Heartbroken mum Rebecca Marshall is giving her boxer son a birthday present his friends and family will remember after he died from an apparent brain injury following a bout in the ring.
Scott Westgarth would have celebrated his 32nd birthday on July 10 and to mark the occasion his proud mother is having a memorial seat erected in his name in his home town of Prudhoe, Northumberland.
His family will unveil the seat, along with a plaque, on Sunday July 8 at 2pm and is inviting anyone who knew him to go along to celebrate his life.
“The seat is being put up in Prudhoe and we want everyone to use it,” said Rebecca, 58.
“Scott’s birthday is on July 10 but we are unveiling the seat on July 8, on a Sunday. It’s so everyone can come and it would have been too hard to do the actual unveiling on his birthday. His birthday is going to be difficult enough so we are doing it a couple of days beforehand.
“His birthday will be very emotional anyway so I didn’t want the unveiling to be a bad day, I wanted it to be a nice day where we can all remember Scotty.”
Scott, who had moved to Sheffield, died after winning his last fight on February 24. He was rushed to hospital after falling ill backstage following his victory over Dec Spelman at the Doncaster Dome and his death was confirmed two days later.
The former Prudhoe Community High School pupil was cremated at Grenoside Crematorium in Sheffield last month and hundreds gathered to celebrate his life along with his ex-boxer dad John, 58, mum Rebecca, brothers Adam, 35, Lewis, 21 and girlfriend Natalie Kerr.
His coffin was draped in a Newcastle United shirt signed by Rafa Benitez and players and amongst the mourners was County Durham’s former IBF cruiserweight world champion Glenn McCrory.
“I wanted to do something for Scott in Prudhoe,” added Rebecca, who still lives in the town. “He put Prudhoe on the map and so I got onto the council to organise it. We are putting it in The Glade, near to the Co-op on the Front Street. It’s looking out to Prudhoe and it’s a seat for everyone.
“We are having a few nibbles and drinks afterwards at the nearby Fox and Hounds. It’s the pub Scotty used to go to with his friends when he came back home, it was his local.”
Scott was a huge Newcastle United fan and after Rebecca asked for a shirt to lay on the coffin, the club went one step further and Rafa Benitez and the team signed it. Rafa also sent a heart-warming letter saying: “It sounds as though Scott made a great name for himself in his own sport of boxing and I’m sure he made you and your family very proud.
“I hope the enclosed shirt which has been signed by all the players will be a fitting symbol of his passion for Newcastle United.
“With our sincere condolences for your loss, Rafa Benitez, manager.”
Scott followed in his dad’s footsteps. John - nicknamed ‘Mean Machine’ - was a heavyweight in the 1980s and 1990s who boxed for the European title. He shared the ring with the likes of Herbie Hide, Razor Ruddock, Derek Williams and McCrory.
On Scott’s last fight he won on points, but was knocked down during the bout. He took part in post-fight interviews before paramedics were called to help him as his condition deteriorated.
Part-time chef and personal trainer Scott, who had also tried his hand as a footballer before turning to boxing, collapsed in his dressing room before being rushed to hospital.
His organs were donated and mum Rebecca said her son had saved the lives of seven people.
After his death a GoFundMe page was set up in his memory to help his stricken family which has raised £10,000.
Scott, who also leaves doting grandparents Richard and Marion Tweddle, had won seven of his ten professional fights. He had no amateur career and did not pick up a pair of gloves until he was 24 after years of working as a ski instructor.
His death saddened the sporting world and boxing greats such as Frank Bruno and Ricky Hatton took to social media to pay tribute to light heavyweight Scott.
Since Scott’s death his brother Adam has launched a petition to make it law for brain scanners to be on hand at all bouts.
Anyone wanting to donate can visit www.gofundme.com/scott-westgarth
To sign Adam’s petition, visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/216069
