RIP Ernie Holt - true Brum boxing legend

Ernie Holt…the man who founded Nechells Amateur Boxing Club

BIRMINGHAM boxing has lost one of its true legends.

Ernie Holt, who founded Nechells Amateur Boxing Club over 60 years ago, died in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday) aged 86.

With his passing, one of the last remaining links to the past glory days of the unpaid sport in the Second City has been lost.

He possessed an encyclopaedic knowledge of the game and produced a string of top fighters, including British heavyweight champ Horace Notice.

His nephew Mark Holt and Mark’s son Paul also became pro champs at Midlands level.

The Holts are a boxing dynasty, with light-heavy Ryan Whelan currently representing the family in the pro ranks.

“I don’t know anybody who had a bad word to say about Ernie,” said Mark, who is now at the helm of the Nechells gym. “People over-use the word legend, but 100 per cent he was one.

“I have always said our gym is not just a gym, it’s a family. The number of messages we have received today has shown that.

“He was still a regular at the gym until nine months ago, he still wouldn’t let you get away with nothing. He was still telling the lads what to do and how to do it.”

Birmingham has lost another of its true Old Timers.

Mark said: “There are not many left now. About six years ago, I organised a night to recognise the Old Timers.” All received a trophy.

Ernie founded the famous gym along with Mark’s dad Derek. Billy Morris and Johnny Harris were also early Nechells pioneers.

Zain Ali and Ernie stand in front of the mural the boxer paid for

Mark added: “Me and Paul would not have achieved what we did without them. We’re gutted.”

So are a host of other fighters, past and present.

Current pro Zain Ali, who fought on Saturday, was so indebted to Ernie that, in 2020, he paid for a mural of the coach to be created at the Nechells gym.

He said today: “Ernie meant a lot to me, I owe him so much. It’s a sad day.”