TRIBUTES have been paid to a Shipley man dubbed ‘Mr Boxing’ who met a number of the sport’s greats.

Boxing fanatic John Burton, 73, died peacefully of heart disease at his home in Wainman Street, Shipley.

He met 17 world heavyweight boxing champions, including Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier.

He turned down a string of personal pleas and a £20,000 pay-out from Iron Mike himself for an oil painting he had completed of Tyson himself.

Before his fight in Manchester with Julius Francis in 2000, Mr Burton managed to gain a personal audience with Iron Mike after persuading security staff to let him into the hotel he was staying at.

He also completed a painting of Ali and had tattoos of both portraits on his arms.

Mr Burton’s brushes with sporting legends included a night out drinking with football legend George Best at an event held in Halifax.

But he gave his collection of 130 signed pictures to the Steven Thewlis Boxing and Martial Arts gym in Caledonian Street, Bradford, in 2006.

A house move from Bradford Moor to Clayton meant he had to find somewhere for his boxing memorabilia to go.

Mr Burton was employed at Marsden Radiators in Shipley, working on a furnace making car radiators.

He also ran the United Services Bar, Rosse Street, Shipley, during the 1970s.

He used to box as an amateur in his school days but he later confessed he gave it up because he did not like getting hit.

He also had a trial as a youngster at Huddersfield Town and also played football with former Manchester United legend Denis Law.

Mr Burton’s son, Jason Bentley, 47, said: “He was Shipley through and through.

“He was really well known in Shipley.

“He was a top man. He was happy being around everybody.

“People called him a celebrity stalker after all the people he had met.

“Dad met the big boxers at black tie events. They used to call him Mr Boxing, he has photos with them. He met 17 world heavyweight champions.

“He was a big sports fan, and a big football fan. He had a season ticket at Bradford City this season and also followed Manchester United and Liverpool.

“He was also a good family man.

“He trained as a plumber in the end but wanted to be a footballer.”

His funeral will take place on Friday, March 3, at 10.10am at Nab Wood Crematorium. Mr Burton died on February 3.

Family flowers only are requested for the service, but donations may be made to Candlelighters, a Yorkshire charity for children with cancer. A collection box will be provided at the service.

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