Ray Close had a decorated amateur career, the Belfast native turned professional in 1988 and claimed the European super-middleweight title in Italy five years later.
His next fight would be among the most memorable of his career, as Close took on the legendary Chris Eubank in Scotland in May 1993, less than two months after winning EBU gold.
Eubank was undefeated in 35 professional bouts when he met Close in Glasgow for the WBO super middleweight title and was pushed all the way to a controversial split draw on the judges’ scorecards.
The pair rematched a year later in an electric atmosphere at Belfast’s Kings Hall, where Eubank retained his belt by split decision after another strong performance from Close.
Close then had his licence withdrawn by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) after failing a routine MRI scan.
The scan revealed two lesions on his brain, meaning a scheduled trilogy bout with Eubank never materialised.
This prompted Close, who believed he had much more to give in the ring, to obtain a licence in the US, where he fought out the rest of his career.
Close fought five times stateside between 1996 and 1997 and won all his bouts in Illinois before retiring with a 25-3 record, plus the famous draw against Eubank.
Close spent the last three years in a nursing home.
He was a resident at the Phoenix Clinic in Newtownards, County Down, which is the only nursing home in Northern Ireland providing specialist care for people aged 18 to 65 with a physical disability.
His son, Benjamin Close, ran the Belfast City Half Marathon last year in aid of the facility, saying it is ‘incredibly close to my family’s heart.’
Ben said his dad was a resident ‘after suffering a traumatic brain injury as a result of his own amazing career as a professional boxer.’