By Scott Hesketh, courtesy of The Daily Star

AN all-out gang war is feared after a former champion boxer’s nephew was stabbed to death.

One-time British and European light welterweight champ Pat Barrett, 44, was clubbed over the head with a steel pole.

His nephew John Lee, 31, was knifed in the back when violence flared at a private Christmas Eve bash.

The bloodbath erupted after a 20-strong gang believed to be from Moss Side, Manchester gatecrashed the party at Sinclair’s bar in Rochdale, 15 miles away.

Now there are fears of revenge attacks.

“Black Flash” Pat – who turned pro in 1987 and had a shot at the world title – has gangland links.

He was jailed after a loaded gun and drugs were found in his hotel room in 2004.

The dad of two, now a boxing trainer, is believed to have connections to Manchester’s    notorious Cheetham Hill Mob.

Detectives probing the murder have yet to make an arrest but are concerned over tit-for-tat reprisals.

Police are hunting the attackers – thought to be a well-known crew from the notorious Moss Side area.

A Greater Manchester Police source told the Daily Star Sunday: “Pat was hosting a party for friends.

“We think a girl connected to a gang had phoned up the lads to go down and they crashed the party. One of the attackers picked up a steel post at the entrance and had gone for Pat. He was hit over the head and his nephew was stabbed and later died. We have an idea who carried out this attack and we believe there could be reprisals if we don’t act swiftly.”

Chief Supt John O’Hare said the investigation would be “lengthy and complex”.

Tags: British Boxing