Ireland’s Andy Lee confirmed he has now retired from the sport at the age of 33 after a career that saw him become world champion.

His professional boxing career started out with legendary trainer Manny Steward who spotted him years before in the amateurs.

Steward passed away a few years back but his legacy in boxing and to the fighters he trained is still felt to this day.

His funeral saw some of the great names in boxing attend and pay tribute to not just a wonderful trainer, but an incredible human being.

Steward had a way of making a fighter feel special and helping them outside the ring with their confidence and issues that they may have had in life.

In many ways, he was much more than just a boxing trainer.

Following Andy Lee’s retirement yesterday he told Off The Ball YouTube (hat tip) the heart warming story of where it all began for him and Steward:

Since the news that Lee retired tributes have been pouring in from the boxing world.

Perhaps one of the best came from one of his closest rivals during his career, whom he never fought, Matthew Macklin.

This says it all:

Just read @AndyLeeBoxing has retired from boxing. Congratulations on a fantastic career bud. I remember seeing you at the bar in JFK on your own after the Chavez loss. You kept the belief & went on to achieve your dream..well done!?????? Good luck with whatever’s next??

— matthew macklin (@mattmacklin) February 20, 2018