Scott Westgarth’s opponent Dec Spelman pens emotional tribute and admits he may quit boxing
The Scunthorpe boxer was beaten on points by Westgarth in their English title eliminator but admits he does not know if he can continue after his opponent’s passing
DEC SPELMAN has revealed his heartbreak over the death of Scott Westgarth — and is now considering hanging up his gloves.
The Scunthorpe boxer was beaten on points by Westgarth in their English title eliminator in Doncaster last Saturday night.
Westgarth later died in hospital. He was 31.
Spelman, 26, penned an emotional tribute to his opponent after been left reeling by the tragedy.
He wrote: “This really brings it home and I will have to spend a long couple of weeks thinking about what I want to do.
“I have loved boxing all my life and this is all I know. As a boxer it is in you, it’s in your life and you just can’t put that out.
“But this is not about me. We need to keep praying for Scott’s family and keep strong.
“You can see from the messages what a great guy he was. Scott has lost his life doing a sport he loved.
BOOTH BOOTED Boxer Tyan Booth has licence suspended after offensive tweet about tragic fighter Scott Westgarth who died aged 31
“I am gutted, devastated and heartbroken because he is such a nice guy. I have the utmost respect for him but when he got taken to hospital I thought this is serious — and it is just heartbreaking.
“I am very low at the moment and I can’t get it out of my head. It will be a long few weeks.
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IS IT TOO DANGEROUS?
NO says Colin Hart, SunSport boxing writer.
IT is a dangerous sport but in Britain our safety rules are second to none.
Sadly it’s inevitable there will be occasional deaths with the thousands of rounds every year in this country.
Fortunately those deaths are few and far between. You can never take the risk out of all contact sports.
Boxing does far more good than harm, often taking young men away from poverty or life of crime.
It also teaches discipline and self-respect.
YES says Peter McCabe, chief exec at Headway
THE ultimate aim is to cause head and brain injuries by rendering your opponent senseless — with repeated blows to the head.
The obvious and unavoidable consequence of this is brain injury.
Too many boxers have died or had devastating brain injuries for the sport to be allowed to continue.
Pleas that such tragedies are unpredictable are not credible.
To allow more lives to be lost is unacceptable and irresponsible.
“We’re all fighters, it’s a business and we know the massive risks. I have a little boy, Rogan. I am on the front line and have seen how serious it is.”
Westgarth, who was clearly in pain during his post-fight interview, became so ill after his victory that an ambulance was called. He died in hospital on Sunday.
A former ski instructor who took up boxing aged 24, he is the third fighter to die after a pro bout in the UK in the last five years.
Frank Bruno, Ricky Hatton, Tony Bellew, James DeGale, Luke Campbell and Kell Brook have all expressed their condolences.
Speaking to the Scunthorpe Telegraph, Spelman added: “You never think anything like this will happen in your fight. I’m absolutely gutted.
“After a year out it was a tough fight but I wanted a tough fight. But that’s irrelevant now.
“Scott had me down, which was the first time, and I had him down. In the last round I was putting it all out there, putting in some big shots. Scott boxed out of his skin.”
Westgarth’s promoter Stefy Bull said: “God bless Scott Westgarth. RIP lad.”
Super-middleweight Tyan Booth has had his licence suspended for comments made after the tragedy.
Booth, 34, tweeted: “Some people would enjoy it if I got killed in a boxing ring like Scott Westgarth. Man down.”