THE sporting world has paid emotional tributes to The Sun’s legendary Voice of Boxing.Colin Hart, who was a member of this newspaper’s original sports desk when The Sun was launched in 1969, died aged 89 on Saturday.The sporting world has paid emotional tribute to Colin HartCredit: The SunHart with Muhammad Ali Jnr, Michael Watson and John Conteh last yearCredit: RexLennox Lewis being asked questions by Hart in New York in 1999Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdRicky “The Hitman” Hatton and heavyweight champions Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno led tributes to a “master of his craft”.Ricky Hatton: ‘One of the last great boxing journalists’I am so sad to hear of the passing of Colin Hart.Colin followed my career from the start all the way through to the big fights in Vegas.He would often ring me for a chat and we became genuine mates.Colin was one of the first people to congratulate me when I was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame, he had previously been inducted himself, and I know how proud he was of that.We spoke for ages and he told me it was one of the highlights of his career and what to expectAnd, right at the end of the chat, he told me: ‘You’ll love it, Ricky. Just enjoy it like I did’.Colin is one of the last great boxing journalists and he will be sadly missed.RIP old mate.Michael Buffer: ‘Among the best ever’Read more Sports NewsI was honoured to know the legendary Boxing Hall of Fame journalist, Colin Hart, for almost all of my career in the sport.His writings and passion for boxing are universally recognised as among the best ever.He will be forever remembered as a gentleman scribe and, to those of us who knew him by either casual acquaintance or deep personal friendship, he will be missed and never forgotten.Rest in peace, dear friend.Jeff Powell MBE: ‘Wise, wry and fearless’A privilege and a delight to share much of Colin Hart’s journey to legendary status as a sports writer who knew more about boxing than 99 per cent of all those involved in the game. Honest and loyal as an East End day is long. Wise, wry, fearless, generous, a treasure trove of tales to tell. Ultimate professional and much loved companion on our travels. May The Sun never set on his memoryJane Couch: ‘Knew the game inside out’Most read in BoxingMe and Colin go back a long way.Although Col was old fashioned and wasn’t keen on women boxing, he was always OK with me.We got on well.It’s a sad loss to boxing.Colin was one of the old school journalists who knew the game inside out.Boxing legend Colin Hart reveals how Larry Holmes was targeted by ‘rednecks’ in build-up to Gerry Cooney fightJoe Calzaghe: ‘Real giant of boxing writers’Colin was a real giant of boxing writers and there will never be another like him.He will be sorely missed and my deepest condolences go to his family, friends and colleagues.Michael Watson: ‘I felt like he was in my corner’Colin Hart was a boxing man, through and through.We could tell it was more than a job for him.Colin cared about us fighters and he campaigned for us.I felt like he was in my corner during my boxing career and definitely after it.The world has changed a lot since our glory days and I’m not sure there will ever be another Colin Hart.Lennox Lewis: ‘An icon in British boxing’I was only with Colin at the undisputed heavyweight world title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia in May and he looked so fit and strong.We were sat behind Usyk’s wife and when she kept standing up to cheer on her man, Colin was politely telling her to sit down so he could see the action.Even in the VIP seats, Colin was still in ‘journalist mode’ wanting to capture every second and know exactly what had happened.Afterwards, when Usyk had got his hand raised, his wife and Colin had a lovely chat. She apologised and said she couldn’t help supporting the husband she loves so much. And Colin told her that Usyk was a lucky man.Now I realise that was our last time together, it feels like a really nice one.Early on in our careers, things were definitely not as cosy.Because I came over to the UK from Canada, with my Olympic win, Colin didn’t take to me.It seemed like he was a proud Englishman, proud of his country and its fighters, so I felt he picked against me, especially when I boxed a guy he felt was more British than me.I remember he picked Gary Mason and Frank Bruno to beat me, even though all of the other reporters were in my corner.But it ended up being a great inspiration to me, because he was respected, I took his doubts about me and used them as fuel.When I proved him wrong I would look out for him in the front row and press seats and try to catch his eye.I loved proving him wrong and I could see he felt that too.It was a good healthy professional relationship, where he had questions about me and I was eager to answer them.Eventually he did realise that I was the real deal, I answered all of his questions and I cured all of his doubts.He admitted he had got me wrong and I respected that, that’s how things should work between men.It was clear that he was revered among all the other reporters, he was clearly the leader of the boxing press pack.I don’t think anyone else ever started off a press conference or an interview ahead of Colin.The other reporters waited for him to lead and sometimes he would get about 10 questions off before anyone else dared ask some.I even remember a couple of times when he finished his list of questions, closed up his notepad, tucked away his pen and walked off, just when the other writers were getting the chance to start their questions!He was that confident in his research and questions that he didn’t need to hang around and listen to the leftovers, he was off to write his words.I noticed it around my era but it’s even more prevalent recently, some reporters seem afraid to ask the real questions, or push for the truth, because the fighter or promoter or manager might get angry or cancel their accreditation.There doesn’t seem to be the same desire to get to the real truth anymore.Fighters and their achievements are often way overblown or their failings and mistakes are ignored and glossed over.From my years working with Colin, I could never accuse him of that.I think he would like to know that.I knew that he wanted to get to the truth and tell the truth and – if he upset people along the way – so be it.It looks like it’s sometimes hard to have a good name in journalism, to be trusted, but I felt like Colin had that.His longevity made him an icon in British boxing but I think the fact that his name and his word was respected probably meant much to him.Anthony Crolla: ‘One of the most recognisable faces and voices’It’s heartbreaking that Colin has gone, especially so close to a milestone 90th birthday.But I know that his legacy on British boxing – the sport, not just the journalism – will never be surpassed or forgotten.You were one of the most recognisable faces and voices in the sport – more so than some of us fighters even!I’ll always remember we were sat together for the George Groves win over James DeGale and we had a pretty big difference of opinion!But that night, like all the others, it was just lovely to be in your company and listen to your opinions, because you were someone that I respected, massively.Rest in peace, Colin. We’re really going to miss you.Sun boxing writer Hart chats to Lewis in 1995Credit: News Group Newspapers LtdColin covered hundreds of world title fights and is pictured here with Mike TysonCredit: Times Newspapers LtdColin reported on the iconic Rumble in the Jungle… and predicted Muhammad Ali’s win when the rest of Fleet Street tipped George ForemanCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdSpencer Oliver: ‘The man you wanted to take notice of you’I’m not exaggerating to say that Colin was THE man you wanted to take notice of you, when you was boxing in my era.When we opened The Sun at the gym, we would rush straight through to his pages and hoped we would get a mention.Colin was always the boxing reporter of that generation that was the most respected in the gyms and at the shows, everyone wanted to get on his radar and get praise in his columns.It’s broken me a little bit, because he covered my entire career and he helped me when I was injured and in hospital and fighting dark times.He was always in my corner, when I felt very alone. And then again when I started working in the media and he helped me with so many TV and radio shows.It’s a real blow, it’s no exaggeration to say British boxing will not be the same again.Looking around a London ring, from Wembley stadium or York Hall, you almost always spot Colin with a paper under his arm.I’m gutted I’m never going to see that again.But I’m so grateful for everything he did for me and I hope I repaid him, somehow.READ MORE SUN STORIESJohnny Nelson: ‘An absolutely proper boxing journalist’When Colin Hart wrote about you in The Sun it was a big deal.I remember it took him ages to write about me, I kept looking for an article an it never came and, when it did, I don’t thing it was even nice about me!But because fighters knew how much Colin had given to the sport, the amateur shows, not just world titles, they respected his opinion.I saw him have loads of arguments with fighters because, when he criticised them, it hurt, because he knew his stuff and it carried weight.And he wasn’t being critical for attention, he was doing his job and he had earned his right to an opinion.These days most boxing coverage is about views and clicks and content, people need to protect their access rather than ask the important questions.Colin was the opposite of that, he was an absolutely proper boxing journalist.I don’t think there will ever be another boxing reporter like Colin Hart, the world and the sport and the industry doesn’t make them like that anymore.Frank Bruno: ‘Undisputed Champion of boxing reporters’Sometimes in life, when your back is against the ropes, and you feel like the whole world is mugging you off, you need people you can reach out to for help who you can trust. Colin Hart was – without a doubt – always one of those people. I was just a teenager, a kid really, when our paths crossed for the first time. I was an upcoming amateur fighter making a name for myself. Colin – or Mr Hart as I called him the first time we met – was a top boxing journalist who had covered boxing’s great and good for decades. So I knew when he kept coming back to watch my fights I must have been doing something right. In the end, he was there at ringside, covering every moment: all the highs and all the lows. Recently, he very kindly picked my fight against Lennox Lewis as one of his top five British bouts of all time. I quite liked the fight as well. Well, apart from the ending if you know what I mean. But it’s the moments outside the ring that I spent with Colin that I’ll remember the most fondly. Boxing now is nothing like it used to be. These days, those press conferences are like mini-fights. The hype, the drama, the aggro – I wouldn’t be surprised if they start putting some of those press conferences on pay-per-view. Back in the 80s and 90s it was totally different. Boxers and newspaper journalists would spend time mixing in and around training camps. There was no social media. No 24 hour sports news. Instead, I’d spend hours talking to Colin and his colleagues. These guys knew everything about boxing and Colin had the biggest brain of all. I used to joke that he was a walking encyclopedia. But I secretly soaked up so much of what he said and the advice he gave me. To me, Colin was a serious hombre. When he had something to say it was worth paying attention. I knew I could trust him too. I’ve not always had a great relationship with the media, especially some of the news-boys over the years. But Colin was as straight as they came – and he quickly became a really firm friend. Maybe that’s why when I hit rock-bottom and started suffering with mental ill health it was Colin I turned to for advice. I remember one phone call, shortly before I was sectioned, where I spoke to Colin on the phone for an hour. Truth be told I was crying out for help and Colin, as ever, advised me the best I could. In the end, like we all have to, I had to find my own way out of my troubles. But Colin was always supporting me, sending me letters and notes. And once I was out of hospital he was one of the first on the phone to wish me well. Since retiring I regularly saw Colin at various boxing events, sportsmans dinners, and charity galas. If I knew he was there I’d always ask to be on his table, and we’d swap stories about the good old days. I last saw Colin in October, at a tribute dinner in London to celebrate my old mate John Conteh, and he was as sharp and as smart as he’d always been. As ever it was a privilege to spend some time with him and to share a laugh and a joke. It’s hard to believe I’ll never see him again. When it comes to the kings of boxing reporters, Colin was the undisputed Champion. No-one else will ever lay a glove on him. RIP, my friend. Frank Bruno More
