Troubled Preston boxer Scott Fitzgerald must help himself, says his manager Steve Wood

Boxing manager Steve Wood has vowed to help Scott Fitzgerald receive all the help he needs after the troubled Preston fighter was arrested twice in two days.
Scott FitzgeraldScott Fitzgerald
Scott Fitzgerald

The current British super-welterweight champion was taken into custody on Tuesday on suspicion of witness intimidation and breaching his bail conditions.

He had initially been quizzed on Monday on suspicion of assault following an alleged incident, said to be of a domestic nature, at an address on Ryelands Crescent in the city.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After being released on police bail the 28-year-old former Commonwealth Games champion – who has now had his boxing licence suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control – then proceeded to post a video, later deleted, of himself on social media.

Unbeaten inside the ring since turning professional in 2015, Fitzgerald – who beat Ted Cheesman in Newcastle last year to become British champion – has had issues outside of the ring.

In the past, he has admitted to battling drug, drink and gambling addictions.

Last month he spent time receiving treatment at Sporting Chance – the charitable organisation set up by former England and Arsenal defender Tony Adams.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Through his VIP Promotions company, Wood has managed the ex-National ABA champion’s career since he turned professional.

While he is eager to help the fighter, he insisted it was down to Fitzgerald to help himself.

“We know Scott has underlying problems and we sent him away to Sporting Chance in Portsmouth,” said Wood.

“The idea was when he came out of there, he was going to go to America, get out of the country so that we could carry on the cleaning up of him but because of the coronavirus, he could not go away.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Obviously there is an underlying mental health problem that we need to sort.

“After receiving treatment at Sporting Chance, he was looking forward to getting on the straight and narrow, but in Preston he has some bad influences. He needs to start acting more professional.”

Fitzgerald was primed to meet domestic rival Anthony Fowler later this summer in a grudge rematch, but all that is now up in the air after having his licence suspended pending the police investigation and assessments into his mental health.

“Whatever the Board want us to look at we will get resolved,” said Wood.

“Ultimately it is down to Scott.”

Related topics: