Fight stars to attend funeral of legend Pat

Pat Benson, who trained top champs, receives a BBC Sports award.

THE funeral of Birmingham fight legend Pat Benson takes place on Friday – and the city’s top fighters will be among those paying tribute.

Pat, a man who produced some of the city’s greatest boxers at his famed Small Heath gym, died at Heartlands Hospital on May 1 at the grand age of 92.

His funeral mass takes place at St Edward’s Church, Selly Park, at noon. It will be followed by burial at Brandwood End Cemetery, Kings Heath.

The great fighters spawned by Small Heath included Matt Macklin, the Ramsay brothers, Wayne Elcock, Rowan Williams and Frankie Gavin.

Their achievements speak volumes for Benson’s ability. Macklin was British and European middleweight champ and fought for the world title three times. Elcock was British middleweight champ. Paul and Mark Ramsay are looked on as amateur boxing royalty. Williams fought in the Olympics.

Small Heath old boy Shaun Cogan, an Irish ABA champ and fine pro, said: “If not for him, hundreds of kids would’ve ended up in jail, me included. He made Small Heath one of the best clubs in the country. Everyone in that gym still speaks about Paddy, no one had a bad word to say about him.”

Pat spent over 50 years running Small Heath ABC, helping thousands of young people and in 2010 was honoured with the BBC WM Unsung Hero award.

His grandson Paddy, who runs the Irish Centre’s Pat Benson Boxing Academy, said: “My grandfather was an incredible influence on myself and thousands of others, a man who held our family together and was always there for us.

“He taught me everything I know about boxing and we now have an outstanding facility that has his name above the door. He taught values by demonstrating them, not just talking about them. Resilience, respect, hard work and courage. A man of genuine integrity. My grandfather will never be forgotten.”