Reg Gutteridge

[steve56]

Reg Gutteridge, the legendary boxing commentator and journalist, has died after a short illness, his family said today. He was 84.

An amateur boxer as a youngster, Gutteridge turned to journalism after losing a leg when he stepped on a mine at Normandy during the Second World War.

He worked for the Evening News as its boxing correspondent for 40 years. But he made his name as ITV's voice of boxing, later forming a commentating partnership with former world lightweight champion Jim Watt. The pair later moved to Sky.

Awarded an OBE in 1995, London-born Gutteridge also covered six Olympic Games.

Such was his popularity within boxing that he struck up friendships with many fighters. During the 1980s, when ill in hospital, Muhammad Ali was among the visitors.

In 2002 he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Gutteridge, who lived in Barnet, passed away yesterday. He leaves a wife, daughter and four grandsons.

His daughter Sally said: "He was a much-loved husband, father and grandfather. He touched many lives."

[colonel]

I always thought it was Kent Walton who had the false leg>

[Welshman]

Top commentator, Reg and Harry Carpenter were head and shoulders above what we have to put up with these days.

[Trumpton]

R.I.P. Reg.

[Dave Wells]

Great Voice.