A WORLD champion boxer helped to raise over £40,000 in the memory of a Rugby School pupil who died suddenly in 2017.
A charity dinner starring former WBO middleweight and WBC super-middleweight champion Nigel Benn was held to raise funds in tribute to Christian Hobbs.
Christian, 17, died of heart failure on Boxing Day 2017.
A keen amateur boxer, he trained with the Heart of England Community Boxing Club in Hinckley up to three times a week.
Rugby School pupil Christian Hobbs died suddenly in 2017.
Soon after he died, the club became homeless and began fundraising to build a new gym.
So the school, along with Christian’s family from Peterborough, decided to raise funds in his name – and now the Christian Hobbs Boxing Gym will be built in his memory.
A sell-out success, the fund-raising dinner – held at Rugby’s Temple Speech Room – starred Nigel alongside comedian Terry Alderton, who hosted the event and compered the live auction.
Nick Tester, a sports consultant at Rugby School, co-ordinated the event alongside school staff members Mindy Dhanda and Vicky Henderson.
They organised boxing-related auction prizes as well a host of holidays, work experiences and sporting events to bid on.
With the final total coming in at £43,252, Nick said it was a remarkable evening.
He said: “This was very much a joint effort for a cause deep in the hearts of everyone at Rugby School and I am so grateful to all those who gave up their time, donated and bid for auction items and supported us by buying tickets for the dinner.
“We are so proud of what this event has achieved and hope we can continue to support the Christian Hobbs Boxing Gym well into the future.”
