British boxer has licence suspended for mocking Scott Westgarth death and posting racist and offensive tweets
Tyan Booth posted insensitive comments about Westgarth and Gerald McClellan, who suffered life-changing injuries in a fight with former two-weight world champion Nigel Benn
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A boxer who made light of the death of Scott Westgarth has had his professional licence suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC).
Westgarth, 31, died in the early hours of Sunday morning after he collapsed backstage following his points victory over Dec Spelman in Doncaster. His death was announced a day later.
Nottingham’s Tyan Booth, 34, then said on social media: “Some people would enjoy it if I got killed in a boxing ring like Scott Westgarth. Man down.”
The super-middleweight, who has a professional record of 12-11-5, then referenced life-changing injuries suffered by an American boxer in a defeat by Nigel Benn, when he added: “I'm boxing myself in two weeks and I've spent the past three months drinking cider and not training properly so there's a good chance I'll end up in a wheelchair like Gerald McClellan, so tune in.”
Booth’s account features a number of other offensive tweets, including one where he says he is “glad” that McClellan is “deaf, dumb, blind, r******* and in a wheelchair”, as well as racially abusive comments about the British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
The BBBoC quickly announced that Booth’s licence had been suspended as a result of his comments, ending his plans to fight next month.
And Booth was criticised by his trainer Dominic Ingle, who commented: “The inappropriate comments tweeted recently by Tyan Booth will be dealt with by the Ingle Gym and BBBofC. He has been asked to remove them.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments