The sculpture of Belfast boxing legend, Rinty Monaghan, has been unveiled at Cathedral Gardens in York Street, Belfast.

World Flyweight Champion Rinty is captured in a victorious pose in a 10 ft high bronze sculpture with taped hand visible on one side and a microphone in the other.

Family members including daughters, Collette and Rosetta, brother Tommy and nephew, Eamon McAuley attended the event.

Rinty's is one of a series of three sculptures being funded by Belfast City Council as part of its boxing strategy, to highlight the contribution of boxing as a sport and to celebrate its many heroes within and outside the ring.

Belfast Boxing Ring has worked with the council, the Monaghan family and artist, Alan Beattie Herriot, to produce the sculpture. Alan is also working on another sculpture of west Belfast boxer, John Caldwell, which will be placed in Dunville Park. Work on a sculpture to honour boxing heroes in the Shankill area, which will be placed in Woodvale Park, is currently being commissioned.

Belfast Lord Mayor, Arder Carson, said: "It is the people of Belfast who make the city so special and it is sporting heroes like Rinty that encourage many others to succeed so we are delighted to be honouring him today in the area where he grew up, lived and trained.

"A sport like boxing needs skills that all of us can learn and use in daily life – dedication, discipline, stamina, competitiveness and physical fitness – which is why we are working to promote it, and other sporting activities, across Belfast.

"Alan has done a great job in capturing Rinty's spirit in this sculpture and I hope it will inspire people of all ages to follow their dreams whatever the difficulties, to be proud of where they come from and to know that we are proud of them."

(CD/MH)