The victim of the Tile Hill stabbing has been pictured as his boxing academy pal paid tribute.

Named locally as Manny, he was a keen boxer who trained and fought for Toe2Toe Boxing Academy, Burnsall Road, Canley.

Manny died after being knifed in the leg on Franklin Grove, Tile Hill, on Wednesday.

Police were called at around 2.30pm that afternoon (June 12) to reports of a fight involving a group of young men.

Manny was discovered with a knife wound to his leg which proved fatal.

Leighton Brady, owner of Toe2Toe, paid a heartfelt tribute to Manny, and said he will be missed by everyone at the club.

He told CoventryLive how Manny was a talented boxer, and always made the place fun when he was around.

Leighton said: "I have known him about three years through the academy.

"He was a complete novice and beginner when he joined, and was quite outgoing, and bubbly.

"He was fun to be around and a lovely little boxer with lots of talent.

"Boxing brought the best out of him.

"He was only young, only 21, it is such a shame.

"Everyone is really sad about it, and is a bit of a shock to the system. (I) Still can't grasp it.

"He fought for us a couple of times and came training on and off for a couple of years, he was good to have around.

"Everyone loved him."

Watch: Manny boxing for Toe2Toe Boxing Academy

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Tributes flooding in

Flowers were placed at the scene at both ends of the police cordon on Thursday.

On one one bunch, 'Fly high Manny' had been written on in permanent marker.

Along with the flowers at the scene, tributes to Manny have been flooding in on Facebook.

Below, you can find some of the messages left on social media:

Siobain McMenamin: RIP manny all the boys are going to miss you like a big bro to them all. tile hill is in shock

In reply to Siobàin McMenamin, Louise Kelly said: "Shocking and sad news . Sleep tight Manny xxx"

Katey Loughran: "Fly high manny."

Becky Janet: "R.i.p manny. You will be missed x"

Ellen Cluley: "R.i.p manny"

Manny, boxing for Toe2Toe Boxing Academy

Police statement in full

West Midlands Police released a statement on Thursday morning, which said: "A murder investigation has been launched following a fatal stabbing in Coventry yesterday (12 June).

"Police were called just after 2.30pm to reports of a fight in gardens behind Franklin Grove, Coventry, involving several young men.

"A man believed to be in his early 20s and from Coventry was found with a serious stab wound to his leg and pronounced dead at the scene.

"A post mortem examination is due to take place tomorrow. 

"A cordon remains in place this morning (13 June) while forensics experts continue scouring the scene for evidence."

A statement on Thursday evening announced further stop and search powers were being used in the area.

Superintendent Phil Healy, from Coventry Police, said: “A young man has sadly died and our immediate thoughts are with his family and friends at this deeply distressing time.

“We have detectives working round the clock to find whoever was responsible for this tragedy and have stepped up patrols in the area.

“Knife crime has a devastating impact on lives and communities and Coventry is not alone in experiencing the heartbreak brought about by weapons.

“We have been working hard with our partners to address knife crime ranging from schools inputs warning of the dangers of carrying knives to police lock-downs, drones operations and monitoring of known knife offenders.

“However, we can’t arrest our way out of this problem and we need parents/guardians to speak to their children.

"We urge them to make sure they know where their children are, who they are mixing with and challenge them over any suspicious behaviour.”

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