The boxing community rallied behind a Dundee fighter who put his IBF European Super Featherweight on sale so he can buy his family Christmas presents.
Ronnie ‘The Shark’ Clark was “gutted” to put his belt on eBay after a series of cancelled fights left him short of money. He even offered to sign the belt if the winning bidder wished.
He also said he would personally deliver it to the winner to ensure it got to them “safely”.
His story earned the support of the boxing community, including former Commonwealth lightweight champion Tommy Coyle offering Ronnie £1,000 to help him through the tough times — on the condition that he keeps the belt.
Anyone have a contact for Ronnie ? Il happily help him out with a grand under one condition he keeps his belt. https://t.co/ICZI5YvSkw
— Tommy Coyle (@TommyCoyle89) November 25, 2018
He later shared a text message exchange on his Twitter feed that appeared to show a conversation between himself and Ronnie. In it, Ronnie thanked Tommy for sending him £900 and saying it “means a lot”.
The bell was then rung on the listing as it was taken down by Ronnie late on November 25.
At one point before being taken down, the listing reached £940.
Here’s for the few what have said ….
“It will be interesting to see if he actually sends it”
I never promise if I can’t deliver, ever.
All the best to Ronnie get back in ring soon lad x pic.twitter.com/aJtJZ7vPCA
— Tommy Coyle (@TommyCoyle89) November 26, 2018
Ronnie won the belt in February and had three fights cancelled since then, including a bout against Sam Bowen on November 15, who suffered injured ribs during training.
The boxer was jailed last year for nine months after a campaign of controlling his former partner Rebecca Graham, including installing spyware on her phone to keep an eye on who she was contacting.