TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular Southampton boxer who fell to his death from the Itchen Bridge.

Lee Cutter had enjoyed more than 30 fights as a young man for Southampton ABC, and even made a brief comeback to the ring in 2012, but recently concentrated his time and effort into helping through the next generation of amateur boxers.

The 29-year-old was retrieved from the water on the Woolston side of the bridge with help from HM Coastguard in the early hours of last Friday morning and was taken to Southampton Docks by Calshot Lifeboat.

On arrival he was handed to paramedics from South Central Ambulance Service, who took him to Southampton General Hospital, but despite attempts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at 1.29am.

A file has been passed to the coroner and an inquest opened and adjourned.

Inquiries are continuing into the exact circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Cutter of Bitterne Road West, but it is not now being treated as suspicious.

Gary White, Southampton ABC head coach, said: “Southampton ABC would like to pass on our deepest condolences to Lee’s family and friends.

“I can’t imagine what they must be going through and our thoughts are with them at this very sad time.

“Everyone connected to the club past and present is devastated. Lee was such a lovely, warm-hearted man who never had a bad word to say about anyone and I’ve never heard anyone ever say a bad word about him. He was simply a diamond.

Achievements “He had around 40 contests for the club winning more than he lost and was a very stylish, gutsy boxer. His most notable achievement came in 2002 when he reached a national junior ABA final where he agonisingly lost out on a count back.

“After a long spell out he came back and boxed again for us and only two years ago won the best boxer award on our club show at Netley with a great performance.

“He retired soon after but stayed on helping out with the nursery class until work commitments intervened but he always asked me how the lads were getting on.

“The club are going to name a trophy in Lee’s name and award it annually to the best youth boxer so that we can make sure Lee will always be remembered by us.”