Ageing boxer Scot England stopped in seconds
58-year-old Scot England was coming up against 23-year-old Jashawn Hunter at the Texas Troubadour Theatre in Nashville on Tuesday, December 5.
North Carolina's Hunter had lost all of his previous six contests – five by knockout, all in the first round – but managed to drop England with his very first punch, just five seconds into the contest.
He bravely managed to get to his feet but his corner stopped the fight.
The elderly athlete came out of his corner pushing out his jab as he moved his feet into range. He landed a single jab, then he attempted a one-two, but it was so slow and lethargic that Hunter was able to slip it and land a huge right hook to England's chin, which snapped his head to the side, then there was another short left hook to the chin but he was already on his way down.
Prior to the fight England had set his sights on a record.
"When I step into the ring, I will become the oldest professional welterweight boxer in the world," Scot England said of his upcoming match.
Scot is almost 59. He credits his ambition to his trainers at Champion's Corner in Murfreesboro, and his long friendship with Muhammad Ali.
Fans responded angrily to footage online, "Pretty disgusting this was even allowed to happen," said one Twitter user.
BBN Editor, Tim Rickson, responded to the shocking scenes, "I can't quite comprehend how this was allowed to happen. He could have been seriously injured or even killed in that fight.
"I also can't fathom how exactly this 58-year-old was awarded a professional boxing licence, or who matched him with a 23-year-old – 35 years his junior!
"When you watch the fight, you can see that he isn't even able to punch properly because he's so slow. His punches are more like pushes, there's no snap or speed to them, so how did a licensing board deem him suitable to fight and how did his corner allow it to happen, having watched him training and sparring many times. They must have known he was a step behind, a level below, unable to compete in a professional capacity. They must have seen it in the way he punched the bag or mixed it in sparring.
"We have just stopped talking about the Misfits Boxing making a mockery of the sport and now we have this outrage to deal with. In all honesty, this is one of the most shocking things I have seen in this sport, and that's saying something!"
Article sponsored by HÖRFA