HISTORY

Billy Murray Snr was a proud Belfast man. Born in the tough docks area of the city in October 1935, Billy worked for everything he got. He built his business from the ground up over 50 years. He had two sons and four daughters who adored him, a devoted wife, Molly of 53 years. He had 16 grandkids and 11 great grandkids. He loved and was loved.

His illness, a crippling bone cancer, came from nowhere and took him quickly. It was devastating for a man who had been so physical and full of life. He was working as a master shed builder, his own business he worked at right up until the day he took ill.

Billy cut his working teeth as a steel worker in the Belfast docks when he was still a fresh-faced teen. It was a job for fearless men and Billy feared no one. He was a big man who learned how to box. A big boxing fan, who had many of his own tussles on the tough streets on Belfast. He passed his love of the fight game onto his sons Billy Jnr and John. He told them about great fight nights he'd seen and heard and about his own encounters. John became a national amateur champion in both boxing and kickboxing. Billy Jnr went a little further. He fell in love with martial arts and gravitated towards kickboxing. He became a world champion four times over at four different weight divisions. The ProKick gym he established became synonymous with quality and a home for champions. All is driven by a need to succeed and be the best instilled in him by Billy Snr.

The family still miss Billy snr - they'll always miss him. But his love, his guidance, the drive and, when needed, the comfort he gave them all will never be forgotten.

Billy Murray Snr was born in Belfast on October 3, 1935. He died on June 25, 2008.

Thanks, Billy Murray (Jnr)