Shropshire Star

Tributes for late boxing guru Len Woodhall

Tributes have poured in across the boxing world for legendary Telford boxing coach Len Woodhall, who has died.

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Woodhall, from Woodside, trained more than 60 championship-holding fighters across a career which spanned more than 50 years.

He most famously guided his son Richie to the WBC super-middleweight crown in 1998. He helped open Wellington Boxing Academy and was one of the club's main trainers.

Head coach Mo Fiaz said: "He will be sadly missed by everybody at our gym.

"He was there all the time training people and there must be thousands of kids that he has turned into decent boxers over the years.

"He was always very calm and had an affinity for training young people, but we also do keep fit classes and he'd take people of 40 and 50 years old on the pads as well.

"People used to light up when he walked into the gym and, if it wasn't for him, I don't think there would be a Wellington Boxing Academy now.

"We have 33 registered boxers and up to 60 people training there five days a week now.

"He has been like a father figure to me. I have been with him since I was 15 years old when I started boxing at Madeley.

"He was the coach there and he is responsible for me getting into the sport."

Those paying tribute on Twitter included current world title challenger Tony Bellew.

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