‘King of Sheffield’ memorial built without permission, council says

Family of late boxer Willy Collins disputes claim over huge marble tribute in Shiregreen cemetery

A row has reportedly broken out between a bereaved family and a council after a 37-tonne marble memorial to a former bare-knuckle boxer featuring a solar-powered jukebox was erected in a cemetery in Sheffield.

Sheffield City council said the family of Willy Collins, who died aged 49 in July 2020 after collapsing while on holiday in Majorca, did not seek permission to build the tribute, according to the Sheffield Star.