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It’s true. For some, age is just a number. What many may consider an age to retire, to a few, might look like the beginning of a journey. Given what he is going to accomplish, Scot England definitely falls into the second group. He is doing what most would consider unthinkable. Tonight, he will step into a boxing ring to face an opponent who is 37 years his junior. Win or lose, one thing is for sure: England will enter history as the ‘older professional welterweight boxer in the world.’
Scot England might not be in the race to be acclaimed as the oldest boxer. The record for the oldest active boxer is currently held by England’s Stephen Ward. In 2017, at the age of 60 years and 337 days, the Nottingham-born accomplished the feat. However, his record was bettered by 70-year-old American Albert Hughes Jr. He fought a 43-year-old man in 2019. But sadly, Hughes Jr., who had taken up the gloves in remembrance of his son, passed away in 2021.
Scot England: A Walk Through His Careers
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Scot England is a former radio DJ who became a television host. According to an article in Herald & Review, his stint on television saw him dabble in a lot of audacious acts, some of which resulted in injuries. Later, he tried his hand at politics as well. His net worth is currently not known.
Though originally from Central Illinois, England, he now resides in the ‘Music City,’ Nashville. He has always had a lifelong passion for country music. Later, he found a successful career co-writing the memoirs of famous country musicians such as William Lee Golden.
As far as boxing is concerned, his interest in the sport increased after watching the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali, fight. Later, they became friends. England and his wife, Jayne, even chose to commemorate Ali by naming their daughter Allison, who is also known as Ally.
"When I step into the ring, I will become the oldest professional welterweight boxer in the world," Scot England said of his upcoming match. Scot is almost 59. He credits his ambition to his trainers at Champion's Corner in Murfreesboro…and his long friendship with Muhammad Ali pic.twitter.com/5Aob4R4WpC
— Forrest Sanders (@ForrestBSanders) November 27, 2023
A piece in the Hendersonville Standard mentions him recollecting the way Muhammad Ali introduced himself when they spoke for the first time over the phone. He said, “This is Muhammad Ali, the greatest fighter of all time.’”
The Dance in the Ring
For his current foray into the ring, Scot England got the motivation to start working out and lose weight some five to six years ago while watching an Olympic boxing contest. In the beginning, his daily regimen included a quarter-mile walk, followed by ten sit-ups and ten push-ups. He began serious training under Eric Draper. The latter is an Army veteran with a record of 20 professional wins.
The Hendersonville Standard shared some feedback from England’s trainers. Speaking about his trainee, Draper said, “Every day, somebody is telling somebody what they can’t do. But Scot is proving that this can be done. I love to see an older guy like him in the ring, slugging it out with us young guys.”
Currently, Scot England receives his training from Galen Turner at the Murfreesboro-based Champion’s Corner gym. The seasoned coach said, “One day he told me about his vision of being the oldest welterweight, and he asked if I would mind being a part of that, and I was like, yeah, let’s do it.”
Reportedly, as the cost of his coaching began to pile up, Scot England took a job as a bellhop at the Nashville-based Opryland Hotel. His dedication finally paid off when the Tennessee Athletic Commission recently issued him a professional boxing license.
Chasing Dreams
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Speaking about his dream, Scot England told New Channel 5 Nashville, “You got one life to live. You need to go for your dream. This is absolute proof. If I can do this, if I can become the oldest welterweight boxer in the world, you can do whatever you’re dreaming [of] in life.” As far as his work goes, next on his list is penning a book about country music singer and producer Crystal Gale. Additionally, he plans to narrate his tale. A screenplay detailing his boxing journey and the people he met in and out of the ring is in the works.
The Herald & Review mentioned that after he decided to set off on the boxing adventure, Scot England visited Muhammad Ali’s grave in Louisville, Kentucky. He wanted to inform his late friend about the new journey he was about to embark on. He said, “‘Ali, here is what I am doing; here is my dream, and I hope you can somehow keep a watch out for me as I go for this.” Then, out of nowhere, the most vibrant and enormous butterfly flitted by him. At that point, he remembers Ali’s famous saying, “Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.”
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What’s your take on the news? What do you think about the 59-year-old man’s venture? Please share your views with us in the comments below.
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