Tim Byrnes, or Tyler to his mates, was rated Australia’s number three middleweight boxer who beat Nick Farrelly, considered the Rocky Graziano (US fighter and former world middleweight champion) of Australian boxing.

”He fought Joseph Damienani, who was an Italian immigrant, based at Bonegilla, three times at Albury and they were brawls, all in front of packed houses at the Palais Royale Stadium,” his brother John said.

“He was a great body-puncher and when he went to Melbourne originally, he was told he was the most promising fighter to make his first appearance there.”

A gentleman outside the ring, his greatest supporters were three Catholic nuns, who were also his aunties.

Byrnes was also an Albury Tigers premiership player in 1956 and it was his devotion to fitness which inspired his grandson Shannon Byrnes, a two-time Geelong premiership player.

“Around his house he used to have pictures of when he was in his best shape I suppose and I used to see them and just wanted to be as fit and the best at sport I could be,” he said.

“It gave me confidence … I could do something along the same lines.”

Grandmother Maureen also had sporting bloodlines.

Tim and Maureen married in 1952, with the pair devoted to each other and family.

He’s survived by Maureen and eight children, the producing 23 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

He battled Alzheimer’s disease and died, aged 85.