Emotional tributes have poured in for a boxer who died this week – with his coach admitting “a hole has been left in the heart of the club”.
George Dykes, 28, was found dead on Monday morning and pals and his training partners have been paying their respects to him.
George, from Newmilns, trained at Northwest Boxing Club in Kilmarnock and coach Graeme Marshall was devastated to hear the news.
Speaking to the Kilmarnock Standard, Graeme said: “George was an exceptionally well liked member of Northwest.
“He always gave nothing short of 100 per cent in training.
“He was a perfect role model for all the young boxers coming through who looked up to him.
“He was always very pleasant with lots of time for everyone and he was always willing to learn and improve.
“There is a massive hole in the hearts of Northwest Boxing Club at the moment.”
And 22-year-old boxing pal Kieran McMaster, who trained with George for eight years, said: “I was only young when I started training with him, but it never felt as if he was much older than me despite the age gap.
“He was brand new. From the minute he came into the club, he would look at how he could help the younger guys.
“He would always make the effort to speak to everyone.
“He was also just an absolute gentleman, he was hilarious.
“We went to see him fight at a few shows too; he was quite a nervous big guy.
“He was always unsure of himself when it came to boxing – but he was always fantastic during the fights.
“That was one of the best things about him, he always expected the worst in the ring, but he always pulled through and was brilliant.
“Outwith the boxing gym he was great too, he was a big bright character, and he was part of our team.
“No matter what was going on in his life he would always be happy and stay positive, and make sure everyone else was too.
“He will be seriously missed, some of the boys at the club are taking it hard.”
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “At around 9.15am on Monday, May 20, the body of a 28-year-old man was found within a property on Arran Drive, Auchinleck.
“Officers are not treating the death as suspicious and a report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
George’s best friend Jamie Smyth has set up a Go Fund Me page for his funeral, which has raised almost half of its £2000 target – you can donate here
