RIP.. Scott Westgarth.. 1986-2018.

It’s with deep regret that we have to report the sad passing of 31 year old light heavyweight prospect Scott Westgarth, following a 10 round points victory over Dec Spelman in Doncaster on Saturday evening.. Scott 7-2-1 (2 Ko’s) had just conducted a post fight interview, following a hard fought ten rounder where both fighters suffered knockdowns, it appeared that Westgarth was in pain at the conclusion of the interview, where the fighter holds his head in his hands.. Several moments later in the dressing room, Scott fell ill, collapsing en route to hospital where he lapsed into a coma.. Scott was the son of the 1980s and 90s Heavyweight, John Westgarth who faced Herbie Hide and Donovan Ruddock in a lengthy career and was trained up in Sheffield by Glyn Rhodes who described Scott as one of the nicest men you will ever meet.. Only days ago the fighters Facebook page showed him smiling and jogging with devoted girlfriend Natalie near their home of Penistone south York’s, Scott supplemented his boxing career with part time work as both a chef and a personal trainer.. Scott’s passing was broken on Sunday morning by promoter Stefy Bull.. Every loss in our sport is devastating, the fact that the young fighter had been victorious and appeared fine following the bout alarms us to how the signs are never imminently obvious. Boxing is as safe as it’s ever been in the Uk and the medics that acted on Saturday night did everything asked of them in accordance with the BBB of C, Scotts death is just the most tragic of outcomes, in the sport that he loved.

Upcoming weekend...Wilder, McCarter, Brook, Allen all feature.

This coming weekend see’s a vast schedule of notable fights on both sides of the pond.. In Brooklyn at the Barclays Center, WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder 39-0 (38 Ko’s) faces his toughest test on paper as he meets the bogeyman of the division, the equally unbeaten Cuban Luis Ortiz 28-0 (24 Ko’s). Ortiz was scheduled to face Deontay last year until an irregular drug test result forced the champion to box a rematch with former champion Bermaine Stiverne.. Wilder knew how impressive a name Ortiz would appear on his resume and has remained true to his word in offering the self named King Kong another bite at the cherry.. Ortiz hasn’t put a foot wrong in a sporadic career, although the more impressive performances all appear to have been several years ago.. regardless this has to makings of a classic and an opportunity for the champion to make a career defining victory in what will be a seventh defence of his title.

Back across this side of the pond in Sheffield Uk, former IBF Welterweight Champion Kell Brook 36-2 (25 Ko’s) makes a long awaited return, following two of the gutsiest back to back efforts ever seen by a British fighter. Brook took on both Gennady Golovkin and Errol Spence both in the space of 8 months, losing gallantly to the most avoided and highly regarded pair of fighters on the planet.. Brook will be boxing this time out at super-Welterweight against the very capable Siarhei Rabchanka 29-2 (22 Ko’s) of Belarus.. Brook will this time have the luxury of not being forced to box outside of his optimum division and should have no problem re-establishing himself in his own right.. With lucrative bouts with names like Amir Khan and Jarrett Hurd in the crosshairs it’s unlikely we’ll see the Sheffield man slip up against Rabchanka, regardless of the visitors caliber.

The undercard in Sheffield features an interesting rematch with our own David Allen 12-3 (9 Ko’s) attempting to overturn his commonwealth title challenge loss to American / Jamaican Lenroy Thomas 22-4 (10 Ko’s) last May.. Dave allowed Thomas to fight his own kind of fight last time out and lacked the urgency to take the fight by the horns.. Thomas isn’t a bad heavyweight, Its just that Dave is a far better fighter than that nights efforts.. Allen has had far fewer fights, but has mixed in far superior company than Lenroy and I expect it to show this time around.. Dave is aware that it’s last chance saloon with Matchroom boxing if he can’t provide this time around and with pressure like that lying heavy on him, he will deliver and arrest the commonwealth title that he should have claimed last year..

Meanwhile back in Ignacio Colorado at the Sky Ute Casino, 6 time multi weight champion Layla McCarter 40-13-5 (10 Ko’s) takes on tough New Mexican Victoria Cisneros 13-19-2 (6 Ko’s) for the vacant IBF and GBU Female world Welterweight titles, in a rematch of 12 years ago.. McCarter decisioned Cisneros in her 35th outing back in 2006 over 6 rounds in the very same Ignacio arena in what was only Victoria’s 8th fight.. Both fighters are vastly more seasoned now and meet in a legitimate championship battle.. Cisneros has a chequered record of late, winning only 3 of her last 8, whilst Layla has not tasted defeat in 11 years.. Every credit to Cisneros for stepping to the plate, McCarter is possibly the most avoided female fighter ever and spent the best part of the last few months playing the waiting game as #1 mandatory for Norway’s Cecilia Braekhus’s IBF belt without an incling of progress. Unwavered she moves on, with Cisneros her imminent focus. Layla has boxed for a won titles from featherweight up to light middleweight and really shouldn’t falter on this occasion, with so much at stake.. Victory for McCarter should open doors towards a career defining fight with any of the (Favoured) names that appear to be capturing the female boxing imagination that she actually paved the way for.. Regardless Layla is current and refuses to go quietly.

Yarde and Dubois move on.. Zelfa Barrett upset.. York Hall tonight.

A quite entertaining Card at the York Hall tonight, promoted by Frank Warren sprung to life with an upset, as unbeaten Manchester super featherweight Zelfa Barrett 19-0 (12 Ko’s) dropped a hard fought majority decision to rugged Ronnie Clarke 20-4 (10 Ko’s) of Dundee.. The bout didn’t catch fire until round 4 with both fighters enjoying bursts of success, but it was the 6th round that saw Clarke put Barrett on the floor with a tremendous uppercut.. Barrett survived but opted too often to stand and trade, the exact fight that suited the Scotsman.. Clarke won on two cards at 116-111 with the third card scoring a 114-114 draw.. Ronnie captured the IBF European title with the upset..

Cheshire heavyweight prospect Nathan Gorman 11-0 (10 Ko’s) scored a predictable 2nd round time filling stoppage over French Cruiserweight Morgan Dessaux 4-2 (4 Ko’s) in what proved to be a disappointing mismatch.. Gorman, trained by Ricky Hatton has a lot of ability, yet needs more quality work.. Nathan had very limited amateur experience but has since compensated for it with valuable sparring amongst the likes of Anthony Joshua, joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois.. Gorman has been scheduled to meet Brighton’s Nick Webb on several occasions although terms were never agreed. The Webb fight is exactly what Gorman needs, tonight’s opponent being a third replacement and with a weight disparity of nearly 4 stone, it’s hardly ideal.. Regardless Nathan is one to watch..

Next up was Daniel Dubois 6-0 (6 Ko’s) the undefeated London Heavyweight who is grabbing huge attention with comparisons to Anthony Joshua.. Daniel was up against 6 foot 5 former soldier Dave Jones 8-0-1 (0 Ko’s) Unfortunately Jones barely came to survive and after 2 knockdowns, the bout was stopped at the 2.23 mark of the third round by Bob Williams.. Dubois is extremely strong and versatile, but like Gorman needs a step up in class.. Frank Warren is playing his cards very close to his chest with the hard hitting Dubois, with no immediate intentions of risking his hot property anytime soon.. Dubois has been linked to both Gorman and Chisora, but don’t expect to see these matches in the immediate future. Dubois remains the Southern area champion.

In the main event, unbeaten light heavyweight Anthony Yarde 14-0 (13 Ko’s) took 7 rounds to dismantle the crafty Tony Averlant 26-10-2 (5 Ko’s). Averlant didn’t appear to have the physical strength to outgun Yarde, but in spells did pose a few questions with clusters of well placed counters.. Yarde did show maturity, he didn’t rush, showing great patience before leaving the despondent Frenchman’s corner no option but to stop the fight.. Yarde is very self critical, and knows himself that he needs a step up in class if he is to make steps towards a championship fight on the world scene. I’ve yet to see Anthony look remotely uncomfortable during any of his bouts, something that a fighter on the fringe of world class needs prior to taking that step.. Yarde retains his WBO Inter-Continental and European belts with the victory..

Yarde looks every inch the part, with a possible future domestic showdown against Joshua Buatsi looking a natural..