By Jake Donovan

With no more fight left in him, Timothy Gibson was at the very least given the benefit of a peaceful passing - even if all too soon in the life of a man who lived to better the lives of those around him. 

A former promoter, manager and matchmaker, Gibson, 32, passed away at his Columbia, TN residence on Monday. 

After having spent the better part of the last year successfully battling cancer, Gibson was overcome by injuries and infections that severely compromised his health. The final month of his life was spent hospitalized before released from Vanderbilt Hospital in hospice career, fading in and out of consciousness before his untimely passing. 

Prior to that point, Mr. Gibson was a man who truly loved life and was loved by those around him. 

In a sport often generalized as being littered with criminals and con artists, Gibson was known by anyone with whom he ever came in contact as one of the good guys in boxing. His passion for the sport began at a young age, his desire to make a difference leading to getting involved as - at separate times in his time in the game - a promoter, manager, matchmaker and judge, beginning with his efforts to revive boxing in his hometown of Columbia. 

"There's so much more to boxing than what we're offering," a then-24 year old Gibson quipped upon deciding to promote his first show in 2007. "Everyone around here sees the sport in a negative light. We have to do something about that."

As with any movement, Gibson's efforts were often met with resistance, not uncommon in a mid-South region seldom receptive to change and reform in any medium. 

It didn't prevent him from doing what he loved.

A jolly young man whose smile and kind nature always stood out in any crowd, his passion for boxing led to his taking on a handful of fighters. Gibson took a chance on fighters shunned by most others in the industry, his greatest victory managing to get those fighters - Chris Howard, Miguel Angel Gonzalez and Sena Agbeko, among others - nationwide television exposure, including Gonzalez and Agbeko gaining placement in promoter Artie Pellulo's ESPN2-televised Boxcino tournaments. 

As great his efforts to make boxing a better place, Gibson was largely known as a family man.

Married since 2006, he and his wife Neila Lynne had two children. Gibson spent every waking day providing for and spending quality time with his family. Included among his extracurricular activities was serving as a recreational soccer coach for his daughter's team.

His life was thrown for a loop when he was diagnosed with esophogeal cancer in early 2015. Fighting the good fight, Gibson managed to conquer the disease. However, he suffered a horrific accident during the latter stages of chemotherapy, breaking his lumbar.

During surgery, Gibson came down with pneumonia, after which the tumor resurfaced. Having gone 12 rounds and beyond, there was no more fight left other than to allow him to pass away at home, provided some semblance of peace. 

Along with his wife and children, Gibson is survived by his parents, loving family members and a boxing community who felt his impact far beyond what took place between the ropes. 

"Tim Gibson was a great man, who took a chance and represented me for my entire career," noted Michael Gibbons, a former pro and now a correspondent for BoxingScene.com. "More than a promoter, Tim was a dear friend." 

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox