Mourners arrive for funeral of Tyson Fury's cousin Rico Burton
Mourners arrive on gold horse-drawn carriages for funeral of Tyson Fury’s cousin Rico Burton, 31, who was stabbed to death outside a bar
- Promising boxer Rico Burton, 31, was stabbed to death in Altrincham in the early hours of Sunday, August 21
- Rico’s family and friends bid him an emotional goodbye during a service at St Michael’s Church in Flixton
- Liam O’Prey, 21, of no fixed address, has been charged with his murder and a string of other offences
Family, friends and the travelling community today mourned the death of Tyson Fury’s cousin as they followed his coffin that was carried to his funeral in a traditional gold, red and green horse-drawn carriage.
Rico Burton, 31, was stabbed to death outside a bar in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, in the early hours of Sunday, August 21. Liam O’Prey, 21, has been charged with his murder.
Today, hundreds of Rico’s family and friends bid him an emotional goodbye during a service at St Michael’s Church in Flixton.
Mourners, many wearing T-shirts with his face on the front, arrived for the service on carriages and trailers. Mr Burton’s coffin was carried to the funeral pulled by a horse. Dozens of people followed behind with some sat next to the casket on Rico’s final journey.
Tributes poured in for Mr Burton after his death, led by the boxer’s famous cousin, Tyson Fury. The two-time world heavyweight champion, from Wythenshawe, also called for an end to knife crime in a post on his social media channels following his cousin’s tragic death. It is not known if Tyson was among the huge crowds.
The funeral cortege of Tyson Fury’s cousin Rico Burton arrives at St Michael’s Church in Flixton, Greater Manchester where the coffin was carried on a gold, red and white horse-drawn carriage
The coffin was carried into the church by relatives – but it was not immediately clear if Tyson was able to attend
Tyson Fury’s cousin Rico Burton (pictured) died in the early hours of Sunday, August 21 after allegedly being stabbed to death. His murder was revealed by his cousin, the boxer Tyson Fury
Many of the mourners arrived on carriages of their own and these children wore T-shirts with Rico’s face emblazoned on them
Some of the congregation were already in tears when they arrived at the church this morning
This tribute showed Rico having fun and an image of Gordons pink gin
Flower arches, crosses, boxing gloves and messages were brought to the amateur boxer’s funeral
Flowers for Rico, who was fatally stabbed outside a bar in Altrincham
This gigantic floral tribute to the young man was carried to the church
Another carriage arrives for the funeral, with hundreds of mourners attending to pay their respects
Mr Burton – who had himself been a top junior boxer – died at around 3.30am after being knifed in the neck outside a bar in Altrincham, Greater Manchester.
Witnesses said paramedics desperately performed CPR on Mr Rico, but he was declared dead in hospital. Fury, a double world champion nicknamed ‘The Gypsy King’, called on the Government to ‘bring back higher sentencing’ for the ‘pandemic’ of knife crime.
‘My cousin was murdered, stabbed in the neck,’ the boxer wrote on Instagram. ‘This is becoming ridiculous – idiots carry knives. This needs to stop.
‘ASAP, UK Government needs to bring higher sentencing for knife crime, it’s a pandemic and you don’t know how bad it is until it’s one of your own. RIP Rico Burton – may the lord God grant you a good place in heaven, see you soon.’
He ended his post with the hashtag ‘only cowards carry weapons’.
Fury, 34, is thought to have heard the devastating news while on holiday in Menorca with his wife, Paris, and father, John. A 17-year-old boy, believed to be another relative, was also stabbed in the attack and suffered ‘life-changing injuries’, police said.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed they had arrested a 21-year-old man at the scene on suspicion of assault.
Liam O’Prey, 21, of no fixed address, has been charged with his murder and a string of other offences.
Superintendent Ben Ewart said the force was investigating whether a previous argument had resulted in the fatal stabbing. Sources said it could have been the culmination of a long-running dispute between two travelling community families.
A red truck carried floral tributes and two mourners to the church
The coffin arrives at the church for the funeral this morning
Rico was given a traditional travellers funeral in Greater Manchester today
This floral tribute was a white flower heart, with blue ribbon and the word ‘cousin’
Dozens of floral tributes formed part of the cortege
An aerial shot shows Greater Manchester Police at the scene of the murder of World Champion boxer Tyson Fury’s cousin, Rico, in Altrincham last month
Tributes poured in for Mr Burton, a roofer who was also a boxer until the age of 19.
Steve Egan, Mr Burton and Fury’s former coach, said he was ‘devastated’. The 60-year-old said Mr Burton had won two national titles as a junior. ‘He was a fantastic fella… he was such a good fighter,’ he added.
Mr Burton had watched British heavyweight Anthony Joshua lose to Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk from the Church Inn pub, Flixton, on Saturday before heading to Altrincham. Locals said the attack took place near King Pong bar.
Mr Egan added: ‘From what I’ve heard it was just a bit of a scuffle. Some other guys were trying to get into a club and they wouldn’t let them in. The argument wasn’t with Rico, he was trying to calm it down. It was settled, then suddenly the guy stabbed them. It is unbelievable, so senseless.’
A witness said: ‘A few men were arguing outside and then suddenly two men were on the ground. It all happened so fast but no one knows what caused the fight.’
Local Michael Edwards said he was woken up at 3.30am by emergency vehicles. He Greater Manchester Police have appealed for anyone who may have seen the attack to come forward.
Recent figures show knife crime jumped 10 per cent in England and Wales in March this year compared with the 12 months earlier.
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