BOXING historian and author Peter McInnes, who was the close friend of Bournemouth's legendary world champion boxer Freddie Mills, has died at the age of 80.

Peter, who lived in Queen's Park, Bournemouth, with his wife Jane, wrote extensively about the boxing world he loved, including a controversial book detailing his memories of the famous boxer.

He first met Freddie when he was just a teenager, and the pair remained firm friends until the former champ was found dead with gunshot wounds outside his London nightclub in 1965.

A coroner's inquest recorded a verdict of suicide, but Peter always maintained that Freddie had been murdered by gangsters, pointing the finger at the notorious London underworld twins, the Krays.

In a foreword to his book, Freddie, My Friend, he said: "I do not accept that he took his own life.

"My belief, and it is also the belief of his thousands of friends, fans and admirers, is that he was murdered by racketeers when he refused to continue paying protection money which was being extorted on his London nightclub."

Son of former Bournemouth mayor and leading hotelier Frank McInnes, who owned the Norfolk Hotel, Peter was himself an amateur boxer, at one point even squaring up to one of the Kray twins in the ring - and beating him.

After leaving St Peter's School in Bournemouth, he studied law at Cambridge, and went on to gain a boxing Blue.

As an Army officer, he fought hundreds of amateur bouts, slogging his way around the circuit of smoky little halls. His journalism included a spell on Reuters sports desk.

"Boxing was his life. I think it was boxing first, then the dogs, and then me," said Jane, Peter's wife of 27 years.

A keen pub-goer, the author was a regular fixture at the Brunswick in Charminster, and he also lent great support to the Catholic Handicapped Children's Fellowship charity.

He amassed a remarkable collection of boxing books and memorabilia dating as far back as the 18th century at his home in Richmond Park Road, with hundreds of publications, prints, photographs, cigarette cards and countless other items.

"All the money we ever had went on buying books, sometimes £300 or £400 a time, although many of them have now been sold," said Jane.

Peter was due to be buried along with the ashes of his beloved English bull terrier, Rhea, who died four years ago.

His funeral was being held at the Woodland Burial Ground in Walkford on today at 2pm, and all his friends were invited to attend.

Family flowers only, but donations for St Gregory's Society will be welcome.