Ray Close, the Belfast boxer who pushed Chris Eubank to the limit in two memorable world-title matches, has died at 57.
Close was among the most talented boxers Northern Ireland has produced in his generation. He won the European super-middleweight title in 1993 and on two occasions challenged the undefeated Eubank for the WBO world title; in their first encounter the fight ended in a draw, while a split decision settled the rematch in Belfast.
After his career, a brain scan showed that there were two lesions, which as a result stopped the planned third fight with Eubank, and he finally got back into the ring in the United States before retiring.
Tributes have been issued by Belfast boxing clubs, former fighters and other figures in the sport following his death on October 2, 2026.
The fight that marked the beginning of his professional career was held at the Ulster Hall in Belfast. Close grew into a technically capable and determined super-middleweight and ultimately became one of the most respected fighters to come from Northern Ireland.
Ledley Hall later called him a true gentleman and one who, after his own career, returned to assist and encourage younger boxers.
Close went to Campione d'Italia to challenge Vincenzo Nardiello for the European super-middleweight title; he won the EBU championship by stopping Nardiello in the tenth round and thus positioned himself as a genuine contender at the world level.
The victory gave Close a chance to challenge Chris Eubank for the WBO super-middleweight title just two months later.
Eubank had reached the fight with a record of 35 professional bouts without a defeat and was already a world champion. Nevertheless, Close would not be intimidated by the champion's reputation.
Eubank fought the Belfast challenger for all twelve rounds, and the judges were unable to decide between the two men, so the result was a draw, which enabled Eubank to keep his WBO title.
It is one of the most important fights of Close's career since he was very near to giving Eubank his first professional defeat.
There was a highly charged atmosphere, and the supporters at home were fully in Close's favour. As before, the challenger put in a solid performance when fighting Eubank over twelve rounds.
This time the judges gave Eubank a victory by split decision, enabling him to keep the WBO super-middleweight title.
The result caused a controversy, with current reports casting doubt on the scoring and promoter Don King openly claiming that Close should have been given another chance.
Close's license from the British Boxing Board of Control was canceled following an MRI which showed that there were two lesions in his brain. The medical results meant that he was no longer capable of boxing under a British license and thus effectually put an end to the proposed Eubank trilogy.
The decision had a dramatic effect on the course of Close's career; rather than being given another chance against Eubank, he had to look for another way of getting back into professional boxing.
He came back to fighting in 1996 and 1997, winning five of his bouts in Illinois; his last fight was on June 7, 1997, when he ended Larry Willis by technical knockout in the fifth round.
Even though the opposition was not on the same level as Eubank's, the comeback showed that Close was determined to keep boxing in the face of the serious medical setback.
There is a discrepancy in the figure given for his professional record by more recent sources; some show 25 wins, two losses and one draw, while others give it as 25 wins, three losses and one draw. It is certain, however, that the draw was obtained against Eubank and that Close ended his career with 25 wins.
Recent reports stated that Close had suffered a brain injury as a result of his career in professional boxing, and his son Benjamin had earlier raised funds for the facility, saying that it was of particular importance to his family.
The exact circumstances of his death have not been given in the main reports. Tributes soon came from the boxing world, including the clubs that had played a role in shaping his career.
The Ledley Hall Youth and Boxing Club recalled Close as a humble and generous individual who had gone back to help out younger boxers, and Bangor Abbey Boxing Academy likewise paid its respects, calling his death a great loss to boxing in Ireland and throughout the world.
The fact that he had died also led to increased attention being given to the famous picture of Close feeding his new daughter before his first bout against Eubank in 1993; the photograph, which was taken by Hugh Russell, a photographer for Irish News, became one of the images closely linked with his career.
Even though Ray Close never won world champion status, evaluating his career just on the basis of his championship belts would fail to capture what made him special.
He won the title in Europe, contested one of Britain's top fighters on two occasions, and in each case brought the undefeated Chris Eubank to the edge of defeat. In the first match, the result was a draw; in the second, it was decided by the narrowest kind of split decision.
The trilogy that was planned is still one of the great what-ifs in boxing. If Close had been able to fight Eubank a third time, his career could have taken a completely different course.
Rather, the account of Close's career became one based on talent, courage, and the opportunities which were lost due to circumstances beyond his control.
For Belfast boxing, on the other hand, his achievements are still important; he had passed through the gyms of the city, reached the level of European champion, and competed on the world stage against one of the prominent fighters of that era.
Ray Close will eventually be remembered not only as the man who came so close to defeating Chris Eubank but also as a talented boxer from Belfast who won his place in Northern Ireland's boxing history.
Close was among the most talented boxers Northern Ireland has produced in his generation. He won the European super-middleweight title in 1993 and on two occasions challenged the undefeated Eubank for the WBO world title; in their first encounter the fight ended in a draw, while a split decision settled the rematch in Belfast.
After his career, a brain scan showed that there were two lesions, which as a result stopped the planned third fight with Eubank, and he finally got back into the ring in the United States before retiring.
Tributes have been issued by Belfast boxing clubs, former fighters and other figures in the sport following his death on October 2, 2026.
Who Was Ray Close?
Ray Close, who was born in 1969, started boxing when he was ten years old at the Ledley Hall Youth and Boxing Club in East Belfast. He had a successful amateur career, winning the Irish titles and gaining experience at the European level before becoming a professional boxer in 1988.The fight that marked the beginning of his professional career was held at the Ulster Hall in Belfast. Close grew into a technically capable and determined super-middleweight and ultimately became one of the most respected fighters to come from Northern Ireland.
Ledley Hall later called him a true gentleman and one who, after his own career, returned to assist and encourage younger boxers.
Ray Close Becomes European Champion
The greatest success of Close's career occurred on St Patrick's Day in 1993.Close went to Campione d'Italia to challenge Vincenzo Nardiello for the European super-middleweight title; he won the EBU championship by stopping Nardiello in the tenth round and thus positioned himself as a genuine contender at the world level.
The victory gave Close a chance to challenge Chris Eubank for the WBO super-middleweight title just two months later.
Close vs Chris Eubank in 1993
On May 15, 1993, Close fought Chris Eubank at the Scottish Exhibition Centre in Glasgow.Eubank had reached the fight with a record of 35 professional bouts without a defeat and was already a world champion. Nevertheless, Close would not be intimidated by the champion's reputation.
Eubank fought the Belfast challenger for all twelve rounds, and the judges were unable to decide between the two men, so the result was a draw, which enabled Eubank to keep his WBO title.
It is one of the most important fights of Close's career since he was very near to giving Eubank his first professional defeat.
Close and Eubank Meet Again in Belfast
The rivalry carried on the next year, and on May 21, 1994, Eubank and Close met once again at Belfast's King's Hall.There was a highly charged atmosphere, and the supporters at home were fully in Close's favour. As before, the challenger put in a solid performance when fighting Eubank over twelve rounds.
This time the judges gave Eubank a victory by split decision, enabling him to keep the WBO super-middleweight title.
The result caused a controversy, with current reports casting doubt on the scoring and promoter Don King openly claiming that Close should have been given another chance.
A Third Fight Never Happened
There was intended to be a third meeting between Close and Eubank in 1995, but the trilogy did not happen.Close's license from the British Boxing Board of Control was canceled following an MRI which showed that there were two lesions in his brain. The medical results meant that he was no longer capable of boxing under a British license and thus effectually put an end to the proposed Eubank trilogy.
The decision had a dramatic effect on the course of Close's career; rather than being given another chance against Eubank, he had to look for another way of getting back into professional boxing.
Ray Close Returns in the United States
Eventually, Close secured a license to box in the United States via the Illinois State Boxing Commission.He came back to fighting in 1996 and 1997, winning five of his bouts in Illinois; his last fight was on June 7, 1997, when he ended Larry Willis by technical knockout in the fifth round.
Even though the opposition was not on the same level as Eubank's, the comeback showed that Close was determined to keep boxing in the face of the serious medical setback.
There is a discrepancy in the figure given for his professional record by more recent sources; some show 25 wins, two losses and one draw, while others give it as 25 wins, three losses and one draw. It is certain, however, that the draw was obtained against Eubank and that Close ended his career with 25 wins.
Ray Close's Later Years
The physical impact of Close's career in boxing was long-lasting; in later years he resided at the Phoenix Clinic in Newtownards, a specialist facility which provides care for people with physical disabilities.Recent reports stated that Close had suffered a brain injury as a result of his career in professional boxing, and his son Benjamin had earlier raised funds for the facility, saying that it was of particular importance to his family.
Ray Close Dies at 57
The fact that Close had died was made known on October 2, 2026. He was 57 years old.The exact circumstances of his death have not been given in the main reports. Tributes soon came from the boxing world, including the clubs that had played a role in shaping his career.
The Ledley Hall Youth and Boxing Club recalled Close as a humble and generous individual who had gone back to help out younger boxers, and Bangor Abbey Boxing Academy likewise paid its respects, calling his death a great loss to boxing in Ireland and throughout the world.
The fact that he had died also led to increased attention being given to the famous picture of Close feeding his new daughter before his first bout against Eubank in 1993; the photograph, which was taken by Hugh Russell, a photographer for Irish News, became one of the images closely linked with his career.
Ray Close's Legacy
Even though Ray Close never won world champion status, evaluating his career just on the basis of his championship belts would fail to capture what made him special.
He won the title in Europe, contested one of Britain's top fighters on two occasions, and in each case brought the undefeated Chris Eubank to the edge of defeat. In the first match, the result was a draw; in the second, it was decided by the narrowest kind of split decision.
The trilogy that was planned is still one of the great what-ifs in boxing. If Close had been able to fight Eubank a third time, his career could have taken a completely different course.
Rather, the account of Close's career became one based on talent, courage, and the opportunities which were lost due to circumstances beyond his control.
For Belfast boxing, on the other hand, his achievements are still important; he had passed through the gyms of the city, reached the level of European champion, and competed on the world stage against one of the prominent fighters of that era.
Ray Close will eventually be remembered not only as the man who came so close to defeating Chris Eubank but also as a talented boxer from Belfast who won his place in Northern Ireland's boxing history.
