“Blessings as He Watches Over You”: 2 Years After His Death, Fans Join Olympic Silver Medalist Turned Pro Boxer in Paying Tribute to His Late Boxing Coach Father

Death in the family is never easy! It’s even harder when the departed is one’s father and coach. Two years ago, Duke Ragan bid farewell to his beloved father, who was also his boxing coach. Derek Ragan, Duke’s father, was unfortunately infected with Covid-19 while being incarcerated. The 51-year-old Olympic boxing coach was taken to the hospital but died in police custody.

However, in the wake of his father’s second death anniversary, the Olympic silver medalist turned to Instagram to pay tribute to his late father. He wrote, “Today made two years without my dad! Time fly! No paragraphs, but shouts to everyone who checked on me and posted the GOV today. I seen it and appreciate it. RIPthegov!” As the post started circulating on the platform, fans quickly joined Duke to pay their respects. 

Bruce Carrington joins the boxing world to pay respect

In his post, Duke shared some pictures of himself near his father’s gravestone and a couple of old pictures with his father. Since the post went live on Instagram, it has gathered a plethora of supportive comments.

Bruce Carrington, a featherweight boxer, made his way to the comment section to express support for Duke. He wrote, “God Bless You And Your Family Brudda.”

One user asked Duke to stay positive and hold his head up. “Hold your head, Duke,” the user commented.

Someone else urged Duke to keep working hard to make his late father proud. “Make him proud, brotha,” the user wrote.

Another user sent his blessings while expressing that Duke’s father is watching over him. “Blessings as he watches over you,” the user wrote.

The next user urged Duke to stay strong because God is with him. “Stay strong, God got you,” the user remarked. While time will one day heal the wound left by his father’s passing, here’s what Duke had to say when the unfortunate incident happened.

Duke Ragan expresses that he and his father worked together for the silver medal

Derek Ragan trained his son, Duke, for many years before the Cincinnati resident competed in the Tokoyo Olympics. So, after winning a silver medal at the Olympics, Duke stated, “Me and my daddy, you know, we worked for that.” He went on to reveal that he wished his father was also present during the event to see him achieve the milestone.

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While visiting his father’s gravestone back when his father passed, Duke expressed remorse about his father’s passing. “Just too early, though, for him to be on there,” lamented Duke, underscoring his father’s gravestone with pictures of him. The passing of his father came as a surprise to the family as Derek got sick in mid-November while in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. 

Two years after his father departed from the world of the living, Duke Ragan paid his respects to his late father. Meanwhile, the boxing world poured in with supportive responses for the Olympic medalist. Do you have any messages for Duke Ragan? Let us know in the comments below!

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