Frank Bruno leads tributes as 'the voice of boxing' Harry Carpenter dies, aged 84

• Harry Carpenter at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards in 1999, with fight legends Lennox Lewis and Muhammad Ali. Picture: Getty

The 84-year-old sports broadcaster died on Saturday at King's College Hospital, London.

During his lengthy career he became closely identified with Frank Bruno, whose catchphrase "Know what I mean, 'arry?" featured in their post-fight interviews. The former world heavyweight champion's agent said Bruno was "very upset" at the news.

He said: "When I told him, he said it was 'Terrible, sad news'. Frank has many acquaintances but not many real friends. Harry Carpenter was a friend."

Carpenter famously appeared to momentarily lose his neutral stance during Bruno's world title fight against Mike Tyson in Las Vegas in 1989, as he said: "Go on ... get in there, Frank."

He worked as a sports reporter on national newspapers before joining the BBC and commentated on major sporting events including Wimbledon and the university boat race. But it was as the public face – and voice – of the corporation's boxing coverage that he became best known.

Fellow boxing commentator and Scotland's former world lightweight champion Jim Watt expressed his sadness.

Watt said: "Harry and I went way back. For many years Harry was the boxing voice of the BBC. He covered all my own world title fights and he commentated on me as an amateur – that's how long back we go. He was a real gentleman, a great operator. He was known mostly for his commentaries on boxing but he did various sports. I am really sorry to hear he has gone."

Former world champion Barry McGuigan said his memories of Carpenter went back to some of his earliest amateur fights.

He said: "If Harry was there, you knew there was real interest in the fight. He was a lovely, quiet man. A real gentleman. He knew so much about the sport. He was an encyclopaedia of boxing and it was always a pleasure to meet him."

Another former world champion, John Conteh, paid tribute to his special understanding of boxing. "He had the sort of spirit and passion for the sport that everyone involved could feel," said Conteh.

George Foreman said the boxing commentator brought "class" to the sport.

Foreman said Carpenter had "so much class" in his work and stressed the former BBC man would be remembered for all the right reasons.

Foreman also had a favourite moment from his meetings with Carpenter, dating back to February 1973 in the Caribbean.

The 61-year-old said: "I can remember shocking him beyond means when I defeated Joe Frazier. My first time meeting Harry was probably in Kingston, Jamaica, where I was fighting the Lucien Chen showdown with Joe Frazier. Oh boy, I shocked him, that's my fondest memory.

"We all knew if there was going to be some class in boxing, someone who really brought out boxing and the human being probably, it would be Harry – great Harry. We were all accustomed to boxing people bustling in and arguing but Harry was a real classy human being. Always a good smile, sticking right to the point as though he wanted to give the public a bird's eye view of the human being and of the boxer.

"It's a sad day because when I think of my trips back to the United Kingdom I always expected to run into Harry because he would always be there. This is a sad note for all of us, but if you're going to leave make sure we all have similar class as Harry."

Director of BBC Sport Barbara Slater described him as "one of the standout voices of sports broadcasting". She said: "Harry's passing is a huge loss to the world of sports broadcasting. His journalistic credentials, professionalism and presence marked him out as an inspirational figure for a generation of aspiring presenters, commentators and producers."

Boxing promoter Frank Maloney said Carpenter was "the voice of boxing". Maloney said: "He was probably one of the greatest commentators of all time. His voice was so distinctive and I remember all those Ali fights and Bruno fights he commentated on. It's like a piece of boxing history has been taken away."

Former world heavyweight title challenger Sir Henry Cooper praised Carpenter's work as a journalist. He said: "If you were good then he'd give you a good write-up and if not, he told you one or two truths. All in all, I always found him a fair guy. I always enjoyed his company and enjoyed talking to him. And he knew the game. He was a lovely guy – it's a great shame. It is very, very sad"

His lawyer David Wills said he had been unwell since last summer when he suffered a minor heart attack.

Carpenter leaves a widow and one son. A family spokesman said a private funeral would be followed by a memorial service in London.

BEST OF HARRY

HARRY Carpenter, the voice of boxing, was one of Britain's best loved sports commentators. In a career spanning nearly 50 years, he covered a range of sports and went on to describe some of the greatest events of the age.

Here are some of Carpenter's finest moments, and a classic introduction from a BBC colleague:

"He's hurt Tyson. He's hurt Tyson and Tyson knows it and is going for him"

Carpenter during the first Frank Bruno v Mike Tyson fight, 25 February 1989

"He knows he can hurt him now. Get in there Frank!"

Carpenter yelling encouragement during the same bout

"I would like to say that you are not as dumb as you look, Harry"

Muhammad Ali to Carpenter during a television interview

"Where's 'Arry?"

Bruno after many major bouts

"Know what I mean 'Arry?"

Also Bruno to Carpenter.

"Oh my God, he's won the title back at 32!"

At the end of Muhammad Ali's victory over George Foreman during the Rumble in the Jungle, the world heavyweight title fight in Kinshasa, Zaire, 1974

"He's given it to Bugner! And I find that ... a-mazing"

Carpenter at the end of Henry Cooper and Joe Bugner's British title fight in London, 1971.

"He's done it. He's done it. Finnegan has got the gold medal"

Carpenter after Britain's Chris Finnegan won the middleweight title at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics

"Suddenly everything changed. He won the fight and went on to become not only the most famous boxer in the world, the most famous sportsman in the world, and at one point in his career I actually believe he was the most famous person in the world"

Carpenter reflecting on Ali's victory over Sonny Liston in 1964

"It is all over in round five. The man who was put down at the end of round four (has won) and Cooper although he is beaten is far from disgraced"

Carpenter at the conclusion of Muhammad Ali's victory over Henry Cooper in 1963

"And at ringside, Harry Commentator is your carpenter"

Frank Bough, reputedly, although some reports describe the culprit as an anonymous BBC continuity announcer