Tributes paid to talented Bristol boxer found dead

Jude Moore has been called the most talented young fighter to come out of the city

More than £6,000 has been raised in one day to support Jude's family
Author: James DiamondPublished 21st Mar 2023

Tributes are being paid to a young boxer from Bristol who's died suddenly at the age of 19.

Jude Moore was a two-time national champion, a Great Britain Three Nations champion and Western Counties champion and has been described as the most talented young fighter to come out of the city.

He was found dead on Friday (March 17).

Craig Turner was his long time coach at Downend Boxing Club and says he is "devastated" by the loss.

“He was an absolute star, irreplaceable," he said.

"Once you met him, you would never forget him."

Two months before his death Jude had moved to a new club in Hoddesdon near London.

"Everyone was really excited (about him coming) because he was such a talented prospect," Alex Leo, head coach at Hoddesdon Boxing Academy said.

"When I first met him just straight away he was so bubbly, very polite, such a genuine person and we just hit it off straight away.

"With Jude he was just so naturally gifted," he said.

"He didn't even have to try some of the time it was just there.

"It was so evident how much potential (he had) and how amazingly good at boxing he really was."

Craig from Downend Boxing Club has set up a Go Fund Me page to raise money for Jude's family and in one day it has already collected nearly seven times its target of £1,000.

At the time of writing it has amassed £6,660.

“I think he was one of those kids who was forever young and was just not meant to get old," Craig said.

“One of my favourite memories was when he was called up as a last minute replacement to box for England against a boxer from the USA who had been unbeaten in 200 bouts.

“He puffed out his chest, walked out the ‘Sweet Caroline’ and went out and beat him – that and Glenn Catley winning a world championship are my best moments in boxing.

“The fact that he came from one of the most deprived wards in Great Britain to do what he did and achieved what he did is nothing short of amazing.

"Downend Boxing Club exists for people like him."

Alex tells us Hoddesdon Boxing Academy will also be raising money for the family.

"We're going to obviously put a big donation in from the club to Craig to help with all the funeral costs," he said.

"We're going to try everything we can as a club at Hoddesdon as well to raise some more money as a side note as well to help the family...

"We're going to remember Jude this season by wearing black vests with his name on, on all our contests...

"That's something we're going to keep doing now."

If you want to donate to the Go Fund Me page, you can do so here.

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