A tragic death in boxing.
This past Saturday night, Scott Westgarth, 31, achieved a 10-round decision victory over Dec Spellman at the Doncaster Dome in England.
Westgarth had suffered a knockdown in the fight and, according to BloodyElbow, appeared to be pain throughout his post -fight interview, after which, he collapsed in his dressing room.
Paramedics rushed him to Royal Hallamshire Hospital, and on Sunday night Westgarth passed away. The exact cause of death is yet uncertain, but it was almost certainly a brain injury sustained from trauma in the fight.
Spellman, upon hearing the news, shared his condolences on Twitter:
“Absolutely heartbroken and lost for words. I’ll continue to pray for Scott’s family and the people close to him rest easy my friend.”
Stefy Bull, Westgarth’s promoter, also aired his grief online:
“To promote a boxing show and a young man doing a job he loves losing his life, I have no words. RIP lad thoughts go out to your family and your team, it’s been the hardest few days I’ve had to endure.
“God Bless 2 promote a Boxing show and a young man doing a job he loves losing his life I have no words RIP lad thoughts go out 2 yr family and yr team it’s been the hardest few days I’ve had to endure no idea what 2 do moving forward.”
Numerous other combat sports figures, including some notable British boxing icons, have expressed grief at the tragedy. A GoFundMe campaign has been incepted to support Westgarth’s family.
In 10 professional bouts Westgarth recorded 7 wins (2 KOs), 2 losses, and 1 draw. While death and serious brain injury in combat sports are not uncommon, they do inevitably sober the community. No regulation will change the reality of two men trying to damage and incapacitate one another – but steps can be taken to ensure that combat sports are conducted as safely and honorably as possible.
The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) released a statement through general secretary Robert Smith:
“We are one of the most forward-thinking commissions in the world regarding medical aspects. Some people don’t like us because they say we are too strict. This is a tough, tough sport and we try to make it as safe as possible but you can’t make it 100% safe. That doesn’t take away from the fact that this is a disaster, but more importantly it’s a disaster for his family and that’s the most important thing.”
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