Boxing mourns as Finnegan, 64, dies

British boxing is mourning the death of Chris Finnegan, the Olympic gold medalist whose epic challenge for the world light-heavyweight championship in 1972 is still regarded as one of the greatest fights witnessed within Wembley Arena.

Finnegan was a 24-year-old bricklayer when he struck gold while competing as a middleweight at the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico.

The cut-prone southpaw from Buckinghamshire went on to claim British, Commonwealth and European titles as a professional.

However, his bid to become a world champion was thwarted by America's Bob Foster in a thriller at what was then called the Empire Pool at Wembley, that went to the 14th of 15 scheduled rounds. Finnegan, 64, died after a short illness.