An amateur fighter has died after sustaining serious injuries during a charity boxing match in Nottingham, England. The fighter, Jubal Reji Kurian, was hurt during a March 25 match that was part of an Ultra White Collar Boxing (UWCB) event, according to numerous published reports.
UWCB hosts events throughout the United Kingdom aimed at providing amateur boxers with fundraising opportunities on behalf of Cancer Research UK. Since 2009, that 192,410 UWCB fundraisers have raised a total of £25,232,182, or more than $3.1 million at early April 2023’s conversion rate, through more than 1.1 million donations, according to the organization’s website. The UK news site ChronicleLive describes the events as “black tie events” and indicated other scheduled evenings would be held as planned.
As of April 7, side-by side logos in the UWCB website promoted the organization as “Supporting Cancer Research UK” and a note on the site touts UWCB as “one of Cancer Research UK’s largest fundraising partners in the UK.”
“Ultra White Collar Boxing is a unique opportunity for people with no boxing background to experience the wonderful world of boxing, in a safe and enjoyable environment. Raise money for Cancer Research UK and get in great shape!” copy on the UWCB website (https://ultrawhitecollarboxing.co.uk/) claims. White collar boxing refers to boxing training geared toward amateurs such as white-collar office workers who want to experience a low-impact, safer version the sport.
Requests for comment from Ultra White Collar Boxing and Cancer Research UK were not answered by deadline. In several published reports, a spokesperson for Ultra White Collar Boxing was quoted as saying organization leaders were keeping in touch with Kurian’s family and that they would not be making further comment while the matter was under investigation.
Simon Ledsham, fundraising director at Cancer Research UK, told the Daily Mail that his organization “carefully considers the benefit to cancer patients, while fully adhering to guidance from the Charity Commission” when considering partnership arrangements. “Ultra White Collar Boxing matches are third party events, organised [sic] by Ultra Events Ltd, and the company is solely responsible for all aspects of planning and delivery,” Ledsham told the Daily Mail.
Participants are given physicals before they fight, and fighters wear headgear and 16-ounce gloves, which offer more padding than the 10-ounce gloves commonly used in professional boxing matches. Participants train together for eight weeks before their charity matches.
Despite this, Kurian sustained serious injuries during his March 25 match at Harvey Hadden Sports Village, a multipurpose sporting complex in Nottingham. He had been taken from the complex to Queens Medical Centre, where he died.
Kurian’s match was the first of the March 25 contests, according to the Daily Mail. The matches were supposed to run from 5:30 through 10 p.m., but were halted after Kurian received attention from on-site paramedics, the Daily Mail reported.
Kurian was described as a “student” in several published reports, but neither his age nor his affiliation were given.
