Tributes for Yorkshire-based boxer who died in hospital after winning bout

TRIBUTES WERE paid last night to a Yorkshire-based boxer who died after a bout.

British boxer Scott Westgarth, who lived in Penistone and trained in Sheffield, died on Sunday after being rushed to hospital following his victory over Dec Spellman in Doncaster.

The 31-year-old had beaten Spellman on points in an English light-heavyweight title eliminator on Saturday before being taken ill backstage, having suffered a knockdown late on.

Westgarth was taken to the Royal Hallamshire hospital – he had fought at The Dome in Doncaster – and died in the early hours of Sunday, the British Boxing Board of Control has confirmed.

His points victory over Spellman, which represented the seventh win of a 10-fight career, had been scheduled on the undercard of Curtis Woodhouse-John Wayne Hibbert, which was postponed and then cancelled after Westgarth fell ill.

The show’s promoter Stefy Bull said on social media: “God bless Scott Westgarth. 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.”

Westgarth conducted a postfight interview before his condition declined, and was treated by paramedics prior to being taken to hospital.

The board’s general secretary Robert Smith said: “It’s a terrible thing that’s happened. My condolences to all of his family.”

Westgarth was a former ski instructor who worked as a chef at Sheffield’s Royal Victoria Holiday Inn, having lived in Penistone and originated from the North-East.

Further tributes have since come in from the boxing community, including from 26-yearold Spellman, who had suffered his first defeat, and posted: “Absolutely heartbroken and lost for words.”