'Rest in peace champ' - Frank Bruno and Marvin Hagler lead tributes to boxing legend Alan Minter

Minter had his heydey in the 1980s as a middleweight and was loved bye everyone.

And boxers - including Marvin Hagler, who famously beat Minter nearly 40 years ago, and Frank Bruno - fans and the public at large have taken to social media to pay their tributes.

Alan Minter: A career and life in pictures

Frank Bruno MBE posted on his Facebook page: "Alan Minter RIP. Alan & I worked together many times a great boxer in his day I would ask people to look at the old footage of him fighting a great boxer a sad day for British Boxing

Former European champion and Sky Sports analyst Spencer Oliver tweeted: "Just heard the very sad news that boxing legend Alan Minter has passed away, one of my childhood hero’s growing up, my thoughts and prays are with the minter family at this sad time."

Hagler, who famously beat Minter nearly 40 years ago, said: "On September 27 -1980 I became World Champion beating Alan Minter in the third round and this year we will celebrate the 40th anniversary. Today I received the sad news that Alan Minter has died this morning .He left all of us in silence I hope he did not suffer. My Condolences go to the Family rest in peace Champion."

Crawley in mourning after death of boxing legend Minter

Former WBO Super Welterweight World Boxing Champion Paul 'Silky Jones' posted: "Sad news of the loss of Former undisputed world Middleweight king Alan Minter RIP"

Sports broadcaster and boxing expert John Rawling said: "Sorry to hear Alan Minter, former world middleweight champion, has died aged 69. My thoughts are with his family."

Actor Scot Wlliams said: "Alan Minter was the first boxer I routed for as a kid. The first boxer I watched. He’s passed away. Life’s too short man."

Rich Wearz said: "very sad news to hear Alan Minter has died, I was a kid sparring at my local boxing gym when he fought Marvelous Marvin Hagler in '80 and him winning the World belt in '79, hard as nails #RIP #AlanMinter"

Melanie Lloyd (@sweetwriter1) tweeted: "I am so sorry to hear that former undisputed world middleweight champion, Alan Minter, has passed away. Deepest condolences to @RossMinter and all the family. Rest in peace champ ... xxx"

Crawley boxer Robin Deakin posted on Facebook: #Rip to a guy I have always looked upto as a guy a family friend and a #Legend #OlympicBrozeMedalist and #undisputed middleweight champion of the world. Always blessed to be by his side. My thoughts our with his sons and family Rest in peace Alan you legend"