Tribute to Solihull Boxing Club’s founder and coach

England Boxing has been sad to learn that Solihull Boxing Club’s founder and long-time coach Roy Barbor has passed away at the age of 86.

He ran the club from 1969 until 2005 and was known not only as a great coach, but a mentor and father figure to many of the lads at the club.

Pictured with Roy, above, Ian ‘Brum’ Tennant, a former boxer at the club and now England Boxing Talent Pathway Coach, said: “Roy was a great role model and an inspiration for me to remain in the sport beyond competitive boxing.”

Senior Coach and former boxer at Solihull Boxing Club, Paul Archer, paid tribute to Roy by adding: “Roy was a committed and dedicated coach at the club for many years…he was a hard man with a big heart.”

Allan John, another former boxer at the Club, will attend the funeral to represent all of the many, many boxers who were fortunate to have been coached by Roy.