While it may be almost 70 years since Rinty Monaghan became the undisputed flyweight champion of the world, he remains a legendary figure in his native Belfast.
It was entirely appropriate that a statue honouring Rinty, who died in 1984, was unveiled in the centre of the city yesterday, close to the boxer's former home.
He never earned the enormous sums available in the sport today, and the least his outstanding achievements deserve is a permanent tribute in a prominent civic location.
Plans for other sculptures acknowledging Ireland's enduring boxing tradition are to be welcomed and will hopefully be confirmed in the near future.
