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Sep 05, 2023

Boxing ban in council’s buildings after Worcester charity event death

A TEMPORARY ban has been put on allowing council buildings to be used to host

A TEMPORARY ban has been put on allowing council buildings to be used to host amateur boxing bouts.

The ban was brought in after the death of 26-year-old Dominic Chapman almost 12 months ago.

Mr Chapman collapsed in the ring at an Ultra White Collar Boxing event at Tramps nightclub in Angel Place on April 9 last year and later died in hospital.

After his death, the council opted to temporarily ban white-collar events not affiliated with amateur boxing's governing body England Boxing in its own buildings such as the Guildhall and more predominantly used Perdiswell Leisure Centre, in Bilford Road, until an inquest was held.

But now councillors are set to meet again to extend the ban after requests from a semi-professional boxing league, not affiliated with England Boxing, to host a number of bouts for ‘novice, interim and elite’ boxers at Perdiswell Leisure Centre.

Any boxing or wrestling event with an audience in Worcester requires a licence from the council, which could be covered by a premises licence or a ‘one-off’ temporary event notice.

The council's policy and resources committee will be asked to agree to extend the ban at least until the publication of a coroner's report into Mr Chapman's death.

An inquest into the death is expected to start at Worcestershire Coroner's Court in Stourport on May 2.

At the time of Mr Chapman's death, Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) said the charity boxing event had been held in line with Tramps’ premises licence and West Mercia Police said it would not be investigating the death.

Nevertheless, bosses at Worcester City Council asked WRS to carry out a health and safety investigation – which will also be presented to the inquest in May.

England Boxing, the national governing body for almost a thousand amateur boxing clubs across the country, is responsible for the safety and welfare of its members, child protection, DBS checks as well as the enforcement of rules and regulations.

The policy and resources committee meets in the Guildhall from 7pm on March 21.

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