TRIBUTES have been made to former professional wrestler Keith Williamson, who died recently.

Mr Williamson, whose ring name was Keith Martinelli, died at Royal Bolton Hospital on Tuesday, January 24 aged 80.

The wrestler had many bouts at the Wryton Stadium Bolton, in front of his home crowd and travelled all over the world working for major UK promoters.

These included TV shows for ITV World of Sport and Reslo S4C Welsh television promoter Orig Williams.

Former All Star Wrestling British Champion Marty Jones, who met Mr Williamson on the amateur circuit, said: “As far as the wrestling goes, he was very good and he was a very hard lad. The lifestyle suited him because he could travel light.

“He didn’t have a car, he would take the mini bus to the camp, wrestle, have a few beers and do it all over again.

“He was very well respected in the business and he had a lot of passion for the job.”

Mr Jones said : “I would describe him as a Jekyll and Hyde character.

“He was a rough diamond but he was one of the lads.”

Mr Williamson was born on April 21, 1936 at Haslam Maternity Hospital.

He attended St Thomas School Halliwell and then Brownlow Fold Secondary Modern School.

Leaving school at 15, he joined Bolton Amateur Wrestling Club in his teens and turned professional in 1954 when he was 18.

He quickly developed a reputation for being a “solid hard wrestler” who had no time for opponents who could not pull their weight in the ring.

He was given the nickname Bloodboots and some wrestlers would drive to a show, see they were up against him and then drive away without entering the venue.

He was also an accomplished sign-writer, becoming an apprentice after he left school and painting thousands of business signs across Bolton.

Mr Williamson retired from professional wrestling in 1991 though he continued to keep fit by weight-lifting with his sons and grandsons in his gym.

He is survived by his children Steven, Vanessa, Keith, Justine and Keira and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

His funeral took place at Overdale Cemetery on Monday

He was cremated with a copy of The Bolton News placed in his coffin, having become an avid reader in his later years.