Johnny Owen's father (L) never blamed Pintor for his son's death

Dick Owen, from Merthyr Tydfil, had been in and out of hospital after suffering a stroke.

His son Johnny died aged 24 several weeks after being knocked out during a world title fight against Mexican Lupe Pintor in Los Angeles in 1980.

In 2002, Pintor helped Johnny's father unveil a statue to the young fighter's memory in Merthyr town centre.

The boxer - known affectionately as "The Matchstick Man" and "The Bionic Bantam" - won 25 of his 28 of his fights, taking the British, Commonwealth and European bantamweight titles.

During his world title fight, Owen was knocked out in the 12th round.

He was taken from the ring to a nearby hospital, and remained in a coma until he died weeks later.

The family never blamed Pintor for what happened.