Missouri boxing photographer Bob Barton has passed away. The sad news was reported on social media by former light heavyweight contender Ryan Coyne. A self-professed hippie in his younger days, Barton provided a glimpse of his own humanity in a recent interview published by Knucklejunkies.com, in which he said, "There are photographers out there now who will put a photo out on social media or a website of some local guy who just got the sh*t knocked out of him. He’s laying face down on the canvas. You don’t do that. You don’t do that to local guys that you know. That is a big pet peeve of mine."

 

Barton's concern about the dignity of the athletes who make up the sport was reciprocated by the boxers themselves. Coyne said, "The boxing world lost another great one today. Bob Barton was truly one of a kind. Like so many in my life, I met him ringside and over the years I grew to be great friends with him. Always a smile on his face, a kind word and the best damn photographs you'd ever see. If at the end of my days I can say I'm half the man he was, I'll have lived a good life. He's in a better place now, and surely sitting ringside in good company."

 

Boxingtalk sends its deepest condolences to the friends and family of boxing photographer Bob Barton.