Tyson Fury’s first trainer dead at 85: ‘Mr Boxing’ – who ‘helped turn the Gypsy King into heavyweight world champion’ – passes away

Tyson Fury’s first trainer has died at the age of 85, his daughter has announced.

Dave Stacey is credited as one of the key figures in helping The Gypsy King become a future world heavyweight champion from a young age after Fury stayed with his family near Torbay, Devon.

It was at the Torbay Amateur Boxing Club that Stacey Fury is said to have trained in the basics of the sport he would dominate for a while.

Recalling the moment he first met the future two-time world heavyweight champion, Stacey was quick to comment on Fury’s size.

“This young boy showed up alone one night and asked to train with us,” Stacey said. “He was a big boy, I’d say almost six feet tall at the time. We did not turn away boys who wanted to train.

Fury has become a two-time world heavyweight champion (pictured ahead of a re-match with Oleksandr Usyk)

‘Although he never boxed for us, he continued to train and spar for six months and then his family must have moved away.

“I didn’t remember much about him because I treat everyone the same and there were a lot of other boys to take care of.”

Fury later reunited with Stacey at an event in Blackpool, where he presented an award and took time to exchange a few words with his former mentor.

“He presented our boy with an award, realized where he came from and said, ‘I trained at your club when I was little,’” Stacey added.

‘Our boy said to him, ‘And the man who trained you was standing there,’ and then Tyson came up to me and shook my hand and thanked me.

“It was nice of him to come over and talk to me because there were a lot of other people who wanted to talk to him.”

Stacey had played a role in shaping other fighters who would go on to have prolific careers in the sport, such as former WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison.

Following the announcement of Stacey’s tragic death, his daughter Nicole led the tributes to the former boxing trainer.

Fury was later reunited with his former mentor at an event in Blackpool when he presented an award

Torbay ABC also paid tribute to their former coach who described Stacey as ‘a true legend’

‘He was a real family man first and foremost and was always very proud to tell other people that he felt like the luckiest man in the world as a husband and father, and we really felt that love.

‘He was a very loyal person and would do absolutely anything for us. People always described him as a real character and he was unapologetically himself. He had the ability to talk to anyone and put them at ease.

‘If there was a setback of any kind, he didn’t dwell on it, he told people how he felt, picked himself up and took on the challenge. I guess that’s the boxing mentality and focus.”

Torbay Amateur Boxing Club added: ‘Torbay ABC is extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Dave Stacey, a highly regarded coach for the club.

‘RIP Dave, you were a true legend.’