New York, Jan 2 (IANS): Howard Davis Jr., who won a boxing gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympics in the lightweight category, has died of lung cancer at the age of 59.

Davis died on Wednesday after a battle with lung cancer, his brother Kenny confirmed on Friday. Kenny described his sibling as a "very special man, husband and friend", reports Efe.

Although legendary pugilists Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Spinks and Teofilo Stevenson also fought at that same Summer Games, Davis - whose boxing style earned him comparisons to Muhammad Ali - received the Val Barker trophy for most outstanding Olympic fighter.

Davis competed in the Olympics just days after learning that his mother had died of a heart attack.

His success in Montreal, where he won all five of his bouts, would prove to be the chief highlight of his career since he never won a world title as a professional.

Although he had never been a smoker, the native of Long Island, New York, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer last February.

"I've never questioned 'Why me?'" the former boxer told the New York Post in August. "God chose me to have this disease for a reason, and I have to find out the purpose and I'm kind of figuring it out why."

Doctors had given Davis less than a year to live due to the advanced stage of his illness.