Boxing mourns champion killed by van

Mason, 48, was cycling near his flat in Wallington, south London, when he was in a collision with a white van on Thursday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 43-year-old driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and bailed pending further inquiries.

Mason, known as a hard-hitting fighter with a strong chin, was British champion from January 1989 to March 1991. He also led a remarkable life after boxing, involving rugby league, arm-wrestling and therapeutic drumming.

The Jamaican-born boxer won 37 of his 38 professional bouts - including 34 by knock-out - during a career which lasted from 1984 to 1994.

His only loss came against the up-and-coming future world champion Lennox Lewis at Wembley Arena.

Frank Bruno, Mason's stable-mate under Terry Lawless, said: "We used to spar together in the early days.

"Gary was probably a better technical boxer than me, although I had more determination. That's why I made it and he didn't. It was his technical ability that spurred me on to work harder. I'm very sorry about his death, particularly the circumstances of how it happened.

"Both of us were plying our trade at an early age and I had a lot of respect for the guy."

Mason was on the brink of a world title bid and favourite to win when he came up against the 25-year-old Lewis.

But he had suffered a detached retina from a previous fight and Lewis punished the eye, opening up a cut. The referee was forced to stop the contest in the seventh round.

Boxing promoter Frank Maloney said: "I'm very sad. It's a great loss, not just to boxing but to life in general.

"He was always a happy guy with a smile on his face. Even if things were going wrong for him, he cheered other people up. He was one of the nice guys of boxing.

"He did great work for charity … people don't realise the amount of work he did for charity."

Mr Maloney said the fight against Lewis effectively ended Mason's career, adding: "One man's career ended and one man's career went forward. It was a great shame.

"Gary was a good heavyweight but he was around at the wrong time, with the likes of Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno. If he was around today he would have dominated the heavyweight division."

Scottish boxing promoter Tommy Gilmour said: "I just think it's terribly tragic that someone at such a tender age and so recognised in the sporting world came to such a tragic end. I never promoted Gary, but in the dealings I had with him he was a man to be respected. He was a heavyweight champion. It was very sad to see."

Mason, a carpenter's son, led a varied life after his boxing career. A spell as a pundit for Sky Sports was cut short after he swore on television.

He also played three matches for rugby league side London Broncos, scoring a try in his first game, appeared in the television show Gladiators, attempted to launch an arm-wrestling competition and worked as a security guard for a local hospital.

More recently the 6ft 2in former fighter was running therapeutic hand drumming workshops after setting up the Rhythmical Empowerment Group.

He was also a founder member of the Bunbury Celebrity Cricket team, where he was known as a "crafty bowler, mighty batsman and heavyweight fielder".

He was separated from the mother of his teenage son Jordan.

Sports agent Dave Davies, who looked after Mason in the mid-1990s, said: "He was a real character, a south London boy trying to do well. He was a bit of a handful but he was a great guy. He will certainly be missed.

"Gary was always looking for a pound note. If there was ever anybody who would say, 'this time next year I'm going to be a millionaire', it was him. He decided he wanted to be a media star. He wanted to do after-dinner speaking and to open gyms. Unfortunately he was very much in the shadow of Frank Bruno."

Career path

December 1962: Gary Mason was born in Jamaica.

October 1984: Won his first professional fight, against Al Malcolm, at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

28 June, 1989: Became British heavyweight champion in a fight against Jess Harding. Mason said: "He went down at the end of the first round and never really recovered before he came out for the second. He had a look of fear in his eye."

14 March, 1990: Suffered a detached retina in a fight with Everitt Martin.

6 March, 1991: Mason's only loss in 38 professional fights, to Lennox Lewis for the European title. Lewis said: "I think in losing weight he lost some power."

10 February, 1992: Scored a try in his rugby league debut.

25 December, 1993: Appeared in Gladiators to raise money for charity.

10 September, 1994: Won his last fight, against Martin Foster in Nevada.

Death toll

MORE than 100 cyclists a year have been killed on Britain's roads over the past decade, although the rate is falling despite increasing numbers taking to the saddle.

There were 104 deaths last year, compared with 115 in 2008, in the fourth consecutive annual reduction. The total is also approaching just half the 1994-98 average of 186, on which casualty reduction targets are based.

The road safety charity Brake said that cyclists did not have the advantage of a vehicle's protective cage and were eight times more likely to be killed than a car driver per mile travelled.

There has been particular concern about cyclists being crushed by vehicles turning left at junctions. Brake advised riders to wear helmets and high-visibility clothing.