.”
RIP champ legends never die..heart is broken rest in paradise uncle your not in pain anymore..till we meet again ??? pic.twitter.com/5D6o7Z2YI5
— Cyrus Christie (@cyruschristie) June 11, 2017
Cyrus played 90 minutes on Sunday as Ireland salvaged a 1-1 draw against Austria at the Aviva Stadium to keep them joint top of their World Cup qualifying group.
The right-back continues to stand in for skipper Seamus Coleman, who has been out since March with a broken leg.
Erroll, who is in the Guinness Book of Records as the only British boxer to win 10 amateur titles, was diagnosed with the disease in March 2015.
After his retirement from boxing in 1993 he worked as a market trader, stand-up comic and boxing coach. His 2010 autobiography No Place to Hide was longlisted for the William Hill sports writer prize.
So sad to hear the news that the hugely talented Errol Christie has passed away, God bless you Errol RIP deepest sympathies to his family. https://t.co/JsgdzWkGje
— Barry McGuigan (@ClonesCyclone) June 11, 2017
A crowd-funding page has been set up ahead of his funeral.
Irish boxing legend Barry McGuigan paid tribute to the "hugely talented" fighter.
“So sad to hear the news that the hugely talented Errol Christie has passed away, God bless you Errol RIP deepest sympathies to his family,” he said.
Former world heavyweight champ Frank Bruno tweeted: “God rest his soul. Such a talented man. RIP.”
Chris Eubank added: "Errol Christie one of the old masters of boxing has passed away. I sparred with him many times in our early 20s & he was a sweetheart. RIP.”
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