Jordan Coe, 20, was preparing for a charity fight in Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday evening. Police have sent the body for an autopsy.

Kritchai Kritnok, Coe’s trainer, told police that he last saw the Scottish boxer in a sweat suit, running at noon on Saturday to try to reduce his weight by 3 kilograms. But the boxer did not return to his resort, the trainer said.

Coe was found dead on the open ground in front of Bang Saphan Hin resort at 2.45pm on Sunday.

Coe belonged to the Lamnammoon Muay Thai camp in Ubon Ratchathani province.

The camp’s owner, Kuekrit Kamolrit, 44, said Coe was popular because of his good performances, and his Isaan dance pleased spectators. He fought 14 bouts and was beaten just once during the past year.

He was given the nickname jom serng (the Isaan stye dancer) because he liked to perform the dance and he also played the kaen (Isaan traditional wind instrument) before each fight.