Ex-champ Page dies aged 50

Page: Wheelchair-bound since 2001

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Former heavyweight champion Greg Page has died at his Louisville home at the age of 50.

Wife Patricia found Page dead on Monday morning following complications related to the injuries he suffered in his last fight, after which he fell into a coma.

Page lifted the WBA belt in 1984 during the post-Ali, pre-Tyson era that struggled to recognise a true champion - beating Tim Witherspoon on a majority decision.

Page lost the title to Tony Tubbs in his first defence just four months later and saw his career decline inexorably with subsequent losses to fringe contenders such as Orlin Norris, Donovan Ruddock, Joe Bugner and Mark Wills (twice).

After a three year sabbatical - and at the age of 37 - Page made a comeback that never got off the ground, two years later losing to a young and unbeaten Monte Barrett, who was recently stopped by British heavyweight David Haye.

But in his last fight in 2001, Page suffered a 10th round knockout loss to Dale Crowe from which he would never fully recover.

He fell into a coma for a week and during post-fight surgery suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed on his left side and wheelchair-bound.

In 2007 Page won a $1.2 million settlement with Kentucky boxing officials over the lack of medical personnel at the fight.