Frank Bruno has told of his heartbreak after the death of a close pal and former ring warrior.
The ex-heavyweight, 64, learnt that ex-middleweight champ Mark Kaylor died on Sunday (16 November) – the same day as his own birthday.
The pair came up through the fight game together, training side-by-side and regularly appearing on the same bills.
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Bruno said: “RIP Mark Kaylor – we trained together in various gyms and were quite often on the same bill when I was going through the ranks.
“From memory a big West Ham United fan.
“Very poignant for me as he passed away on my birthday aged 64 – the age I am now.”
Kaylor, who also turned 64 this year, represented Britain at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where he narrowly missed out on a medal after a split-decision loss in the quarter-finals.
He later became British and Commonwealth champion before retiring in 1996 and moving to California, where he coached boxing and even worked as an aerobics instructor.
A massive West Ham supporter, he famously wore trunks in the club’s claret-and-blue colours.
The Hammers paid tribute with a heartfelt statement.
A spokesperson said: “Everyone at West Ham United has been deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former British and Commonwealth middleweight boxing champion Mark Kaylor at the age of 64.
“An ardent Hammers supporter, Kaylor was born in Canning Town and brought up in Stanford-le-Hope in Essex before moving back to Canning Town as a teenager to enhance his boxing prospects.
“Having joined West Ham Boxing Club, he claimed the revered ABA England Boxing National Amateur Championships trophy in 1980, and then competed at that year’s Moscow Olympics, where he reached the quarter-finals.
“Kaylor went on to forge a successful professional career, during which he sported claret and clue trunks in the ring and was duly backed by huge numbers of his fellow West Ham fans.
“He beat Roy Gumbs within five rounds to claim the British and Commonwealth titles in September 1983, and enjoyed a feisty rivalry with Errol Christie which culminated in a knockout-victory over his fellow Brit in November 1985.
“In 1991, Kaylor retired with a record of 40-7-1 (34 KOs), before moving to the USA and working as an aerobics instructor in California.
“Everyone at West Ham United would like to express their sincere condolences to Mark’s family and friends at this sad time.”
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