A YOUNG talented boxer was found dead after he hanged himself in his kitchen.

Jordan Hughes, described as having the “heart of a lion”, was living with his sister in Clarendon Road, Hove.

She came home to find the 26-year-old bricklayer hanged in their kitchen on Saturday.

An inquest opened into his death yesterday and heard the provisional cause of Mr Hughes’s death is hanging.

A post mortem has been carried out by consultant pathologist Dr David Wright .

He gave the provisional cause of death as hanging.

Mr Hughes, father to a little girl, was living with his sister and her partner.

The court heard they decided to move into their own place.

When they returned to the flat in Clarendon Road to pack their bags and leave, Mr Hughes was found hanged in their kitchen.

An ambulance was called but he was pronounced dead at the scene, the court heard.

The boxer’s father, Neil Hughes, recently paid tribute to his son.

The hairdresser said: “He was a warrior with the heart of a lion.

“He defended his friends and family with his life and was very loyal.

“Many knew him as a happy, friendly boy who would help anyone he could.

He described his son as a man who never wanted to show any weakness.

He said: “My son took his own life and we will never know why he did this.

“As a family we are devastated.

“Our thoughts are now with his young daughter.”

He trained at several clubs across Brighton including Whitehawk Amateur Boxing Club.

His former coach, Terry King, 40, said: “He was about 14 when he first came in as a wiry young lad with lots of energy.

“I will never forget the first time he got in the ring.

“He started doing some show boxing and said ‘this is for me, I’m going to be the world champion’.

“We thought we had heard it all before, but Jordan went on to be a very talented boxer.

“He won two belts with us and I know he did well at other clubs as well.

“He was highly competitive and took it very seriously.”

Whitehawk Amateur Boxing Club head coach Gary Emins remembered Jordan joining the club as a 14-year-old. He described him as a “cheeky lad” and a “big character” and added: “He was talented. When we saw him we knew he would probably become a boxer and do well.”

Assistant coroner for Brighton and Hove, Catharine Palmer, said she requires statements from family, medical professionals involved with Mr Hughes and Sussex Police for his full inquest scheduled for September 24 at 10.30am.