Boxer’s partner pays tribute to her ‘soulmate’
‘HE HAD SO MUCH ENERGY, HE WAS A STRONG CHARACTER’
THE heartbroken partner of the late Nottingham boxer Nicky Booth says she’s lost her “soulmate” as she explained they’d been waiting to move into a house they’d bought together.
Kristy Alderman (Booth), 41, said she and her fiancé were “inseparable” and had planned to marry in the summer.
But, after the former British and Commonwealth bantamweight champion went into hospital with cellulitis – an infection caused by bacteria getting into the deeper layers of the skin – she explained that doctors found he had liver failure. Mr Booth died last week.
Ms Alderman, who had been engaged to her partner for about three years, said: “I was not prepared for it. He was unconscious, he had an oxygen mask at the time but nobody at any point said to me ‘this is the end.’”
She said: “His body had become overrun with toxins”.
The couple had been living together in temporary accommodation in Lawson Street, Hyson Green, while details of the purchase of the three-bedroom house in Beckhampton Road, Bestwood, were being finalised.
Ms Alderman, who is originally from Hampshire, having moved to the area 20 years ago, said she and Mr Booth were “together 24/7 all the time”.
“He was a comedian with antics,” she said.
“He had so much energy, he was a strong character, very loving, kind – not a nasty bone in his body.
“We were completely inseparable. When we met each other it was like we first found our first true love, soulmates so to speak.
He was always happy.
“You expect him to be next to you in bed. I suffer with bad dreams and anxiety.
He was always there to hold me, he was always wild there to tell me ‘everything is OK.’ Now he isn’t. He used to sing in the shower and things like that.”
Ms Alderman, who met Mr Booth on a night out in the city, added: “He absolutely loved things like ghost hunting and things like that, the paranormal.
“He loved animals, rescuing them – but he was very kind towards animals.”
The couple found themselves in “quite dire circumstances” after a fire broke out at Mr Booth’s previous address in Hucknall.
It happened a few years ago when they were out shopping in Bulwell Noone was inside at the time.
“It was all fire damaged. He was advised it would not be safe to stay there,” said Ms Alderman.
“We lost everything, including some of his quite rare boxing pictures as well. “They were original pictures, some of them he had signed.”
Ms Alderman, who has used some inheritance money to buy the house outright, still plans to move into it because it’s what Mr Booth would have wanted.
His death sent shockwaves through the boxing community as people described him as a “top lad”.
The family are planning the funeral arrangements – with hopes of a horse and cart and of streaming the service online.
Money can be pledged at gofundme. com/f/nicky-1-smooth-boothsfuneral.
Speaking previously, Mr Booth’s mum, Michelle, 62, said: “I adored my son Nicky, I loved his cheeky smile and his banter.
“He was always a happy chappy. I will miss him so much. It has left a hole in my heart.”
Mr Booth stopped boxing professionally in 2003 after he lost a World Boxing Union title fight at Harvey Hadden Stadium, Bilborough, against Nathan Sting. He retired with a record of 17 wins from 23 fights.
I was not prepared for it... nobody at any point said to me ‘this is the end’
Kristy Alderman (Booth)