Coroner calls for post-mortem review of white-collar boxing

A coroner has written to the culture secretary calling for a review of white-collar boxing matches following the death of a man at an event in Worcester.

Dominic Chapman, 26, suffered a “single devastating punch” to the head during a match at Trumps nightclub in April 2022, causing him to collapse and die two days later, Worcestershire police said. This was revealed at a coroner's court inquest.

Worcestershire coroner David Reid ruled his cause of death was “traumatic brain injury.”

He said he would ask ministers to “consider whether any measures need to be taken” to regulate the sport.

He described the punch as “catastrophic” and said it likely tore a blood vessel and caused brain damage.

During the eight-day hearing, other participants raised concerns about the boxers being unfit during training sessions and about the boxers being asked to undergo just eight weeks of training.

Reid said he was “not at all surprised” by the inconsistency in the boxers' training at the gym.

But some boxers said they tried to raise concerns about their weight being “disguised” but were “ignored” and the medical team assembled for the event had not completed a risk assessment. He said he was concerned about this.

The inquest heard Mr Chapman was the third person to die after taking part in a white-collar boxing match since 2017.

The coroner said he would receive a future fatality prevention report calling on Ultra Events Limited, which organised the event, to take steps to make events safer.

Speaking after the inquest, solicitor Sarah Owen, representing the family, said they were saddened by “the tragic death of their son and that it was only following the coroner's inquest that serious negligence on the part of Ultra Events was recognised”.

“Dominic's family wants people to understand this before agreeing to take part in similar events, and we want to make white collar boxing safer for everyone. “I hope that improvements will be made,” she added.

In delivering his conclusions, the coroner also noted that white-collar boxing does not appear to be supervised by any regulatory body.

“It is therefore up to the organizers of these events to make whatever arrangements they deem appropriate to ensure the safety of their participants,” he said.

The inquest also heard that the gloves and head guard had been reused between matches and were heavy and wet.

The company argued that the gloves used in Chapman's fight were “brand new gloves made from closed-cell foam that does not absorb water.”

Ultra Events director John Leonard told the inquest that Chapman had taken part in 13 of 16 free boxing training sessions held in the run up to the fight.

He told the coroner he was “pleased” that Mr Chapman was ready for the fight despite missing some sessions and that his opponent was a “fair match”.

Leonard also said Chapman signed a document stating he was “satisfied” with his opponent.

“Brain injuries are extremely rare. We've been running these events for 15 years,” he added.

In a statement after the post-mortem, a spokesperson for Ultra Events said its “deepest sympathies” go to Mr Chapman's family and said the welfare of those who attended the event was “an absolute priority”.

Medical treatment in the April 2022 incident was “appropriate,” they said, adding they would wait for the coroner's report before taking further action.