A Crosby schoolboy has dedicated his burgeoning career to the mum he lost when he was just three years old.
Patrick Lloyd Smith was a toddler when his mum Jacqueline Lloyd Smith died suddenly from meningitis.
Jacqueline left behind Patrick, his older sister Faye and their dad Brian. She was 42.
Now Patrick, 15, is a promising amateur boxer with eight wins under his belt.
Patrick does not remember his mum but has seen family videos of her. He told the ECHO he dedicates his boxing career to her.
He said: "Before every fight I touch my gloves and point to the sky - the fight is for mum."
Patrick has been training at the Rydal gym since he was eight years old - his mum used to train at the gym when it was based on Bridge Road in Litherland. Patrick's dad Brian recently spoke to the ECHO about losing his wife to meningitis and how boxing helped him cope with his grief.
He said: "I met Jacqueline in a pub on Litherland Road in Bootle - she found me.
"We started dating when he 17, bought a house when we were 21 and married at 29. When we moved to Crosby we were kind of living the dream - we had two children and a nice house. That is all that Jacqueline ever wanted.
"But we had just moved in when Jacqueline became ill. I remember going around Ikea with her and she was not well. We went for a coffee but she could not drink it. She was poorly that night but we just thought it was a bug.
"The next morning when she woke up she could not move and shouted at me to get an ambulance. I remember the paramedics asked me about the bruising on her body - I did not know what they were talking about. Apparently that was the first signs of septicemia.
"Anyway I had to get the kids to school. I then turned up at the hospital and the doctors told me to get the family together because Jacqueline was not going to survive. She died at one pm."
Brian, an electrician by trade, told the ECHO how he fell into a massive depression after he lost his wife.
He said: "I was a zombie for the first five years. I had to take double the dose of medication just to get through. I did not work for the next few years - I just looked after the kids.
"I used to go running on Crosby beach and train with Robbie. The boxing really helped.
"Jackie used to train at the old gym and knew Robbie - he came to the funeral.
"To be fair Jacqueline trained before boxing became trendy for women - she loved it. Perhaps Patrick has inherited some of his mum's aptitude.
"Anyway the Rydal really helped me get through - everyone at the gym helped. Patrick was already showing promise as a footballer but I encouraged hm to train at the Ryal to boost his stamina and upper body strength."
Patrick has flourished as an amateur boxer and footballer.
Brian said: "He is very good at both. Patrick plays centre midfield and when Steven Gerrard left Liverpool I said 'well there are a pair of boots to fill now.' He is similar to Gerrard and he can run all day. "
Patrick said: "I think I am better at boxing but I love football. Gerrard is a hero of mine alongside boxers like Vasiliy Lomachenko and Devin Haney. I admire the Smith brothers too. "
Brian said: "In a way it was much harder for Faye because she is older and remembers her mum - they were inseparable.
"I have just got on with it. I was an electrician by trade and could not cook and suddenly had to run a home. But we got through and Robbie at the Rydal has helped my family cope.
"So we will see how Patrick does - I know Jacqueline would be proud of both of her children."
