Here is what the page “Belfast Boxing Legend Ray Close Dies at 57, Remembered for Nearly Beating Chris Eubank” contains. Ray Close, the Belfast middleweight who came within a whisker of handing Chris Eubank his first professional loss, has died at 57. Close fought Eubank twice in the early 1990s, with their first bout ending in a controversial draw that many ringside observers felt Close had won. The rematch, won by Eubank on points, cemented Close's reputation as one of the toughest challengers of that era.
His fearless style and relentless pressure made him a fan favourite in both Belfast and Britain. Close's passing is a significant loss for Northern Irish boxing, a community that reveres its hard-nosed warriors. He retired with a record of 24 wins, 5 losses and 1 draw, having challenged for both the WBO middleweight and super-middleweight titles. The full version stays on the original page, which this listing opens directly.