BOXING events on premises owned or licenced by Worcester City Council look set to remain suspended under plans to be debated by Guildhall chiefs.
Members of Worcester City Council’s influential Policy and Resources committee will be asked to approved the continued freeze on such events, other than those affiliated to England Boxing, at its meeting on Tuesday (March 21).
In April 2022, following participation in a boxing event at Tramps nightclub, a man was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham in a serious condition and later died.
It is alleged the 26-year-old suffered serious injuries after boxing at an event organised by Ultra White-Collar Boxing (UWCB) although an inquest by Worcestershire’s coroner is yet to take place.
According to the report to be presented to councillors, West Mercia Police confirmed following their initial enquiries into the incident they would not be investigating the death.
Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) confirmed the event had been conducted in line with the premises license, but the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) requested WRS to undertake a health and safety investigation which is ongoing.
A final hearing into the man’s death is scheduled for May 2 and WRS has been requested to provide a formal report to the Coroner’s Office.
The event was not affiliated to England Boxing, the national governing body for the sport in England, overseeing more than 980 affiliated clubs and more than 23,000 members spread across the country.
Prior to the suspension, Worcester City Council had approved several requests to host boxing events on its premises, predominantly at Perdiswell Leisure Centre.
However, following the tragic event and a subsequent officer briefing on so called ‘white collar’ boxing events, senior officers have unanimously requested acceptance of further bookings be suspended for organisations not affiliated to England Boxing.
This decision was communicated to all political group leaders, who were each fully supportive of the decision, according to the report.
As a result, the report states: “Members approve the continued suspension of non-England Boxing affiliated events on Council premises until such time that the coroner’s report into the death in Worcester is made public and a further report is presented to committee.
“Once the findings have been made public, a further report will be presented to members.
“The option of recommending the suspension be made permanent is not considered appropriate, without having reviewed the findings and outcomes of both the WRS investigation and the coroners Inquiry.”
