A former Melbourne super middleweight boxer has been gunned down in Ascot Vale in what sources close to the deceased are describing as retaliation for his recent work as an unofficial debt collector.

Hussein “Huss” Dehaini, known in the ring as “Skinny”, was found with gunshot wounds on North Street shortly after 12:15am on Sunday. Paramedics took him to hospital in a critical condition, but he died from his injuries. He was in his 30s.