Boxing world rocked as Scott Westgarth tragically dies after winning English title eliminator
Light-heavyweight Scott Westgarth (7-2-1) has died at the age of 31 after he was rushed to hospital following a fight with Dec Spelman (11-1) on Saturday night.
Westgarth won his light-heavyweight English title eliminator against the unbeaten "Kid Nytro" on points at the Doncaster Dome on a Stefy Bull Promotions show, but appeared to be in pain during the post-fight interviews, later collapsing backstage.
His promoter, Stefy Bull, who announced the news the entire boxing world were fearing to hear on Monday morning.
“God bless Scott Westgarth,” he said. “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; no idea what to do moving forward.”
26-year-old opponent Dec Spelman was equally hearbroken as he also paid tribute to Westgarth, "Absolutely heartbroken and lost for words [I'll] continue to pray for Scott's family and the people close to him,” he wrote. “Rest easy my friend.”
As a result of Westgarth’s injuries, the rest of the card, which featured former footballer Curtis Woodhouse, was cancelled.
Woodhouse was one of those to pay his respects to Westgarth, tweeting: “Prayers are with Scott Westgarth this evening, sometimes with all the hype around boxing you forget how dangerous this sport is.
“My fight with [Wayne Hibbert] is irrelevant and means nothing compared to life.”