Alan Minter (39-9, 23 KOs), who spent six months as the undisputed middleweight champion of the world in 1980, has passed away at the age of 69 after a long battle with cancer.
Minter was born in Crawley, West Sussex, and represented Great Britain at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, winning the bronze medal at light-middleweight.
'Minty' dethroned WBA, WBC and The Ring middleweight champion Vito Antuofermo - who went on to appear in such movies as Goodfellas and The Godfather, Part III after he hung up his gloves - via a 15-round split decision at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas on March 16 1980.
Though he won the rematch via an eighth-round retirement, his second defence spelled the end of his title reign when 'Marvelous' Marvin Hagler stopped him in round three at Wembley Arena.
And Hagler was one of the first names to pay tribute to Minter on social media, just days shy of their title fight's 40th anniversary.
"On September 27 -1980 I became World Champion beating Alan Minter in the third round and this year we will celebrate the 40th anniversary. Today I received the sad news that Alan Minter has died this morning . He left all of us in silence I hope he did not suffer. My condolences go to the Family rest in peace Champion," said Hagler.
Frank Bruno MBE, another British former world boxing champion, posted on his Facebook page: "Alan Minter RIP. Alan & I worked together many times a great boxer in his day I would ask people to look at the old footage of him fighting a great boxer a sad day for British Boxing."
And Bruno wasn't the only one: Ricky Hatton tweeted: "Just heard the very sad news that our boxing family has lost one of our own in former world champion alan minter. You’ll always be a brutish boxing legend and a gentleman alan. My love & very best wishes go out to Ross & the whole Minter family at this time. Ricky. X"
Another British former world champ, Barry McGuigan, posted: "Very saddened to hear of the passing of my friend & former world middleweight champion Alan Minter. My condolences to Ross & all the family. RIP Boom Boom."
Former European champion and Sky Sports analyst Spencer Oliver tweeted: "Just heard the very sad news that boxing legend Alan Minter has passed away, one of my childhood hero’s growing up, my thoughts and prays are with the minter family at this sad time."
Former WBO Super Welterweight World Boxing Champion Paul 'Silky Jones' posted: "Sad news of the loss of Former undisputed world Middleweight king Alan Minter RIP"
Sports broadcaster and boxing expert John Rawling said: "Sorry to hear Alan Minter, former world middleweight champion, has died aged 69. My thoughts are with his family."