Boxing: Cardiff man found dead days after amateur fight

The brother of a Cardiff man who died days after taking part in an amateur boxing match said his family were devastated.

Morhib Mohamed Miah's body was found in his flat on Wednesday, 3 August.

The 32-year-old took part in a fight on the previous Saturday, arranged by the club he trained with in Milton Keynes.

Banks' Martial Arts Academy said there was "no reason to suspect anything was wrong" as boxers were checked by paramedics before and after bouts.

His older brother, Mobasir Miah, said nobody had heard from his brother since Sunday, the day after his boxing match.

His family were alerted after his work's manager told them he had not been seen all week.

"His manager phoned my sister and then we started to try and contact Morhib," he said.

"My other brother who lives in London travelled up to Milton Keynes, and Morhib was found in his flat. He was dead."

Family members are trying to find out what happened during his boxing match, and have questioned whether the bout should have been stopped sooner.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Thomas Banks from the club said Mr Miah had been in contact with club members and a coach on Saturday and Sunday, saying he was "very positive and looking forward to getting back to his training" following the bout.

"We had no reason to suspect that anything was wrong until his sister contacted us on Wednesday looking for him," he said.

Mr Miah said: "All our concerns were that something has happened on that Saturday night.

"He [Morhib] spoke with my brother and sister on the Sunday and said he had a black eye, but didn't complain of any headaches.

"Now I can't believe he isn't here, he's just 32, he was as fit as a fiddle."

Mr Miah was allowed to see his brother's body on 5 August, and said he was shocked by the extent of the injuries.

"When I saw his body there were bruises, substantial bruises to his forehead, eyes and nose," he said.

"The sides to both his eyes were inflamed, you could see there was a cut to his tooth, there was blood on the inside of his lips, and he had injuries to his neck area and torso - whatever happened it was full on," he said.

The family suspect he might have played down the severity of his injuries to stop them worrying.

"Why didn't they stop it?" said Mr Miah about the fight.

"There was a doctor at the boxing, and they checked him, and we were told by his gym that the doctor was happy for Morhib to go home, and there were two phone calls to chase up on him on the Sunday.

"I hope to have answers to our questions, and that we have a result, even if it takes a month, but I want answers to what happened."

Mr Banks said the club was "shocked and deeply saddened" by Mr Miah's death.

"The judges and referee were all experienced and we had four paramedics on site in an official capacity throughout, two ringside and two checking the fighters before and after their fights.

"All fighters were matched according to weight and previous experience both within and outside the club."

He said the fight was "particularly evenly matched" and that "there were no knockdowns and both boxers shook hands at the end".

"He lost the match by just one point and was the first to admit to his coach and friends that he felt he had the upper hand but his stamina let him down," he said.

Thames Valley Police said an investigation has been launched into Mr Miah's "unexplained death".

"The force was contacted on 3 August with a report of a missing man, and sadly the body was located the same day," it said.