Robbie Welch may have got beaten in his first foray into a boxing ring but having raised £3,000 for a good cause he was able to take it on the chin. 

The construction company director took part in a white collar boxing event in memory of Peter Cox from Catherington, near Horndean, a sports-mad student who collapsed and died in his university halls of residence.

Mr Welch, a friend of Peter's dad Stuart, is adding up all the donations from his big fight, which he will give to CRY, a charity that raises awareness of sudden cardiac death, but he says it is about £3,000. 

The event, at Portsmouth's Guildhall, saw 850 people pay to watch the likes of accountants and bank managers taking to the ring. 

Mr Welch, 43, said: "Peter was only 20 years old.  There was no warning for this, and, even if there was, nothing could prepare you for such a loss. 

"Peter was a vibrant, rugby-playing skiing instructor, a sports fanatic who was as fit as a fiddle.  He was at university at the time he was struck down literally in his prime.

"I am lucky enough to have known him personally.  Peter had the best sense of humour and he would have found the idea of my boxing hysterical to say the least. 

The fight, part of an evening of boxing, was organised by the White Collar Boxing  Council and lasted three rounds,  Mr Welch, of Portsmouth Road, Horndean, was beaten on points by a 25-year-old from Leatherhead. 

Pompey donated a signed shirt and two VIP match tickets which were auctioned off for the cause. 

Mr Welch said: "It was in a moment of sheer madness that I accepted the fight.  I lost, which I'm devastated about, but it was on points and the money raised is fantastic.' 

Peter's dad Stuart, of HInton Manor Lane, added: "Robbie is a good friend of mine and when he asked if he do this in Peter's memory I was delighted and very grateful. 

"The work CRY does is quite admirable." 

SUPER FIT

Peter Cox was super fit and just 20 years old when he died.

He started to feel dizzy, collapsed and died within seconds of heart failure in his university halls of residence in April last year. 

His death was not long after he had been to see Pompey beat West Brom in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and he had been planning to go to the final with his dad Stuart. 

After a lot of thought Stuart decided to go to the game and leave Peter's seat empty as a silent tribute. 

Peter was 6ft 4in, educated at the Petersfield School and had been selected for England's elite Rugby Union training programme with London Irish.