Tributes have been paid to a dedicated ABA amateur boxing association coach who trained at Birkenhead Venture Boxing Club for 15 years.

Ian ‘Niddy’ Smith, who has died aged 55, was originally from Speke in Liverpool before he moved to Wirral in 1993 aged 27.

During that time Ian struck up a friendship with Sean Trodden who he trained together with at the gym owned by Sean’s father, Dennis.

Paying tribute to Ian, Sean told the Globe: “We reopened the gym in the early 2000’s and me and Niddy were the two coaches at the Club, we got all our badges together in 2008 and began competing in 2009.

“He was not only large in stature but also large in personality. He was such a funny and witty fella, but he was very capable as well in his fighting skills.

“For a big hard man, he had such a lovely soft subtle side. He was caring and a gentle giant unless you got on the wrong side of him.”

During his youth, Ian trained in martial arts before transferring over to boxing and was described by Sean as “always having a passion for combat sports”.

During his 15 years of boxing, Ian also enjoyed helping those in the local community.

“He would always give up his time for all the local children in the community. He really loved giving back,” Sean said.

Ian was involved with raising money for mental health and domestic violence charities.

Towards the end of his life Ian stopped coaching but still made time for those involved in the gym.

Sean said: “He was always still bringing people into the gym, even when he stopped coaching.

“He was part of the furniture and was so popular in the Birkenhead community.

“He was very rarely down he was so bubbly and always laughing and joking. He really made time for everyone he met.”

Alongside boxing, Ian was self-employed as a painter and decorator.

Sean said: “He was a perfectionist when it came to painting and decorating. He was top class. I wouldn’t have gone to anyone else to decorate my house or the gym.”

Sean said: “He was one of the lads. Our mate Niddy.

“He’ll be sorely missed by us all and it won’t be the same without him. There will always be a void especially at the gym.”