FORMER boxing world champion Livingstone Bramble has passed away at the age of 64.
The fighter held the WBA lightweight belt for two years.
GettyLivingstone Bramble [left] has passed away[/caption]
GettyBramble held the WBA lightweight belt for two years after beating Ray Mancini twice[/caption]
Born as Ras-I Alujah Bramble, the icon is best remembered for his two victories over Hall of Famer Ray Mancini.
The hard-hitter knocked out his rival at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium to claim the WBA lightweight belt in 1984.
He retained his crown in the rematch against Mancini a year later and again when facing Tyrone Crawley.
But in one of the biggest upsets of a generation, Bramble lost his title to Edwin Rosario in 1986.
He has been described as an “eccentric” character and the Saint Kitts and Nevis-born legend often wore a snake around his neck when heading into the ring.
In an iconic encounter with Mancini, Bramble pulled out a voodoo doll and poked it in the eyes while asking him “tell me how your eyes feel, see how your eyes are jumping now?”
He also had a pet snake named Dog, a pet dog named Snake and a ferret named Spider.
Bramble finished his career with a 40-26-3 records, including 25 knockouts.
His old manager and trainer Lou Duva said he was a “nut, a real coconut head, a cuckoo.”
In a touching tribute, his pal Stitch Duran said: “One of the hardest punchers I ever did pads for. A true friend. I’ll miss his smile.”
Fans added: “Rest in peace champ.”
Anther wrote: “Livingstone Bramble was a personality, a character that seemed larger than life with an aura of mystique.”
His death comes on the same weekend legend George Foreman and The Sun’s “Voice of Boxing” Colin Hart also sadly passed away.
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