Boxing legend Nigel Benn has revealed the heartbreaking news that his brother Mark has died of coronavirus.
Devastated Benn posted an emotional message on Instagram paying tribute to his brother.
The former two-weight world champion said: “My brother Mark passed away 2day (Covid 19), as we all were growing up Mark was the Joker of the Benn house hold.
“May he Rest In Peace love u Mark.”
Benn, 56, held the WBO middleweight title in 1990, and the WBC super-middleweight title from 1992 to 1996.
(Image: PA)
The British boxing great retired in 1996 with a record of 42 wins, five losses and one draw, after losing to Irishman Steve Collins.
Benn was set to make a sensational return to the ring last year to face Sakio Bika in Birmingham.
But he sustained an injury in training camp, ending fans’ hopes of seeing him in action again.
The news of his brother’s death comes after it was revealed that 621 more people with coronavirus had died in the UK, taking the country’s death toll from the pandemic to 4,934.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital for tests on Sunday night due to “persistent” coronavirus symptoms.
The Department of Health said on Sunday that 47,806 people in the UK had tested positive for the virus.
