Family of student, 23, who died of 'devastating' brain injury after being knocked out at charity boxing match sue organisers for £200,000

The family of a student who died after suffering a brain injury during a charity boxing match have sued the organisers for £200,000. 

Jubel Reji Kurian, 23, passed away on March 29, 2023, four days after he collapsed in the ring towards the end of the final round of an amateur bout at Nottingham's Harvey Haddon Sports Centre. 

The graduate student had been 'competing well' in the fight, an inquest into his death heard, but fell to the canvas following a knockout blow to the head. 

He was rushed to hospital after suffering bleeding to both sides of the brain, but never regained consciousness before his life support was turned off. 

Now Mr Kurian's father, Reji, who rushed back from the United Arab Emirates to be by his son's side following the fight, is suing organisers Ultra Events Ltd on grounds that the contest should have been stopped before the knockout punch was delivered.

Harry Trusted, the family's barrister, said at London High Court this week: 'My case boils down to saying that, if that punch had not been delivered, Mr Kurian would have survived.'

He added that the case would only be successful 'if a sufficient level of carelessness is demonstrated by the defendants'. 

The organisers, however, deny any liability. Ultra Events Ltd insists that the referee was highly experienced and competent, and therefore fully able to supervise an amateur bout comprising two three-minute rounds. 

The company's barrister Daniel Tobin told the judge that Mr Kurian had undertaken 'more than 33 hours of training in a local boxing gym' prior to the fight.  

In order for Mr Kurian's family's claim to succeed, his legal team will have to establish a 'very high degree of carelessness' by the organisers, which Mr Tobin insisted was completely absent.

The case reached court in the preliminary stage of an action that is due to reach trial next year, with lawyers arguing about what evidence should be heard by the future trial judge.

The family's barrister asked for permission to call expert evidence from a seasoned amateur and pro referee with over 40 years' experience in the sport, who can analyse and comment on the video footage of the three rounds boxed.

But Ultra Events' barrister, objecting to the evidence, said the expert proposed by Mr Trusted has no niche knowledge about the rules and regulations of white collar boxing, nor any medical expertise to offer as insight.

'While there is an abundance of rules and regulations in relation to pro and amateur boxing, in respect of the regulations and safety framework for a white collar event with university students for charity, there is nothing,' he told the judge.

After a short hearing, the judge agreed to permit the evidence to be heard at the trial, although Ultra Events will also have the option of calling their own expert witness.

Mr Kurian had moved to Britain six months prior to his death to study for a master's degree in sports medicine, with the aim of becoming an NHS physiotherapist.

An inquest into his death held in 2024 found that the 23-year-old died from a 'devastating' brain injury deemed to have been so serious that no medical assistance could have saved him. 

A witness to the inquest told how Mr Kurian was holding his own during the bout, but that 'the tide turned in the third round'.