Jurgen Blin, a German boxer who faced Muhammad Ali and won the European heavyweight title, died at the age of 79.
After suffering from kidney difficulties, the former combatant died on Saturday.
Jurgen Blin health: What was boxing legend suffering from?
His most famous battle was on Boxing Day in 1971, when he faced famed boxer Ali and lost by knockout in the seventh round.
Blin, on the other hand, gained significant appreciation for his effort and was rewarded six months later with the European title.
During his nine-year professional career, which covered 1964 to 1973, he won 31 of his 48 contests.
In his final fight, he faced Ron Lyle in Denver and lost by TKO.
The German owned a pub and several snack bars after hanging up his gloves.
He also became a boxing coach, working with young people from low-income families.
The newspaper described Blin’s dazzling life in a portrait of him, who was born on the Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn: escape from his alcoholic father, as a cabin boy at sea through heavy storms, apprenticeship as a butcher in Hamburg, entry into boxing, professional at 21, after his career as a snack bar owner.
