THIS year’s annual Bristol Box Cup will be held in memory of talented boxer Jude Moore.
The former Mangotsfield School pupil, who also attended Christ Church infant and junior schools, died unexpectedly in March last year, aged 19.
Jude, who lived in Hillfields, had been set on turning professional and had been a previous winner of the box cup event, among many other titles.
Jude was a National Champion at Schools level in 2017, aged 14, and Juniors in 2019, and was Western Counties champion five times. He represented England in European championships and won a GB Three Nations championship.
He was described by former WBC world super middleweight champion Glenn Catley, who worked with him at Downend, as “one of the most naturally gifted boxers ever to come out of Bristol”. The 10th Bristol Box Cup, which will be held on June 22 and 23 at Thornbury Leisure Centre, is organised and run by Jude’s old club, Fishponds-based Downend Boxing Club.
It is aimed at entry-level school-age boxers, providing a platform to compete in an international-style event and celebrate boxing at a pivotal stage in their careers.
Since its launch in 2014, the event has been a success, attracting 130 boxers last time, and this year’s event looks set to be even more popular.
Organiser Joanne Turner said: “Within an hour of launching the participants’ registration, we already had 100-plus applications from all over England, Wales and Ireland, so the number is going to be a record for us.”
Boxing starts at 1.30pm each day.
For more information, email bristolboxcup@yahoo.co.uk.