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Ledley Hall Youth and Boxing Club in east Belfast, where Close started his boxing journey as a 10-year-old, led tributes and said he was a “true gentleman, humble, kind and always willing to give something back”.<\/p>\n
“To our young people, Ray was proof of what could be achieved,” the club posted on Facebook.<\/p>\n
“He was someone who had come through the same doors, trained in the same club and gone on to accomplish incredible things.”<\/p>\n
The club added that Close’s story has “inspired generations of young people at Ledley Hall and will continue to do so”.<\/p>\n
“There are some people who become part of the history and heart of a place, and Ray will always be part of ours.<\/p>\n
“We will remember him with enormous pride, affection and gratitude.”<\/p>\n
Bangor Abbey Boxing Academy, where Close had trained, said he will be a “huge loss to the boxing fraternity of Ireland and across the world”.<\/p>\n
“Ray and his whole family have been a huge part of our club over the years, right from the very start and we are truly devastated.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n