'Voice of boxing' Harry Carpenter dies, aged 84

Harry Carpenter, the boxing commentator known for his banter wth Frank Bruno, has died at the age of 84.

Carpenter was the voice of the BBC's boxing coverage for nearly 50 years, becoming the subject of Bruno's 'Know what I mean, 'arry?' catchprase in the 1980s.

A spokesman for the sport's presenter's family today said Carpenter died at King's College Hospital, London, on Saturday.

David Wills, his solicitor, said: 'He had been unwell since last summer when he had a minor heart attack.'

BBC boxing commentator Harry Carpenter pictured after receiving the OBE

Boxer Frank Bruno and Harry pretend to fight at the opening of a sports store in 1987 in Oxford Street

Last night former world heavyweight champion Bruno, whose verbal sparring with Carpenter helped endear him to a wider audience than just boxing fans, was said to be 'very upset' by his death.

Bruno's agent 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.'

Born in South London, the son of a fish merchant, Carpenter left school at 15, taking his first job on the Greyhound Express.

During the war he joined the Navy, serving as a telegrapher on board destroyers, before moving back into sports journalism.

He joined the BBC in 1949 and delivered his first boxing commentary the same year.

He was also a boxing columnist for the Daily Mail before switching to television full-time in 1962.

Carpenter commentated on many major sporting events including Wimbledon - where BBC colleagues dubbed him 'The Rainmaker' because of his ability to talk through the periods of wet weather - and the university boat race.

Old hand: Harry Carpenter interviews golf legend Jack Nicklaus after he triumphed in the 1978 British Open championship

Boxing legends past and present Lennox Lewis, Harry Carpenter and Muhammad Ali pose for the cameras at the 1999 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards ceremony

He also fronted the BBC's golf coverage for more than 25 years. But he was best known for his boxing coverage.

He was on air for the 'Rumble in the Jungle' between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire in 1974 and described the end of that contest as 'the most extraordinary few seconds that I have ever seen in a boxing ring.'

Carpenter enjoyed a notable relationship with Ali and presented him with the BBC's Sports Personality of the Century award in 1999.

He once said of Ali: 'He is not only the most remarkable sports personality I have ever met, he is the most remarkable man I have ever met.'

Last night tributes to Carpenter flooded in from British boxing legends.

Former world champion Barry McGuigan 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.'

Top of his game: Harry Carpenter with the then world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson in 1989

Former WBC light heavyweight champion John Conteh said: 'He had an outstanding passion for boxing. We in this sport, including people like Muhammad Ali, can intuitively tell when someone loves boxing and he was steeped in it.

'He was someone you could learn from, someone who always had advice. There was knowledge, truth and passion from this man.'

A spokesman for Gordon Brown paid tribute to 'legendary' Carpenter and praised his 'epic' commentaries on some of Ali's biggest fights.

Minster for Sport Gerry Sutcliffe described Carpenter as 'a household favourite'.

'Harry Carpenter was a sports broadcasting legend and the voice of boxing spanning decades.

'His friendship with Frank Bruno and his personable style made him a household favourite among boxing fans up and down the country. But his talents were not just confined to boxing commentaries.

'During a remarkable career at the BBC he presented flagship shows such as Grandstand and Sports Personality of the Year while he also reported on golf and tennis - showing his diversity as a broadcaster and his genuine passion for sport.

'He will be sorely missed.'

Former lightweight champion Jim Watt said boxing had lost a true friend.

He said: '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.

'I think he was a fan as well as a commentator. That came across with him. Harry just loved what he was doing.

'He had tremendous knowledge, he was a gentleman. He always found positive to say.'

Mr Wills said the funeral had not been arranged but it would be a family service, followed by a memorial service in London.

George Foreman pins Muhammad Ali on the ropes during the 'Rumble in the Jungle' held in Zaire, present-day Congo. Harry Carpenter was on air for the bout which was sensationally won by Ali