Two people have been arrested following a fatal double stabbing in Trafford, in which the cousin of boxer Tyson Fury was killed, police have confirmed.
Detectives have launched a murder investigation over the incident in Altrincham, which police said took place outside a bar in the Goose Green area shortly after 3am on Sunday.
A 31-year-old man, confirmed to be Rico Burton, passed away a short time later in hospital, while a 17-year-old man with serious injuries remains under the care of medics, Greater Manchester Police said.
Two men, aged 21 and 20, have been arrested in connection with the incident and remain in custody, Superintendent Ben Ewart told a press conference on Sunday evening.
Tributes have been paid to Burton, a relative of Fury, who made an emotional plea to end knife crime on Sunday morning.
“My cousin was murdered last night, stabbed in the neck,” the two-time world heavyweight champion said on social media. “This is becoming ridiculous idiots carry knives. This needs to stop ASAP.
“[The] 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.”
“Life is very precious and it can be taken away very quick enjoy every moment. RIP RICO BURTON. May the lord God grant you a good place in heaven. see you soon.”
Tyson Fury described knife crime as a ‘pandemic’ on Sunday morning
(James Chance/Getty Images)
Burton, who also won two national boxing titles while fighting as a junior, was described as “probably one of the best we have ever seen” by one of his former coaches.
“He was an absolute talent,” said Shaun Egan, of Jimmy Egan’s Boxing Academy, where Burton is said to have trained until his late teens.
“He was such a nice lad, he was hard working and had a great sense of humour,” Mr Egan told the Manchester Evening News.
“What’s happened is just awful. He was just a great guy. To hear he has died like this is devastating.”
Police are appealing to the public for information to aid their investigation.
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