The legendary Cardiff boxing trainer, Ronnie Rush, has died. A former boxer himself and stalwart of the sport in the capital city, he coached several champions, including Steve Robinson.
Ronald Reginald Radcliffe Rodney Rush was born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1935, where he took up boxing, eventually becoming the country's featherweight champion.
He moved to Cardiff in 1956 where he continued to box as a professional for a few years before hanging up his gloves.
He went back into the ring as a trainer when one of his own sons, Randy-Lee, announced that he wanted to take up the sport. Rush, a father of five, was adamant that he would help to coach his son due to the dangers of boxing.
Rush originally coached at the Trelai Youth Club and later at the Homeguard Boxing Club, both in Ely. He set up his own boxing academy, Ronnie’s Gym on Grand Avenue in 1990, which provided a focus for him after his wife, Patricia, had passed away. The couple had been married for 32 years. The gym soon became a focal point for the entire community.
Rush's best known success is featherweight, Steve Robinson, who began training with him when he was just nine-years-old.
Famously, 'Cinderella Man' Robinson won the WBO Featherweight title in 1993, having been given less than 48 hours notice of the bout. At the time, he was working in the storeroom at Debenhams in Cardiff city centre, and was eating pie and chips when he received the phonecall from Rush telling him he had a shot at the title.
He went on to beat John Davison and then defended his title eight times, with Rush by his side.
Robinson has described Rush as being a father figure to him and paid tribute to his old coach on Twitter: "Great character great boxing coach very technical did a lot for the Community he didn’t get the Recognition he Deserved we both made history being the first black welsh boxing coach to train a world champion that made me the first black welsh world champion".
Rip Ronnie Rush 💔
— steve robinson (@steverobinson24) February 9, 2022
Great character great boxing coach very technical did a lot for the Community he didn’t get the Recognition he Deserved we both made history being the first black welsh boxing coach to train a world champion that made me the first black welsh world champion. pic.twitter.com/bfOzwRVHo3
Among Rush's other achievements in boxing is training Jane Couch, who became the first officially licensed British female boxer in 1998, and who won several world titles. And he also coached the Welsh boxing stars Robbie Regan and Barrie Jones.
In 2016, his daughter Juanita told Wales Online: “Very few people in Ely don’t know him. He did a lot for this area, not just boxing but because he gave the children a purpose and got them off the streets.”
Jason Mohammad, who grew up in Ely, described Rush as "an Ely legend" on Twitter.
Just in from the City and saddened to hear about the loss of Ronnie Rush.
— Jason Mohammad (@jasonmohammad) February 9, 2022
An Ely legend and a Welsh boxing great.
Thank you Ronnie for putting us on the map with your training and boxers.
Thoughts and prayers with all Ronnie’s family and friends and Ely / Welsh boxing 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/ihbi2cI0Rr
In later years, Rush developed dementia and was looked after at the Forge Care Home in Ely.
He is desribed as being adored by his five children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
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