By Sue-Ann Wayow
FORMER national boxer Claude Noel has died.
He passed away on Sunday at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex at age 74.
Noel, an amputee, who also lost his vision has been ailing for some time.
A video was circulated this year with him crying out for help. It went viral but was taken over a year ago.
Noel became Trinidad and Tobago’s first lightweight world titleholder when he defeated Mexican Rodolfo Gonzalez in 1981.
The following year, he was awarded the Chaconia Gold Medal and the Claude Noel Highway in Tobago was named after him.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar expressed condolences on his passing.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday she wrote, “An icon has passed. I express my deepest condolences to the friends and family of Mr Noel. May he rest in peace.”
Music artiste Edwin Ayoung, better known as Crazy, also posted a tribute.
He wrote, “Claude Noel made all of us proud – Claude Noel, born on July 25, 1948, in Roxborough, Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago, is widely recognized as one of the greatest boxers to emerge from the Caribbean. With an impressive career that spanned from 1973 to 1984, Noel etched his name in boxing history by capturing the WBA World Lightweight title and the Commonwealth Lightweight title. Noel’s journey in the world of boxing began in his homeland of Tobago his success in the ring. Total fights 41 Wins 31…”
